United States Wedding Statistics (2024)

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United States Wedding Statistics? ›

Average wedding cost in America

As of 2023, the average wedding cost — including both the ceremony and reception — was $35,000, according to The Knot. However, the majority of those who responded to our survey (52%) said their big day cost less than $10,000.

Average wedding cost in America

As of 2023, the average wedding cost — including both the ceremony and reception — was $35,000, according to The Knot. However, the majority of those who responded to our survey (52%) said their big day cost less than $10,000.

There are an average of two million weddings every year in the United States. That breaks down to over 5,000 weddings taking place every day. That's a lot of people to share an anniversary with. The average wedding in the United States cost over $29,195 in 2022, so it's clear to see why the industry is so competitive.

For the past two decades, the number of marriages stayed around 7 to 8 per 1,000 people a year, according to new data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. But in 2020, the marriage rate was down to 5.1 per 1,000 people, the data showed.

Marriage rates in the U.S. 2021, by state

In 2021, Nevada had the highest marriage rate in the United States, with 26.2 marriages per 1,000 residents.

Set your wedding budget

In a 2022 survey of 12,000 couples across the country, The Knot found the national average for a wedding is $30,000.

Overall, the U.S. marriage rate increased 12% in 2022 to 16.7 women getting married within the last year per 1,000 women ages 15 years and older, compared with 14.9 per 1,000 in 2021, according to the latest one-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

One reason is that young adults today feel less pressure than ever to marry. Two-thirds of single Americans report that they have felt no pressure from their family to get married.

According to the American Psychological Association, approximately 40-50% of first marriages end in divorce. The divorce rate for second marriages is even higher, with approximately 60-67% of second marriages ending in divorce.

Almost 90% of the world's population now live in countries with falling marriage rates. In the U.S., marriage has declined by 60% since the 1970s, while the median age for first marriages has increased for both men and women. "There are a couple of big factors here in play.

How long does the average American marriage last? ›

Average Duration of a Marriage in the U.S.

According to the Census Bureau, the average length of a first marriage is eight years. Italy's is about double that. But the US doesn't win the title for the world's shortest marriage. Marriages in Qatar last an average of only five years.

There is substantial variation in marriage rates by race and ethnicity. While 57% of white adults and 63% of Asian adults are married, fewer than half of Hispanic (48%) and black adults (33%) are.

Luckily, the choice on how much to give at a wedding is really up to you. A good starting point: $100 per guest, the average gift amount according to Brides.com.

The US Census Bureau found that the median age for marriage in 2022 was 28.6 years old for women and 30.5 years old for men.

If your budget is $15,000, you can still have an amazing wedding. With a $15,000 budget, the key is to keep the guest list to 50 people or fewer. Other ways to keep costs within your budget include sending invitations through email or choosing a venue's buffet package rather than a plated dinner.