The Average Cost Of A Wedding In 2026

Getting married can be an incredible experience, but it can also be ridiculously expensive. According to Zola, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. in 2026 is now $36-thousand. But as the wedding planning site points out, when you start researching wedding costs, you’ll find that the numbers are all over the place because the cost can vary dramatically based on where you have it, how many people you invite and what matters most to the couple.

Zola’s $36-thousand total may seem high, but it includes these average costs:

• The venue - $8,573 and catering - $6,927 - eat up the biggest chunks of a budget.
• Photography - $4,400 and videography - $3,993
• Wedding planning - $4,047, flowers and decor - $6,345
• Bar services - $5,542, music and entertainment - $1,567
• Wedding dress - $2-thousand
• Other costs like hair and makeup, tux rentals, wedding dress alterations and the officiant.
• The thing is, location makes a huge difference, as a 150-guest wedding costs around $85-thousand in San Francisco, but the same event in Milwaukee is only $43-thousand.

The 10 Most Expensive U.S. Cities for a 150-Guest Wedding

1. New York, New York - $99-thousand
2. San Francisco, California - $85-thousand
3. San Jose, California - $82-thousand
4. Chicago, Illinois - $81-thousand
5. Cheyenne, Wyoming - $71-thousand
6. Boston, Massachusetts - $68-thousand
7. Los Angeles, California - $67-thousand
8. San Diego, California - $65-thousand
9. Washington, D.C. - $63-thousand
10. Las Vegas, Nevada - $62-thousand

Source: NBC 5