Wedding Industry Statistics 2026: Market Size, Costs & Planning Trends

A comprehensive, up-to-date collection of U.S. wedding industry data for professional wedding planners and industry professionals, including market size, spending, planner industry insights, vendor trends, and technology adoption.

2025 U.S. Wedding Industry at a Glance

Key U.S. wedding market statistics from The Wedding Report (2025).

$66.16 billion

Total U.S. wedding spending in 2025

Source: The Wedding Report, 2025 U.S. market
2,011,044

Weddings in the U.S. in 2025

Source: The Wedding Report, 2025 U.S. market
$32,899

Average wedding cost in the U.S. in 2025

Source: The Wedding Report, 2025 U.S. market
$18,231

Median wedding spend in the U.S. in 2025

Source: The Wedding Report, 2025 U.S. market

U.S. Wedding Market Size & Spending

U.S. couples spent approximately $66.16 billion on weddings in 2025 across 2,011,044 weddings, according to The Wedding Report. The average wedding cost was $32,899, while the median wedding spend was $18,231.

Average and median spending tell different stories. Higher-budget weddings can increase the overall average, while the median represents the midpoint of reported spending. For wedding professionals, looking at both figures provides better context when evaluating client budgets and market opportunities.

What These Numbers Mean for Wedding Planners

A large and established market: More than 2 million U.S. weddings and approximately $66.16 billion in annual wedding spending represent a substantial market for wedding professionals.

Average vs. median spending: The difference between average and median spending highlights why planners should consider their target budget segment and local market rather than relying on a national average alone.

Continued demand for event planning: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for meeting, convention, and event planners to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035. BLS notes that demand includes people seeking professional help organizing personal events such as weddings.

Average Wedding Costs by Category

Selected U.S. wedding vendor costs reported by The Knot; figures come from separately updated articles and may cover different wedding years.

$12,900

Venue

Source: The Knot, venue cost (2026 article)
$80

Catering per person

2024 weddings / The Knot 2025 study

Source: The Knot, catering cost (2025 study / 2024 weddings)
$3,000

Photography

Source: The Knot, photography cost (2026 article)
$2,300

Videography

Source: The Knot, videography cost (2026 article)
$2,800

Flowers

Source: The Knot, flowers cost (2026 article)
$1,800

DJ

Source: The Knot, DJ cost (2026 article)
$2,100

Wedding planner

Source: The Knot, planner cost and full-service planning (2026 article)

Wedding Planner Industry

Employment data for meeting, convention, and event planners from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

$61,160

Median annual wage (May 2025)

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025–2035)
172,100

Jobs in 2025

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025–2035)
6%

Projected employment growth, 2025–2035

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025–2035)
16,800

Projected openings per year, on average

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025–2035)

Planning & Vendor Logistics

Data from The Knot Real Weddings 2025 Vendor Report, reflecting planning behavior among U.S. couples married in 2024.

14

Wedding vendors hired on average

Source: WeddingPro, The Knot Real Weddings 2025 Vendor Report (2024 weddings)
82%

Hired their venue first

Source: WeddingPro, The Knot Real Weddings 2025 Vendor Report (2024 weddings)
15 months

Average engagement length

Source: WeddingPro, The Knot Real Weddings 2025 Vendor Report (2024 weddings)
12 months

Most couples began serious wedding planning about one year before the wedding

Source: WeddingPro, The Knot Real Weddings 2025 Vendor Report (2024 weddings)

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the U.S. wedding industry?

The Wedding Report estimates that U.S. couples spent approximately $66.16 billion on weddings in 2025 across 2,011,044 weddings.

How much does the average U.S. wedding cost?

The Wedding Report estimates an average U.S. wedding cost of $32,899 in 2025. Average spending should be interpreted alongside the median because higher-budget weddings can increase the overall average.

How many weddings take place in the U.S. each year?

The Wedding Report estimates that 2,011,044 weddings took place in the United States in 2025.

What is the difference between average and median wedding spending?

An average is calculated by dividing total spending by the number of weddings, while the median represents the midpoint of the dataset. The Wedding Report estimates average U.S. wedding spending of $32,899 and median spending of $18,231 for 2025.

How much do wedding planners earn?

There is no single authoritative national salary figure specifically for wedding planners. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $61,160 in May 2025 for the broader occupation of meeting, convention, and event planners.

When should couples begin booking wedding vendors?

Timing varies by vendor, market and wedding date. The Knot's vendor research found an average engagement length of 15 months and that serious wedding planning generally began about 12 months before the wedding.

Sources & Methodology

NueViews compiles wedding industry statistics from established industry research and government datasets. Each statistic identifies its source and applicable year wherever possible.

Data from different studies should not be interpreted as directly comparable when methodologies, populations, sample sizes or definitions differ. Statistics describing weddings in a particular year may also appear in reports published the following year.

Primary sources used on this page include The Wedding Report, The Knot Real Weddings Study, WeddingPro, Zola's First Look Report and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

NueViews reviews this page periodically to update statistics as new industry research becomes available.

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