Wedding cost calculator
What would your wedding cost?
Explore your options, see what changes the budget, and get real vendor quotes.
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Likely range
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Make it yours
Extras and detailsAttire, cake, a planner, what your venue includes
Counts when the venue provides catering or the bar.
Where it goes
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Where the numbers come from
National figures are from The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study, set to what couples spend in your city or state. Venue fees and service charges are from quotes vendors have sent our couples.
How we estimate this
- Per guest: catering and the bar. The venue, photography, flowers and music follow the size of the wedding.
- Service charge and sales tax are added to food and drink at your state's rate.
- The range runs from couples who spent toward the lower end on each choice to those toward the upper end.
- Day and season move the venue fee, by what venues' own price lists charge for each.
- Not in any total: engagement ring, wedding rings, honeymoon.
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Venue: simple | $7,300 | QuoteConcierge, what vendors quoted our couplesUS cities we cover · 2026-10-05 · modeled |
| Venue: standard | $9,250 | QuoteConcierge, what vendors quoted our couplesUS cities we cover · 2026-10-05 · modeled |
| Venue: premium | $12,700 | QuoteConcierge, what vendors quoted our couplesUS cities we cover · 2026-10-05 · modeled |
| Tables, chairs and linens | $2,000 | The Knot 2026 Real Weddings StudyUS national, 50 states, 23 cities · 2026-06-24 · sourced |
| Catering: plated | $80 a guest | The Knot 2026 Real Weddings StudyUS national, 50 states, 23 cities · 2026-06-24 · sourced |
| Catering: casual or buffet | $68 a guest | Our modelUS · 2026-10-05 · modeled |
| Bar: beer and wine | $45 a guest | Our modelUS · 2026-10-05 · modeled |
| Bar: full bar | $65 a guest | Our modelUS · 2026-10-05 · modeled |
| Photography: lighter | $1,500 | The Knot, average cost of a wedding photographer (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-08 · sourced |
| Photography: typical | $3,000 | The Knot, average cost of a wedding photographer (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-08 · sourced |
| Photography: extended | $4,700 | The Knot, average cost of a wedding photographer (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-08 · sourced |
| Flowers and decor: minimal | $900 | The Knot, average cost of wedding flowers (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-06 · sourced |
| Flowers and decor: moderate | $2,800 | The Knot, average cost of wedding flowers (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-06 · sourced |
| Flowers and decor: elaborate | $6,700 | The Knot, average cost of wedding flowers (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-06 · modeled |
| Music: dj | $1,800 | The Knot, average cost of a wedding band or DJ (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-06 · sourced |
| Music: live band | $7,000 | The Knot, average cost of a wedding band or DJ (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-06 · modeled |
| Videographer | $2,300 | The Knot, average cost of a wedding videographer (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-11 · sourced |
| Wedding dress | $2,100 | The Knot, average cost of a wedding dress (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-02-18 · sourced |
| Suit or tux rental | $205 | The Knot, tux rental cost (2025 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2025-04-03 · sourced |
| Hair and makeup | $300 | The Knot, average cost of wedding hair and makeup (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-07 · sourced |
| Hair and makeup, each wedding party member | $210 | The Knot, average cost of wedding hair and makeup (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-07 · sourced |
| Transportation | $1,100 | The Knot 2026 Real Weddings StudyUS national, 50 states, 23 cities · 2026-06-24 · sourced |
| Invitations and stationery | $510 | The Knot, average cost of wedding invitations (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-04-30 · sourced |
| Cake | $540 | The Knot, how much wedding cakes cost (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-07 · sourced |
| Planning help: day-of | $1,600 | The Knot, how much wedding planners charge (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-13 · sourced |
| Planning help: month-of | $2,400 | The Knot, how much wedding planners charge (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-13 · sourced |
| Planning help: full service | $3,800 | The Knot, how much wedding planners charge (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-13 · sourced |
| Officiant | $260 | The Knot, wedding officiant fees (2026 Real Weddings Study)US national · 2026-05-06 · sourced |
| Service charge on food and drink | 20% | QuoteConcierge, service charges vendors quoted usUS cities we cover · 2026-09-23 · sourced |
| Sales tax, by state | 0% to 10.13% | Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 202650 states and DC · 2026-07-06 · sourced |
| Your city or state | 50 states, 23 cities | The Knot 2026 Real Weddings StudyUS national, 50 states, 23 cities · 2026-06-24 · modeled |
| Venue fee: Weekday | 33% of a Saturday's | QuoteConcierge, venues' own published price listsGA, NC, TN · 2026-10-05 · modeled |
| Venue fee: Friday or Sunday | 61% of a Saturday's | QuoteConcierge, venues' own published price listsGA, NC, TN · 2026-10-05 · modeled |
| Venue fee: Flexible | 77.6% of peak season's | QuoteConcierge, venues' own published price listsGA, NC, TN · 2026-10-05 · modeled |
| Venue fee: Off-peak | 55.5% of peak season's | QuoteConcierge, venues' own published price listsGA, NC, TN · 2026-10-05 · modeled |
| Our own quotes in your city | 25% of the venue fee, in 2 cities | QuoteConcierge, what vendors quoted our couplesAtlanta, GA, Birmingham, AL · 2026-10-05 · modeled |
Figures reviewed 5 October 2026.
Common questions
How much does a wedding cost?
The average wedding in the US cost $34,200 for 117 guests, in The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study of 10,474 couples. That covers the ceremony and the reception. Rings and the honeymoon are on top.
How much does a wedding for 100 guests cost?
About $35,500 at US average prices: a venue, a plated dinner, a full bar, a photographer, flowers, a DJ, and the attire, cake and stationery nearly every couple buys. For 50 guests it comes to about $23,500, and for 150 about $46,500.
What does a wedding venue cost?
For the space alone, about $8,300 for 120 guests on a Saturday in peak season at US average prices, and about $9,300 for 150 or more.
What is the cheapest day to get married?
A weekday. On venues' own price lists a Friday or Sunday runs about 61% of the Saturday fee, and a Monday to Thursday about 33%. A Saturday in the off-season runs about 56% of one in peak season.
What does wedding catering cost per person?
$80 a guest for a plated dinner, service charge and tax included: the average in The Knot's study. A full bar adds about $84 a guest with the same charges.
What is left out of the estimate?
The engagement ring, wedding rings and the honeymoon. A videographer, transportation and a planner start switched off and take one tap to add.
How do I get real prices instead of an estimate?
We ask up to 15 venues near you for their all-in price, for your date and guest count, and put every answer side by side on one page. Asking venues is free, no card. Other vendors are $24 a category, or $149 for all of them.
An estimate is a start. A real quote is a number you can plan on.
We ask up to 15 venues near you for their all-in price, for your date and guest count, and put every answer side by side on one page. You choose who we ask.
Get real quotes for this weddingAsking venues is free, no card. Other vendors are $24 a category, or $149 for all of them.