How much should a couple spend on their dream wedding? The answer might surprise you. In 2025, couples are spending more than ever before, with the average wedding costing between $33,000 and $36,000 nationwide. This spending spree is creating an unexpected consumer frenzy that’s reshaping entire industries.
The most popular spending range sits between $30,000 and $45,000, capturing about 26% of couples. But here’s where it gets interesting: over 11% of couples are splurging $60,000 or more on their big day. In expensive cities like New York, weddings can easily hit $65,000. That’s more than many people’s annual salaries!
What’s driving this spending madness? Social media plays a huge role. Couples see picture-perfect weddings online and want to match or exceed what they see. About 34% of newlyweds admit they spend beyond their comfort levels just to impress guests. Millennials are the biggest culprits, with 36% overspending on their weddings. Interestingly, 85% of couples now rely on digital platforms and apps for everything from wedding planning discovery to budgeting and timeline management.
Social media pressure drives couples to overspend on weddings, with over one-third admitting they exceed comfortable budgets to impress guests.
The numbers tell a fascinating story about where money goes. Venues and catering eat up the biggest chunks of budgets, while photos, flowers, and entertainment add serious costs. With an average of 116 guests, couples spend roughly $284 per person. Don’t forget the honeymoon either – that adds another $6,260 on average.
Many couples are borrowing money to fund their dream weddings. About 41% expect to spend at least a year paying off wedding debt through credit cards and personal loans. Ironically, cash gifts from the wedding often go right back to paying off that debt. Wedding expenses, like other large financial commitments, are treated as taxable income when couples receive monetary gifts to offset their costs.
This wedding boom is creating a massive economic impact. The global wedding planning market is expected to hit $106 billion in 2025. The U.S. wedding industry alone grew from $62.74 billion in 2024 and could reach $105 billion by 2033. Remarkably, 52% of newlyweds express regret about their spending choices, wishing they had allocated their budgets differently.
Despite rising costs, couples keep spending because weddings feel deeply personal and once-in-a-lifetime special. Vendors have learned to emphasize emotional value over price tags, making it easier for couples to justify bigger budgets. This cycle continues fueling unprecedented consumer spending in the wedding industry.
