Tying the knot’s not cheap — especially in and around NYC.
Money talks in the Big Apple. So, local lovebirds better have big bank if they’re planning to say “I Do” in Gotham or in its slightly less buzzy, yet exceedingly pricey neighboring state: New Jersey.
In fact, the Garden State, where the average holy matrimony costs $57,706, ranks as the second-most expensive place to get hitched in the U.S., per recent data from Zola, an online wedding planning hub.
New York secures bragging rights as the fourth-most exorbitant state for a ring swap with an average cost of $53,873.
The city, however, reigns No. 1 as the most premium “metro area” for taking the plunge, outranking other major cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
But Washington D.C. really takes the cake.
Earning top billing as the most expensive hotspot for tying the knot, couples in the District of Columbia can expect to pay an eye-watering $70,625 for all the bells, whistles and wows of exchanging vows.
It costs an arm and a leg just to take someone’s hand.
From coast to coast, the national average for nuptials in 2025 is $36,000, according to Zola. It’s a substantial increase from the countrywide mean of $26,665 in 2024.
But sky-high fees, including a voguish venue — which can cost approximately $12,000, as well as catering ($6,500- $10,000), the band or DJ ($2,000–$7,000), and the photographer ($3,500–$6,500) — aren’t deterring sweeties from hosting splashy celebrations this year.
To fund their big day fun, brides and grooms-to-be can save their weekly paychecks and use the monies to cover fees, say experts from GoBankingRates.com, a virtual finance resource.
The insiders even figured out just how many checks couples in several states, including New Jersey, would have to stash in order to afford a fancy fête.
For the findings, researchers determined that the median wage for full-time workers in the US is $1,196 per week, or $62,192 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The analysts then calculated the average cost of a wedding in each state and matched it with disposable income per working day.
Engaged inamoratos of New Jersey have to work 578 days and save 83 of their weekly paychecks to splurge on a walk down the aisle.
Sweethearts in Hawaii, where nuptials cost $32,280, on average, must clock in for 879 days and stack 126 paystubs for a posh ceremony. But lovers in Alaska only have to work 198 shifts and save 28 checks to meet the statewide mean of $16,150 for a wedding.
It’s an investment of the heart, but a financial punch to the gut.
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