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[CULTURE] · United States · 5 sources

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US wedding spending trends show rising costs and shifting priorities

wedding industry wedding spending The Knot Zola consumer trends

According to The Knot’s 2026 Real Weddings Study, average wedding spending in 2025 is projected to reach $34,200, up from $30,000 in 2022. While the average is high, the median expenditure sits at $24,000.

Key costs include reception venues, which averaged $12,900, and catering, which averaged $80 per person. Regional differences are significant, with New Jersey averaging $57,000 compared to $18,000 in Idaho. Honeymoon spending is also a major factor, averaging $5,500 in 2025.

Couples are increasingly making financial trade-offs to manage rising costs. Zola reports that 44% of engaged couples have adjusted their plans to save money. Furthermore, a LendingTree survey found that 52% of newlywed homeowners opted for smaller weddings to prioritize purchasing a larger home. There is also a growing trend toward multi-day celebrations and experiential spending, such as signature drinks and interactive entertainment.

Entities

Idaho · LendingTree · New Jersey · The Knot · Zola

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

The new wedding budget: Where couples are spending more, and less [abc17news.com]
The new wedding budget: Where couples are spending more, and less [keyt.com]
The new wedding budget: Where couples are spending more, and less [kioncentralcoast.com]
The new wedding budget: Where couples are spending more, and less [kesq.com]
The new wedding budget: Where couples are spending more, and less [kvia.com]