While the average cost of a wedding in the US is $32,641, there are some places that are even more affordable to say 'I Do.' Thanks to the results of The Knot’s Real Weddings Survey, here are the 10 cheapest states to have a wedding.
[Photo:
Samm Blake]
Alaska Average Cost: $17,361
Alaska (along with Montana) weddings are more likely to be casual than any other region in the US, which can significantly decrease the overall cost of the event. While Manhattan--the most expensive place in the country to say I Do--hosts the most black tie weddings. Black tie usually equals a more lavish affair.
South Dakota Average Cost: $18,890
One factor in a wedding budget could be the couple’s age when they get married. South Dakota has the youngest brides (26 years on average) and grooms (28.3 years on average), and with more couples paying for their own weddings, younger brides and grooms might not have the money to spend on a lavish affair.
Texas Average Cost: $19,261
Couples in West Texas walk down the aisle sooner after getting engaged than brides and grooms in other parts of the country (10.7 months on average). That means there’s less time to spend on décor and last minute details found on Pinterest.
Arkansas Average Cost: $19,856
Arkansas brides simply don’t spend a lot on wedding items, shelling out just a little over $1,000 on flowers, less than a grand on stationery and just $391 (on average) on a wedding cake.
New Mexico Average Cost: $20,114
Nerd Wallet also did its own survey of affordable places to get married in the US, and was even able to narrow it down to a specific area. Los Alamos, NM was named the second most affordable place to get hitched.
North Dakota Average Cost: $20,211
North Dakota brides spend less on their dresses ($990 on average), one of the many factors that make this state one of the most affordable to wed.
Idaho Average Cost: $20,245
Couples also get married younger in Idaho (26.1 years for brides; 27.9 years for grooms), and the venues across the state are also extremely affordable—as low as $500 for 50 guests.
Montana Average Cost: $20,322
Along with hosting more casual weddings, Montana brides also spend less on average on their wedding dresses, at $967. Compare that to Manhattan brides who spend an average of $2,710 on their dresses.
Oregon Average Cost: $20,456
Oregon has a variety of beautiful venues that start as low as $4,000 for 50 guests.
Illinois Average Cost: $21,818
While Chicago is one of the most expensive places to wed in the country, moving outside the big city--especially to the central part of the state--saves couples a significant amount, dropping the price from $61,265 to $21,818.