2021 Average Wedding Cost in the U.S. Increased by 25% to $27,063

Spending for weddings increased to $27,063 in 2021 up 25% from $20,286 in 2020. This is a significant increase over a horrible 2020 and a welcome sign for the industry. Details of spending changes are listed below. Average number of guests increased to 124 in 2021 up from 107 in 2020.

The latest data is based on 1,669 cost survey samples from people getting married, 39,235 behavioral data samples from our wedding cost estimator collected in 2021. Demographic distribution includes multiple ethnicities, education levels, occupation types, income levels, first, second, and third plus marriages, and ages 16 plus.

NOTE: Products; The final numbers are based on spending of couples getting married, not prices. This includes purchases of both new and used items. Services: The final numbers are based on spending of couples getting married, not vendor prices. This includes purchases of services from professionals, someone that simply provides the service, or a hired family member or friend.

2020 2021 Chg %
Market Totals
Market Summary $20,286 $27,063 25.0%
Attire & Accessories
Dress Accessories $227 $245 7.3%
Tuxedo/suit/other Accessories $107 $100 -7.0%
Tuxedo/suit/other Rent/purchase $217 $273 20.5%
Wedding Dress $1,251 $1,499 16.5%
Bakery
Wedding Cake/dessert $234 $454 48.5%
Beauty & Spa
Hair Service $70 $88 20.5%
Makeup Service $58 $76 23.7%
Manicure & Pedicure $46 $57 19.3%
Ceremony Officiator
Ceremony Officiator $215 $249 13.7%
Entertainment
DJ/MC $759 $853 11.0%
Entertainment lighting $341 $414 17.6%
Live Band $1,773 $2,856 37.9%
Musician/s, Soloist, or Ensemble $642 $799 19.6%
Event Catering & Bar Service
Wedding Venue Bar Service $1,361 $2,144 36.5%
Wedding Venue Food Service $2,645 $4,164 36.5%
Event Location/Venue
Wedding Venue Location $3,734 $5,220 28.5%
Event Rentals
Wedding Venue Rentals $1,392 $1,614 13.8%
Flowers & Decorations
Bouquets $346 $389 11.1%
Boutonnieres, Corsages $156 $169 7.7%
Wedding Venue Accessories $185 $327 43.4%
Wedding Venue Decorations $456 $495 7.9%
Wedding Venue Flowers & Arrangements $337 $506 33.4%
Wedding Venue Table Centerpieces $185 $359 48.5%
Gifts & Favors
Gift/s for Attendants $103 $100 -3.0%
Gift/s for Parents $123 $184 33.2%
Tips (for all services) $214 $387 44.7%
Wedding Favors $136 $200 32.0%
Invitations
Ceremony Programs $73 $143 49.0%
Engagement Announcements $64 $136 52.9%
Guest Book $35 $59 40.7%
Invitations & Reply Cards $126 $190 33.7%
Postage $60 $84 28.6%
Reception Menus $71 $146 51.4%
Save the Date Cards $64 $134 52.2%
Table Name and Escort/place Cards $48 $97 50.5%
Thank You Cards $51 $98 48.0%
Jewelry
Bracelet $179 $175 -2.3%
Earrings $155 $207 25.1%
Engagement Ring $3,456 $3,603 4.1%
Necklace $205 $254 19.3%
Wedding ring/band for Partner 1 $787 $818 3.8%
Wedding ring/band for Partner 2 $465 $492 5.5%
Other Events
Rehearsal Dinner $320 $683 53.1%
Other Items
Hotel Room for After Reception $319 $439 27.3%
Photography & Video
Digital or Photo cd/dvd $285 $260 -9.6%
Engagement Session $392 $331 -18.4%
Photo Booth $384 $405 5.2%
Prints and/or Enlargements $239 $273 12.5%
Wedding album/s or photo book/s $414 $483 14.3%
Wedding Photographer $1,634 $2,003 18.4%
Wedding Videographer $1,104 $1,712 35.5%
Planner/Coordinator
Hourly Services $1,846 $2,002 7.8%
Wedding Coordinator $1,880 $1,599 -17.6%
Wedding Planner $2,773 $2,761 -0.4%
Transportation
Limo Rental $494 $454 -8.8%
Other Transportation $291 $918 68.3%

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