How Much Does a Wedding Cost?

Answer 4 quick questions and get a personalized cost estimate for your wedding.

How many guests are you expecting?

This is the biggest factor in your wedding cost.

100
20IntimateGrand400

Where is your wedding?

Location has a major impact on vendor pricing.

🏙️NortheastNY, NJ, CT, MA, etc.
🌸SouthTN, TX, GA, FL, NC, etc.
🌾MidwestOH, IL, MI, MN, etc.
🌅WestCA, CO, WA, OR, etc.

What's your wedding style?

Your style influences venue type, decor, and overall spending.

🌿Budget-FriendlySimple & sweet
💐ClassicTraditional elegance
🪵RusticBarn, farm, outdoors
LuxuryNo expense spared

What season is the wedding?

Peak season (May–October) costs 10–20% more than off-season.

🌷SpringMar – May
☀️SummerJun – Aug (peak)
🍂FallSep – Nov
❄️WinterDec – Feb (off-peak)

Your Estimated Wedding Cost

Estimated Cost by Category

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How Much Does the Average Wedding Cost in 2026?

The average wedding in the United States costs between $28,000 and $34,000 according to recent industry surveys. However, this number varies enormously depending on your guest count, location, time of year, and how elaborate you want things to be. A wedding in Manhattan can easily cost three times what a comparable celebration would cost in Nashville or the Midwest.

What Factors Affect Wedding Cost the Most?

Guest count is the single biggest driver of cost — every guest adds to catering, seating, invitations, and favors. After that, your venue choice (ballroom vs. barn vs. backyard) and your region's cost of living have the biggest impact. Peak season weddings (June through October) command premium pricing from nearly every vendor category.

How to Use This Wedding Cost Estimator

Our estimator uses real industry data to calculate a personalized estimate for your wedding. Just answer four quick questions — guest count, location, style, and season — and we'll show you what couples in similar situations typically spend. Create a free account to save your estimate and pick up where you left off.

Wedding Cost Estimator FAQs

How accurate is this wedding cost estimator?

The estimator uses per-person base costs adjusted for region and season, plus a fixed base for non-guest-dependent line items. Estimates reflect the typical mid-market, so high-end designer venues or pared-back DIY weddings will fall outside the predicted range. The low/high range shown brackets approximately 80% of actual outcomes for similar weddings.

How much more does a peak-season wedding cost?

Peak wedding season — May through October — typically costs 10–20% more than off-peak months. Saturdays in June and October command the highest premiums from most vendor categories. Booking a Friday, Sunday, or weekday in winter can save 15–25% on the same wedding.

Why is my wedding more expensive in the Northeast?

Northeast venues, caterers, and service vendors operate in some of the highest cost-of-living markets in the country. Manhattan, Boston, and DC weddings consistently price 30–40% above the national average. The estimator applies a 1.35x multiplier to Northeast estimates to reflect this.

Can I save my wedding cost estimate?

Yes. The estimator is free to use without signing in, and you can save your estimate to a free Vow to Forever account so you can revisit it from any device as you start booking vendors.

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