It may come as a surprise to no one, but weddings in 2025 are expensive. You’re looking at shelling out an average of $32,000 for a hometown wedding and an average of $41,000 for an international destination wedding, according to The Knot’s 2025 data.
However, some U.S. states may be a bit more cost-friendly when it comes to having a wedding. Read on to learn more about the average cost of a wedding in all 50 states and Washington D.C., according to The Knot.
How to save on wedding costs no matter where you live
Consider off-peak dates
Summer and Fall tend to be the most popular times of year for weddings, with November to April being considered “off-season” months. However, off-peak dates can vary depending on the region you’re in and the venue you choose. Off-peak timing tends to land you lower rates.
Also, consider the day of the week. The most expensive day of the week to have a wedding is typically Saturday. Weekdays are usually more affordable, with the obvious trade-off being that it may be harder for your guests to take off work to attend.
Open up a high-yield savings account
Once you decide on a budget for the big day, save up for all the expenses. A high-yield savings account can help you reach your funding goals quicker since it pays you more in interest than a regular savings account does.
Granted, you may not earn hundreds of dollars in interest each month (unless you deposit a lot of money in the account) but every dollar counts.
The Marcus by Goldman Sachs High-Yield Online Savings account is a solid option since it doesn’t come with a monthly fee, excessive transaction fee or overdraft fee. There is also no minimum required balance and the account earns a strong APY.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs High Yield Online Savings
Goldman Sachs Bank USA is a Member FDIC.
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
3.65% APY
Minimum balance
None
Monthly fee
None
Maximum transactions
At this time, there is no limit to the number of withdrawals or transfers you can make from your online savings account
Excessive transactions fee
None
Overdraft fee
None
Offer checking account?
No
Offer ATM card?
No
Terms apply.
Pros
Strong APY
No minimum balance or deposit
No monthly fees
No limit on withdrawals or transfers
Easy-to-use mobile banking app
Offers no-fee personal loans
Cons
Higher APYs offered elsewhere
No option to add a checking account
No ATM access
But if you can make a large upfront deposit, the CIT Bank Platinum Savings account may offer you more bang for your buck. You’ll earn a higher APY for balances of $5,000 or more.
CIT Bank Platinum Savings Account
CIT Bank is a division of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, a Member FDIC.
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.00% APY on balances of $5,000 or more; balances less than $5,000 earn 0.25% APY
Minimum balance
$100 minimum deposit
Monthly fee
None
Maximum transactions
Up to 6 free withdrawals or transfers per statement cycle
Excessive transactions fee
$10 per transaction up to $50 per month
Overdraft fee
None
Offer checking account?
Yes
Offer ATM card?
Yes, if have a CIT Bank checking account
See our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
Strong APY
Minimum deposit required is low
No monthly fees
No overdraft fee
Option to add a checking account with ATM access
Cons
Only earn high APY on balances of $5,000 or more
$100 minimum deposit
Excessive transactions fee
No physical branch locations
Take advantage of credit card points
If you’re planning to go on a honeymoon after your wedding, paying for your flight and hotel with credit card points can help you save money. Think about it: You can earn points for wedding expenses you have to pay for anyway. And if you get the welcome bonus, you’ll rack up points even faster. Just be sure to pay off your balance in full every month so you don’t accrue interest.
We have an article all about the best credit cards for covering wedding expenses but we named the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card as best for travel expenses.
CNBC Select Rating
5.0
Credit score
Good to Excellent670–850
Regular APR
19.99% – 29.24% variable
Annual fee
$95
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 miles
Terms apply. Read our Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a reasonable annual fee and earns flexible travel rewards, which makes it a great travel card for beginners or heavy travelers.
Valuable welcome offer worth at least $750 in travel
You can transfer miles to over 15 Capital One partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
No foreign transaction fees
Lacks ongoing travel benefits such as statement credits or lounge access
Limited bonus spending category that only applies to certain Capital One Travel bookings
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fee
None
Another solid honeymoon option is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card since you can earn on everyday categories like dining and you’ll receive a $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
CNBC Select Rating
5.0
On Chase’s site
CNBC Select Rating
5.0
On Chase’s site
Spotlight
With Points Boost, your rewards will be worth up to 1.5x on thousands of top-booked hotels and flights from select airlines through Chase Travel.
Credit score
Good to Excellent670–850
Regular APR
19.99% – 28.24% variable
Annual fee
$95
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus points
See rates and fees. Terms apply. Member FDIC.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
You can transfer rewards to all of Chase’s travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
Long list of travel and shopping protections
$50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
Has an annual fee
Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
10% anniversary points boost – each account anniversary you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The average wedding costs by state
Here’s how much a wedding costs on average in all 50 states in 2025.
Alabama: $27,000
Alaska: $16,150
Arizona: $26,830
Arkansas: $18,700
California: $39,170
Colorado: $31,130
Connecticut: $40,300
Delaware: $38,880
D.C.: $42,480
Florida: $32,560
Georgia: $28,800
Hawaii: 32,280
Idaho: $17,380
Illinois: $38,100
Indiana: $24,380
Iowa: $20,080
Kansas: $20,000
Kentucky: $21,680
Louisiana: $33,240
Maine: $36,000
Maryland: $39,460
Massachusetts: $45,000
Michigan: $28,330
Minnesota: $27,440
Mississippi: $21,280
Missouri: $25,040
Montana: $20,050
Nebraska: $20,870
Nevada: $19,890
New Hampshire: $36,080
New Jersey: $54,400
New Mexico: $22,260
New York: $47,800
North Carolina: $29,060
North Dakota: $21,080
Ohio: $28,300
Oklahoma: $19,590
Oregon: $23,290
Pennsylvania: $35,310
Rhode Island: $49,180
South Carolina: $36,170
South Dakota: $20,750
Tennessee: $24,040
Texas: $30,000
Utah: $17,380
Vermont: $44,720
Virginia: $33,760
Washington: $26,380
West Virginia: $19,080
Wisconsin: $28,730
Wyoming: $16,750
FAQs
What is the most expensive state to get married in?
The most expensive state for a wedding is New Jersey, with the average cost of a wedding at $54,400.
What is the least expensive state to get married in?
The least expensive state to have a wedding in is Alaska at $16,150.
Is a destination wedding cheaper or more expensive?
It depends on what it would’ve cost you to be married in your hometown versus where you’re getting married internationally and what you’re looking to do. There is no guarantee that international destination weddings will be cheaper than doing one in your hometown so you’ll have to run the numbers for your situation.
What is the average cost per guest at a wedding?
The average cost per guest at a wedding in 2025 is $284, according to The Knot.
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