When planning a wedding, the couple and their families want to make the ceremony and reception a memorable celebration of love — and whoever is financing the event often spares no expense to make sure everything is exactly right.
Many weddings take months of planning and cost thousands of dollars. Clothing, hair and makeup, photography, and entertainment are all pricey, but the most expensive part of the average wedding is food. The average amount spent on food at a wedding is $4,600. Venue rental, bar service, and an engagement ring all cost thousands on average as well. Venue rental, bar service, and the engagement ring also cost thousands of dollars.
When all is said and done, the average American wedding costs $24,723. Wedding costs, however, can be cheaper in some states and more expensive in others, and the average wedding cost can vary by thousands of dollars from state to state.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed data for 2018 from The Wedding Report Inc. to determine the cost of a wedding in every state.
As you may expect, residents in wealthier states tend to spend more on weddings, while those getting married in states with lower median household incomes spend less. These are the states with the best economies.
The average cost of a wedding is less than $20,000 in only nine states, most of which are in the South. There are also 11 states in which the average wedding costs is over $30,000. These states are mostly located in the Northeast. Of course, the cost of a wedding also varies from city to city. These are the richest towns in every state.
Click here to see the cost of a wedding in every state
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
50. Mississippi
> Avg. wedding cost: $15,260
> Number of weddings in 2018: 16,449 (15th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,047 (the lowest)
> Avg. ring cost: $2,914 (the lowest)
> Median household income: $43,529 (the lowest)
See all stories featuring: Mississippi
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
49. Alabama
> Avg. wedding cost: $17,216
> Number of weddings in 2018: 34,816 (22nd most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,077 (5th lowest)
> Avg. ring cost: $2,998 (3rd lowest)
> Median household income: $48,123 (2nd lowest)
See all stories featuring: Alabama
Source: Adventure_Photo / Getty Images
48. Arkansas
> Avg. wedding cost: $17,433
> Number of weddings in 2018: 31,063 (23rd fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,068 (2nd lowest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,015 (5th lowest)
> Median household income: $45,869 (3rd lowest)
See all stories featuring: Arkansas
Source: 92833011@N00 / Flickr
47. Kentucky
> Avg. wedding cost: $17,607
> Number of weddings in 2018: 32,065 (25th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,089 (7th lowest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,032 (6th lowest)
> Median household income: $48,375 (4th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Kentucky
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Source: Zagursky / Getty Images
46. West Virginia
> Avg. wedding cost: $18,228
> Number of weddings in 2018: 13,728 (14th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,129 (13th lowest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,286 (21st lowest)
> Median household income: $43,469 (5th lowest)
See all stories featuring: West Virginia
Source: wbritten / Getty Images
45. Tennessee
> Avg. wedding cost: $18,346
> Number of weddings in 2018: 57,503 (12th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,092 (8th lowest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,041 (7th lowest)
> Median household income: $51,340 (6th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Tennessee
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Source: bpperry / Getty Images
44. New Mexico
> Avg. wedding cost: $18,470
> Number of weddings in 2018: 11,291 (11th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,153 (18th lowest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,439 (22nd highest)
> Median household income: $46,744 (7th lowest)
See all stories featuring: New Mexico
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Source: shakzu / Getty Images
43. Louisiana
> Avg. wedding cost: $19,681
> Number of weddings in 2018: 32,384 (25th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,107 (9th lowest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,125 (12th lowest)
> Median household income: $46,145 (8th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Louisiana
Source: Danamallard51 / Getty Images
42. Idaho
> Avg. wedding cost: $19,925
> Number of weddings in 2018: 13,433 (13th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,171 (25th lowest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,490 (20th highest)
> Median household income: $52,225 (9th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Idaho
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Source: eyfoto / Getty Images
41. South Carolina
> Avg. wedding cost: $20,047
> Number of weddings in 2018: 32,965 (24th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,156 (20th lowest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,363 (25th lowest – tied)
> Median household income: $50,570 (10th lowest)
See all stories featuring: South Carolina
Source: WorldExotc21 / Getty Images
40. Missouri
> Avg. wedding cost: $20,058
> Number of weddings in 2018: 41,509 (17th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,111 (11th lowest)
> Avg. ring cost: $2,931 (2nd lowest)
> Median household income: $53,578 (11th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Missouri
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Source: bz3rk / Flickr
39. North Carolina
> Avg. wedding cost: $20,416
> Number of weddings in 2018: 68,270 (8th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,150 (16th lowest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,346 (23rd lowest)
> Median household income: $52,752 (12th lowest)
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Source: urbancow / Getty Images
38. Montana
> Avg. wedding cost: $20,706
> Number of weddings in 2018: 8,301 (8th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,205 (24th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,583 (15th highest)
> Median household income: $53,386 (13th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Montana
Source: jimfeng / Getty Images
37. Florida
> Avg. wedding cost: $20,933
> Number of weddings in 2018: 169,578 (3rd most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,168 (24th lowest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,396 (23rd highest – tied)
