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

$102,695

100 guests

Cheapest city

$31,016

Most expensive

$275,431

Cities covered

What you should know

Sales tax varies 0–9.5% by state — always ask whether a vendor quote is pre-tax. Oregon, Montana, Delaware and New Hampshire have no sales tax; California and New York regularly add 8–9%.
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×	$275,431
Long Island / Hamptons	2.10×	$231,147
Napa Valley	2.00×	$214,688
Brooklyn	1.90×	$209,118
San Francisco	1.80×	$186,306
Aspen / Vail	1.70×	$175,144
Northern New Jersey	1.65×	$170,057
Washington DC	1.55×	$161,721
Rhode Island	1.50×	$154,917
Los Angeles	1.50×	$155,308
Maui	1.50×	$183,347
Boston	1.45×	$149,010
Chicago	1.45×	$148,435
Cape Cod	1.40×	$171,983
Santa Barbara	1.40×	$173,138
Oahu	1.40×	$171,118
Connecticut	1.35×	$138,851
Virginia (NoVA)	1.35×	$138,207
Florida Keys	1.30×	$160,936
Big Island	1.30×	$158,893
Philadelphia	1.25×	$128,325
Maryland	1.20×	$122,875
San Diego	1.20×	$124,156
Jackson Hole	1.20×	$146,116
Miami	1.10×	$113,427
Seattle	1.05×	$108,201
Atlanta	1.00×	$104,869
Denver	1.00×	$103,123
Scottsdale	1.00×	$101,735
Charleston	0.95×	$117,610
Austin	0.95×	$98,149
New Orleans	0.90×	$114,585
Santa Fe	0.90×	$111,161
Portland	0.90×	$88,832
Houston	0.90×	$92,937
Dallas	0.90×	$92,937
Orlando	0.85×	$87,670
Nashville	0.85×	$87,904
Savannah	0.85×	$106,956
Portland	0.85×	$88,303
Burlington	0.85×	$87,271
Charlotte	0.80×	$81,192
Minneapolis	0.80×	$82,007
San Antonio	0.80×	$82,641
Anchorage	0.80×	$78,929
Manchester	0.80×	$78,929
Las Vegas	0.75×	$43,002
San Juan	0.75×	$39,095
Louisville	0.75×	$42,353
Bozeman	0.75×	$40,605
Wilmington	0.75×	$40,885
Cleveland	0.70×	$39,164
Detroit	0.70×	$39,222
Milwaukee	0.70×	$38,996
Kansas City	0.70×	$38,935
Birmingham	0.70×	$40,726
Boise	0.70×	$39,775
Indianapolis	0.65×	$36,729
Little Rock	0.65×	$36,667
Des Moines	0.65×	$36,776
Omaha	0.65×	$36,415
Oklahoma City	0.65×	$36,589
Salt Lake City	0.60×	$33,684
Jackson	0.60×	$34,691
Charleston	0.60×	$34,379
Wichita	0.60×	$33,926
Fargo	0.55×	$31,016
Sioux Falls	0.55×	$31,052

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 $102,695 all-in, ranging from $31,016 in lower-cost markets to $275,431 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.

Is VAT included in wedding vendor quotes in United States?

In most European countries VAT is included in quotes by default. Always ask explicitly to be sure — the rate varies by country and category.

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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