Country guide
Wedding Budgets in United States
What weddings actually cost in United States — regional differences, tax, gift norms, traditions, and a breakdown by city.
American weddings are priced differently from European ones in two important ways: sales tax and service charges are almost always added *on top* of quoted prices (not included), and tipping is expected across most vendor categories. A $40,000 quoted budget is often $48,000–52,000 by the time everything is paid.
National average
$100,141
100 guests
Cheapest city
$30,741
Most expensive
$242,895
Cities covered
68
What you should know
- Sales tax varies from 0% state-level (Delaware, Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Alaska) up to ~10% combined with local surcharges (Alabama, Louisiana, Illinois) — always ask whether a vendor quote is pre-tax. California state is 7.25%; NYC totals 8.875%.
- Service charges (18–25%) are standard on catering, bar and venue F&B, layered *before* sales tax in most states. Gratuities on top are still expected at 15–20%.
- Tipping: photographer, DJ, band, officiant, hair/makeup, transportation, delivery staff all have expected tip ranges. Linden surfaces these automatically.
- Venue minimums (especially in NYC, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago) are common — you commit to a $20k–40k F&B floor whether or not you actually consume it.
- Wedding insurance is genuinely recommended in the US: liability coverage is often venue-mandated and ranges $150–500.
Cities we cover
| City | Cost index | Typical total |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | 2.50× | $242,895 |
| Long Island / Hamptons | 2.10× | $228,384 |
| Napa Valley | 2.00× | $212,294 |
| Brooklyn | 1.90× | $206,612 |
| San Francisco | 1.80× | $183,999 |
| Aspen / Vail | 1.70× | $172,956 |
| Northern New Jersey | 1.65× | $167,936 |
| Washington DC | 1.55× | $159,520 |
| Rhode Island | 1.50× | $152,988 |
| Los Angeles | 1.50× | $153,380 |
| Maui | 1.50× | $174,188 |
| Boston | 1.45× | $147,149 |
| Chicago | 1.45× | $146,555 |
| Cape Cod | 1.40× | $163,443 |
| Santa Barbara | 1.40× | $164,548 |
| Oahu | 1.40× | $162,570 |
| Connecticut | 1.35× | $137,119 |
| Virginia (NoVA) | 1.35× | $136,429 |
| Florida Keys | 1.30× | $152,914 |
| Big Island | 1.30× | $150,958 |
| Philadelphia | 1.25× | $126,722 |
| Maryland | 1.20× | $121,337 |
| San Diego | 1.20× | $122,617 |
| Jackson Hole | 1.20× | $138,827 |
| Miami | 1.10× | $111,930 |
| Seattle | 1.05× | $106,856 |
| Atlanta | 1.00× | $103,475 |
| Denver | 1.00× | $101,840 |
| Scottsdale | 1.00× | $100,450 |
| Charleston | 0.95× | $111,746 |
| Austin | 0.95× | $96,848 |
| New Orleans | 0.90× | $108,877 |
| Santa Fe | 0.90× | $105,607 |
| Portland | 0.90× | $87,672 |
| Houston | 0.90× | $91,701 |
| Dallas | 0.90× | $91,701 |
| Orlando | 0.85× | $86,513 |
| Nashville | 0.85× | $86,770 |
| Savannah | 0.85× | $101,629 |
| Portland | 0.85× | $87,124 |
| Burlington | 0.85× | $86,184 |
| Charlotte | 0.80× | $80,142 |
| Minneapolis | 0.80× | $80,980 |
| San Antonio | 0.80× | $81,547 |
| Anchorage | 0.80× | $77,902 |
| Manchester | 0.80× | $77,902 |
| Las Vegas | 0.75× | $42,668 |
| San Juan | 0.75× | $38,910 |
| Louisville | 0.75× | $42,022 |
| Bozeman | 0.75× | $40,249 |
| Wilmington | 0.75× | $40,529 |
| Cleveland | 0.70× | $38,844 |
| Detroit | 0.70× | $38,901 |
| Milwaukee | 0.70× | $38,672 |
| Kansas City | 0.70× | $38,599 |
| Birmingham | 0.70× | $40,350 |
| Boise | 0.70× | $39,411 |
| Indianapolis | 0.65× | $36,437 |
| Little Rock | 0.65× | $36,372 |
| Des Moines | 0.65× | $36,485 |
| Omaha | 0.65× | $36,120 |
| Oklahoma City | 0.65× | $36,262 |
| Salt Lake City | 0.60× | $33,396 |
| Jackson | 0.60× | $34,389 |
| Charleston | 0.60× | $34,078 |
| Wichita | 0.60× | $33,646 |
| Fargo | 0.55× | $30,741 |
| Sioux Falls | 0.55× | $30,782 |
Over 50 US cities have individual pages below — Manhattan, Austin, San Francisco, Napa, Aspen, Charleston and more. The national average hovers around $33,000 for 120 guests; regional variation is larger than in Europe.
Frequently asked questions
What does an average wedding cost in United States?
A typical 100-guest wedding in United States runs around $100,141 all-in, ranging from $30,741 in lower-cost markets to $242,895 in the most expensive cities.
Which city in United States is the most expensive for weddings?
Manhattan leads with a 2.50× cost multiplier. Use the table below to compare across cities — the relative order is stable year over year.
Are taxes and service charges included in US wedding vendor quotes?
No — US vendor quotes typically exclude sales tax (0–9.5% by state) and service charges (18–25% on food & beverage), and many couples also budget 15–20% gratuity on top of service. Linden adds all three automatically so your budget reflects the real total.
When's the best time to get married in United States on a budget?
Peak months (typically June–August) run 20-35% more expensive than shoulder and off-peak months. Fridays and Sundays are consistently cheaper than Saturdays.
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