> Median household income: $52,594 (14th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Florida
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Source: adamjlynch / Flickr
36. Michigan
> Avg. wedding cost: $20,942
> Number of weddings in 2018: 58,201 (11th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,068 (2nd lowest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,202 (13th lowest)
> Median household income: $54,909 (15th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Michigan
Source: sbrogan / Getty Images
35. Indiana
> Avg. wedding cost: $21,004
> Number of weddings in 2018: 45,589 (15th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,071 (4th lowest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,210 (14th lowest)
> Median household income: $54,181 (16th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Indiana
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Source: Koerpers / Getty Images
34. Oklahoma
> Avg. wedding cost: $21,032
> Number of weddings in 2018: 28,194 (21st fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,107 (9th lowest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,125 (11th lowest)
> Median household income: $50,051 (17th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Oklahoma
Source: YONGSUNG JUNG / Getty Images
33. Ohio
> Avg. wedding cost: $21,478
> Number of weddings in 2018: 65,076 (9th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,083 (6th lowest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,244 (16th lowest – tied)
> Median household income: $54,021 (18th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Ohio
Source: PolenAZ / Getty Images
32. Arizona
> Avg. wedding cost: $21,605
> Number of weddings in 2018: 40,555 (18th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,199 (25th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,566 (16th highest – tied)
> Median household income: $56,581 (19th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Arizona
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Source: aimintang / Getty Images
31. Georgia
> Avg. wedding cost: $21,666
> Number of weddings in 2018: 59,902 (10th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,156 (20th lowest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,363 (25th lowest – tied)
> Median household income: $56,183 (20th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Georgia
Source: Meinzahn / Getty Images
30. Nevada
> Avg. wedding cost: $21,879
> Number of weddings in 2018: 110,216 (5th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,226 (22nd highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,642 (13th highest)
> Median household income: $58,003 (21st lowest)
See all stories featuring: Nevada
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Source: TriggerPhoto / Getty Images
29. Kansas
> Avg. wedding cost: $22,407
> Number of weddings in 2018: 17,467 (16th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,138 (14th lowest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,007 (4th lowest)
> Median household income: $56,422 (22nd lowest)
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Source: shalf / Flickr
28. South Dakota
> Avg. wedding cost: $22,896
> Number of weddings in 2018: 6,105 (6th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,162 (23rd lowest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,075 (10th lowest)
> Median household income: $56,521 (23rd lowest)
See all stories featuring: South Dakota
Source: jonathancharles / Flickr
27. Iowa
> Avg. wedding cost: $23,426
> Number of weddings in 2018: 19,508 (18th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,153 (18th lowest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,049 (8th lowest)
> Median household income: $58,570 (24th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Iowa
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Source: yoh4nn / Getty Images
26. Nebraska
> Avg. wedding cost: $23,488
> Number of weddings in 2018: 12,036 (12th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,156 (20th lowest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,058 (9th lowest)
> Median household income: $59,970 (25th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Nebraska
Source: tomtom022 / Getty Images
25. Wisconsin
> Avg. wedding cost: $23,680
> Number of weddings in 2018: 33,109 (23rd most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,114 (12th lowest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,329 (22nd lowest)
> Median household income: $59,305 (25th highest)
See all stories featuring: Wisconsin
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Source: Erstudiostok / Getty Images
24. Texas
> Avg. wedding cost: $24,520
> Number of weddings in 2018: 172,463 (2nd most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,150 (16th lowest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,244 (16th lowest – tied)
> Median household income: $59,206 (24th highest)
See all stories featuring: Texas
Source: nick1803 / Getty Images
23. Illinois
> Avg. wedding cost: $25,918
> Number of weddings in 2018: 71,439 (7th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,138 (14th lowest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,396 (23rd highest – tied)
> Median household income: $62,992 (23rd highest)
See all stories featuring: Illinois
Source: pocheco / Flickr
22. Wyoming
> Avg. wedding cost: $26,017
> Number of weddings in 2018: 4,199 (the fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,235 (20th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,668 (11th highest – tied)
> Median household income: $60,434 (22nd highest)
See all stories featuring: Wyoming
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Source: joshuaraineyphotography / Getty Images
21. Oregon
> Avg. wedding cost: $26,175
> Number of weddings in 2018: 28,414 (22nd fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,378 (10th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,278 (20th lowest)
> Median household income: $60,212 (21st highest)
See all stories featuring: Oregon
Source: jpbcpa / Getty Images
20. Maine
> Avg. wedding cost: $26,211
> Number of weddings in 2018: 9,706 (10th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,260 (19th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,354 (24th lowest)
> Median household income: $56,277 (20th highest)
See all stories featuring: Maine
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Source: Phil Leitch / Flickr
19. North Dakota
> Avg. wedding cost: $26,774
> Number of weddings in 2018: 4,466 (2nd fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,214 (23rd highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,219 (15th lowest)
