According to news coverage of The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study, couples who married in 2024 spent an average of about $33,000, or about $284 per guest. Averages hide a wide range: weddings with fewer than 50 guests averaged about $15,000, and those with more than 100 guests about $42,000.
Typical Spend by Vendor
| Vendor | Reported average |
|---|---|
| Venue | about $12,200 |
| Catering | about $80 per guest |
| Photographer | about $2,900 |
| Flowers | about $2,700 |
| Wedding dress | about $2,100 |
| DJ | about $1,700 |
| Cake | about $540 |
Figures as reported in news coverage of The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study (2024 weddings). They are national averages, not quotes; prices in big metro areas run higher.
The Biggest Cost Driver: Guest Count
Catering, rentals, invitations, cake, favors and often the venue size all scale with the number of guests. Cutting 20 guests usually saves more than any single vendor negotiation. Start with the budget calculator to see how your total splits.
Costs Couples Forget
- Service charges (often 18–24%) and sales tax on venue and catering
- Vendor meals, tips and overtime
- Alterations, marriage license, postage, hair and makeup trials
- Delivery and setup fees for rentals and flowers
How to Keep the Total Down
See our 15 ways to save and the seasonal guide: off-season and non-Saturday dates are among the easiest savings.