Weddings can get really expensive. There's the dress, the flowers, the photographer, the decorations, the food … you get the idea. And the amount couples spend to celebrate their nuptials just keeps increasing. At least that's what the 10th annual report from wedding marketplace The Knot discovered in their survey of nearly 13,000 brides and grooms, ages 18 and over, who were married in 2016.
The Knot 2016 Real Weddings Study found that the average cost of a wedding reached an all time high of $35,329 last year, up from $32,641 in 2015. (Yes, you read those numbers right.) The venue is certainly one of the biggest expenses, with an average cost of $16,107. But it looks like couples are spending more on making the experience more elaborate instead of extending the guest list — the average number of wedding guests went down, but the spend per guest increased to $245 (from $194 in 2009). Part of that includes entertainment — like photo booths, games, and even fireworks — an expense that has reportedly more than tripled from 2009 to last year.
Getting ready to make the walk down the aisle? Your bill could be more or less than these averages, depending not only on your personal preferences, but where in the country you have your special day. The Knot broke down what the average cost is in different places throughout the U.S. and dubbed the most and least expensive places to get hitched.
And, no matter where you get married, remember: Your wedding day certainly isn't worth going into extreme debt over. Aside from causing you stress, carrying this debt could hurt your credit scores and you want those in tip-top shape when it comes time to apply for a mortgage or other loan down the road. (Don't know your credit scores? You can get two of them for free on Credit.com — and that's better than some of the strange wedding gifts you may receive.)
Read on to find out where the most expensive place is to have a wedding.
25th Least Expensive Place: Alabama
Average Cost of a Wedding in 2016: $27,957
24th Least Expensive Place: Tennessee
Average Cost of a Wedding in 2016: $27,857
23rd Least Expensive Place: Kentucky
Average Cost of a Wedding in 2016: $27,569
22nd Least Expensive Place: Ohio – Columbus
Average Cost of a Wedding in 2016: $27,441
21st Least Expensive Place: Minnesota
Average Cost of a Wedding in 2016: $27,113
20th Least Expensive Place: Wisconsin
Average Cost of a Wedding in 2016: $27,092
19th Least Expensive Place: Michigan – Grand Rapids
Average Cost of a Wedding in 2016: $26,933
18th Least Expensive Place: Washington