Quick answer: Weddings cost more in 2026 because of broad inflation (4.2% annualized in May) and tariffs on imported goods like flowers. Bank of America found wedding-related spending per customer up 8.5% year on year through May 2026. Zola put the average 2025 wedding at $36,000. Couples are cutting back with smaller guest lists, grocery-store cakes, lab-grown diamonds and fewer new outfits. The cake doesn't know where it came from, and neither do your guests.
Weddings got more expensive. Again. It's the least surprising trend in our roundup of 2027 wedding trends, and the one that shapes all the others.
But "everything costs more" isn't a plan. Here's what the new data actually says, why prices are rising, and the cuts couples are making that guests genuinely don't notice.
What the 2026 numbers say
A Bank of America Institute analysis of customers' card and bank-transfer data found:
- Wedding-related spending up 8.5% year on year through May 2026, covering venues, catering, photography, florists and apparel.
- An average 2025 wedding of $36,000, up $3,000 from the year before (a figure the report credits to Zola).
- Faster growth in the South: couples' wedding spending there grew five times faster than in the Midwest.
- A Gen Z wedding boom: Gen Z weddings have tripled since 2019, while millennial weddings fell about 20%.
Costs vary hugely by city, guest count and style, so treat $36,000 as a national average, not a target.
Why weddings cost more this year
Inflation
Broad inflation hit 4.2% annualized in May, its highest in more than three years. Venues, caterers and bartenders pay more for food, labor and rent, and those costs land in your quote.
Tariffs
Tariffs raised prices on imported goods like flowers and cocoa, and most cut flowers sold in the US are imported. Bank of America noted small vendors feel this most: they either absorb it in their margins or pass at least some of it on to couples.
Bigger weddings
Weddings are also simply getting longer. Nearly 1 in 3 now span three days or more, per The Knot, and every extra event means more food, drink, staff and rentals. If you're adding a welcome party, budget for it and invite smartly. Our guide to inviting guests to a multi-day wedding covers who really needs to be at what.
Where couples are cutting (without guests noticing)
The smartest cuts are the ones guests never see:
- Trim the guest list first. Every guest you remove saves on food, drink, chairs and favors at once. It's the single biggest lever.
- Get the cake from the grocery store. NPR's Here & Now reported this week on couples buying wedding cakes from the supermarket bakery aisle. Pair a small display cake with sheet cake from the back and nobody can tell. Our cake size guide shows how many servings to order.
- Go lab-grown on the ring. Bank of America noted more couples choosing lab-grown diamonds over natural stones.
- Use seasonal, local flowers. With imported stems hit by tariffs, ask your florist what's grown locally that week.
- Skip paper invitations. Digital invites and online RSVPs save on printing and postage, which adds up with a big guest list.
- Let guests re-wear. A relaxed dress code makes life easier for your guests too.
Want to see where your own money is going? A wedding budget calculator splits your total by category so you can see where a cut actually matters.
A cost-cutting checklist by planning stage
The best savings happen early. Once deposits are paid, your options shrink fast.
12+ months out
- Set the guest count before you tour venues. Every venue quote depends on it.
- Consider a Friday, Sunday or off-season date. Many venues price these lower.
- Decide how many events you're really hosting.
6 to 12 months out
- Get at least three quotes for each major vendor, and ask what's included.
- Lock prices in writing. With costs rising, ask whether the quote is guaranteed until the date.
- Choose flowers by season and ask your florist about local growers.
1 to 6 months out
- Order the cake, or plan the grocery-store version, with a tasting.
- Send digital invitations and track replies online so your headcount is accurate.
- Give the caterer a final number based on real replies, not the invite list.
Budget apps and AI planners: helpful, with a caveat
Planning apps are getting smarter at tracking budgets. This week David's Bridal announced plans to spin off its AI planner Pearl as a public company, and we broke down what that deal means for couples. Just remember that many planning apps earn money from vendor listings and ads, so a "recommended" vendor isn't always the cheapest one. Compare at least one quote you found yourself.
What not to cut
Some savings cost more later:
- Contracts. Read the cancellation and price-increase clauses. With prices rising, lock in today's rate in writing.
- Insurance. If you're putting down big deposits, a policy is usually a small fraction of the total. Our breakdown of what wedding insurance costs in 2026 has real price ranges.
- Food. Hungry guests remember. Cut the number of courses, not the portions.
Doing the trends on a budget
Good news: the 2027 trends are budget-friendly if you pick carefully. Silver decor is easier to rent or thrift than gold, and silver-plated trays and flatware turn up at estate sales all the time. A striped tablecloth plus a bowl of lemons gets you most of the beach club look for very little. The expensive trends are the ones that add events, guests and hours.
May your vendors be fair, your contracts be signed early, and your grocery-store cake get more compliments than the $900 one at your cousin's wedding.
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