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Weddings don't always come with a hefty price tag, but they frequently do. The typical wedding cost in the U.S. has now reached $30,000, though it varies based on location. NerdWallet analyzed the data and created a guide to the most and least costly counties to get married, plus a tool to help compare expenses.
NerdWallet examined data from The Wedding Report to understand wedding costs across several categories. The raw numbers revealed several notable trends:
Southern States
: The ten least expensive counties for weddings are found in Missouri, Kentucky, and Mississippi.
Expensive Coastal Areas
: On the opposite end, the ten most expensive counties to marry in are located in New Jersey, New York, and California.
High Stakes
: The priciest counties to marry, such as Hunterdon and Somerset in New Jersey, are nearly twice as expensive as weddings in Hickory County, Missouri, the least costly county in our analysis.
NerdWallet also factored in household income alongside the wedding costs. They assessed the average wedding expenses across different counties and compared them to the median household income in those areas.
Here are the top 10 most affordable places to tie the knot:
Loudoun, VA
Los Alamos, NM
Fairfax, VA
Arlington, VA
Douglas, CO
Howard, MD
Stafford, VA
Prince William, VA
Williamson, TN
Scott, MN
And here are the least affordable locations:
Brooks, TX
Jefferson, MS
Wolfe, KY
McCreary, KY
Clay, KY
Sumter, AL
Hancock, TN
Jackson, KY
McDowell, WV
Lee, KY
For a more comprehensive breakdown, check out their complete list. However, keep in mind that these figures reflect average wedding expenses compared to median incomes. You can certainly plan a wedding for less, but the rankings provide valuable insight. They also offer an interactive tool based on this data, allowing you to estimate wedding costs and compare between different locations.
Visit the full post for more detailed information, including the most affordable county to get married in your state.
Photo by Kelly Sue DeConnick
