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.

By Linden EditorialBudget research teamLast reviewed 21 Apr 2026

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

$49,000

100 guests

Cheapest city

$14,626

Most expensive

$140,072

Cities covered

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×	$140,072
Long Island / Hamptons	2.10×	$117,484
Napa Valley	2.00×	$109,464
Brooklyn	1.90×	$106,362
San Francisco	1.80×	$89,293
Aspen / Vail	1.70×	$83,527
Northern New Jersey	1.65×	$81,516
Washington DC	1.55×	$77,639
Rhode Island	1.50×	$74,236
Los Angeles	1.50×	$74,452
Maui	1.50×	$83,985
Boston	1.45×	$71,435
Chicago	1.45×	$70,924
Cape Cod	1.40×	$78,755
Santa Barbara	1.40×	$79,344
Oahu	1.40×	$78,374
Connecticut	1.35×	$66,561
Virginia (NoVA)	1.35×	$66,253
Florida Keys	1.30×	$73,588
Big Island	1.30×	$72,777
Philadelphia	1.25×	$61,547
Maryland	1.20×	$58,847
San Diego	1.20×	$59,493
Jackson Hole	1.20×	$66,861
Miami	1.10×	$54,254
Seattle	1.05×	$51,903
Atlanta	1.00×	$50,130
Denver	1.00×	$49,201
Scottsdale	1.00×	$48,609
Charleston	0.95×	$53,774
Austin	0.95×	$46,939
New Orleans	0.90×	$52,330
Santa Fe	0.90×	$50,902
Portland	0.90×	$42,800
Houston	0.90×	$44,426
Dallas	0.90×	$44,426
Orlando	0.85×	$41,945
Nashville	0.85×	$42,006
Savannah	0.85×	$48,876
Portland	0.85×	$42,459
Burlington	0.85×	$41,859
Charlotte	0.80×	$38,819
Minneapolis	0.80×	$39,133
San Antonio	0.80×	$39,515
Anchorage	0.80×	$38,021
Manchester	0.80×	$38,021
Las Vegas	0.75×	$19,907
San Juan	0.75×	$18,281
Louisville	0.75×	$20,043
Bozeman	0.75×	$19,257
Wilmington	0.75×	$19,374
Cleveland	0.70×	$18,446
Detroit	0.70×	$18,469
Milwaukee	0.70×	$18,381
Kansas City	0.70×	$18,372
Birmingham	0.70×	$19,173
Boise	0.70×	$18,761
Indianapolis	0.65×	$17,307
Little Rock	0.65×	$17,289
Des Moines	0.65×	$17,409
Omaha	0.65×	$17,184
Oklahoma City	0.65×	$17,305
Salt Lake City	0.60×	$15,897
Jackson	0.60×	$16,424
Charleston	0.60×	$16,277
Wichita	0.60×	$15,980
Fargo	0.55×	$14,626
Sioux Falls	0.55×	$14,687

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.

Calculate your wedding budget in United States

Pick a city and adjust guest count — the engine returns live local pricing.

City

Where is the wedding?

Guest count · 100

Full-day invitees. Most couples land between 80 and 140.

Tier

Rough positioning — the engine adjusts from your city baseline.

Frequently asked questions

What does an average wedding cost in United States?

A typical 100-guest wedding in United States runs around $49,000 all-in, ranging from $14,626 in lower-cost markets to $140,072 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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