> Median household income: $61,843 (19th highest)
See all stories featuring: North Dakota
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Source: nick1803 / Getty Images
18. Utah
> Avg. wedding cost: $27,095
> Number of weddings in 2018: 25,877 (20th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,269 (17th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,761 (8th highest)
> Median household income: $68,358 (18th highest)
See all stories featuring: Utah
Source: minka6 / Flickr
17. Minnesota
> Avg. wedding cost: $27,332
> Number of weddings in 2018: 31,664 (24th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,229 (21st highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,261 (19th lowest)
> Median household income: $68,388 (17th highest)
See all stories featuring: Minnesota
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Source: ronaldmorales / Getty Images
16. Colorado
> Avg. wedding cost: $27,646
> Number of weddings in 2018: 36,840 (19th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,293 (15th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,828 (5th highest)
> Median household income: $69,117 (16th highest)
See all stories featuring: Colorado
Source: bartosz_zakrzewski / Getty Images
15. Delaware
> Avg. wedding cost: $28,067
> Number of weddings in 2018: 5,711 (5th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,266 (18th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,668 (11th highest – tied)
> Median household income: $62,852 (15th highest)
See all stories featuring: Delaware
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14. Pennsylvania
> Avg. wedding cost: $28,827
> Number of weddings in 2018: 72,899 (6th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,384 (9th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,684 (10th highest)
> Median household income: $59,195 (14th highest)
See all stories featuring: Pennsylvania
Source: lillisphotography / Getty Images
13. Virginia
> Avg. wedding cost: $29,196
> Number of weddings in 2018: 57,319 (13th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,281 (16th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,710 (9th highest)
> Median household income: $71,535 (13th highest)
See all stories featuring: Virginia
Source: smavro / Getty Images
12. Washington
> Avg. wedding cost: $29,511
> Number of weddings in 2018: 45,218 (16th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,369 (11th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,252 (18th lowest)
> Median household income: $70,979 (12th highest)
See all stories featuring: Washington
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Source: jsmith / Getty Images
11. Vermont
> Avg. wedding cost: $30,257
> Number of weddings in 2018: 5,321 (3rd fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,302 (14th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,473 (21st highest)
> Median household income: $57,513 (11th highest)
See all stories featuring: Vermont
Source: iShootPhotosLLC / Getty Images
10. Rhode Island
> Avg. wedding cost: $30,861
> Number of weddings in 2018: 6,630 (7th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,317 (13th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,515 (18th highest)
> Median household income: $63,870 (10th highest)
See all stories featuring: Rhode Island
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Source: Melnikof / Getty Images
9. California
> Avg. wedding cost: $31,437
> Number of weddings in 2018: 247,016 (the most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,457 (5th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,498 (19th highest)
> Median household income: $71,805 (9th highest)
See all stories featuring: California
Source: isa3863 / Getty Images
8. New Hampshire
> Avg. wedding cost: $33,612
> Number of weddings in 2018: 9,341 (9th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,336 (12th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,566 (16th highest – tied)
> Median household income: $73,381 (8th highest)
See all stories featuring: New Hampshire
Source: smoorenburg / Flickr
7. Maryland
> Avg. wedding cost: $33,755
> Number of weddings in 2018: 36,712 (20th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,424 (6th highest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $4,108 (2nd highest)
> Median household income: $80,776 (7th highest)
See all stories featuring: Maryland
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Source: 4nadia / Getty Images
6. Alaska
> Avg. wedding cost: $34,298
> Number of weddings in 2018: 5,373 (4th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,503 (4th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,625 (14th highest)
> Median household income: $73,181 (6th highest)
See all stories featuring: Alaska
Source: Weekend Images Inc. / Getty Images
5. New York
> Avg. wedding cost: $34,315
> Number of weddings in 2018: 137,843 (4th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,530 (3rd highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $4,091 (3rd highest)
> Median household income: $64,894 (5th highest)
See all stories featuring: New York
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Source: BlueHorse_pl / Getty Images
4. Connecticut
> Avg. wedding cost: $35,702
> Number of weddings in 2018: 18,561 (17th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,412 (8th highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,778 (7th highest)
> Median household income: $74,168 (4th highest)
See all stories featuring: Connecticut
Source: capecodphoto / Getty Images
3. Massachusetts
> Avg. wedding cost: $35,966
> Number of weddings in 2018: 36,606 (21st most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,424 (6th highest – tied)
> Avg. ring cost: $3,812 (6th highest)
> Median household income: $77,385 (3rd highest)
See all stories featuring: Massachusetts
Source: gilltrejos / Getty Images
2. New Jersey
> Avg. wedding cost: $36,943
> Number of weddings in 2018: 47,802 (14th most)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,558 (2nd highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $4,167 (the highest)
> Median household income: $80,088 (2nd highest)
See all stories featuring: New Jersey
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Source: jhorrocks / Getty Images
1. Hawaii
> Avg. wedding cost: $37,827
> Number of weddings in 2018: 22,857 (19th fewest)
> Avg. dress cost: $1,667 (the highest)
> Avg. ring cost: $4,083 (4th highest)
> Median household income: $77,765 (the highest)
See all stories featuring: Hawaii
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