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Ceremonies

The average wedding costs more than $25,000. What's the price tag in your state?

Grant Suneson

24/7 Wall Street

Weddings are ideally a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of love, so brides and grooms are often willing to spend a small fortune on the big day. According to wedding industry research company The Wedding Report Inc., the average American wedding costs over $25,000, though many are significantly more expensive.

Flowers, dresses, tuxedos, food, and rings can all rack up a large bill for the families of the couple, or the couple themselves -- and that's not counting the bill from wedding planners hired to make everything move smoothly. While weddings can be costly anywhere, the amount Americans spend on nuptials varies from one state to the next.

24/7 Wall Street reviewed data from The Wedding Report Inc. to determine the cost of a wedding in every state. Many of the most expensive states to host a wedding are in the Northeast, while the least expensive states are in the South.

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50. Mississippi

Cost of typical wedding: $15,581
Number of weddings in 2017: 16,532 (15th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,049 (the lowest)
Average ring cost: $2,841 (the lowest)
Median household income: $40,528 (the lowest)

Cost of typical wedding in Alabama is $17,766.

49. Alabama

Cost of typical wedding: $17,766
Number of weddings in 2017: 34,964 (22nd most)
Average dress cost: $1,089 (2nd lowest)
Average ring cost: $2,951 (2nd lowest)
Median household income: $44,758 (4th lowest)

48. Arkansas

Cost of typical wedding: $17,935
Number of weddings in 2017: 30,933 (23rd fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,119 (11th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,087 (7th lowest)
Median household income: $42,336 (2nd lowest)

Cost of typical wedding in Kentucky is $18,223.

47. Kentucky

Cost of typical wedding: $18,223
Number of weddings in 2017: 32,135 (25th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,104 (5th lowest)
Average ring cost: $2,994 (3rd lowest)
Median household income: $44,811 (5th lowest)

46. West Virginia

Cost of typical wedding: $18,468
Number of weddings in 2017: 13,780 (14th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,150 (17th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,096 (9th lowest)
Median household income: $42,644 (3rd lowest)

45. New Mexico

Cost of typical wedding: $18,954
Number of weddings in 2017: 11,258 (11th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,104 (6th lowest)
Average ring cost: $2,994 (4th lowest)
Median household income: $45,674 (7th lowest)

44. Tennessee

Cost of typical wedding: $19,101
Number of weddings in 2017: 57,079 (12th most)
Average dress cost: $1,104 (7th lowest)
Average ring cost: $2,994 (5th lowest)
Median household income: $46,574 (8th lowest)

43. Louisiana

Cost of typical wedding: $19,977
Number of weddings in 2017: 32,329 (25th most)
Average dress cost: $1,156 (20th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,189 (19th lowest)
Median household income: $45,652 (6th lowest)

42. Idaho

Cost of typical wedding: $20,724
Number of weddings in 2017: 13,058 (13th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,125 (13th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,053 (6th lowest)
Median household income: $49,174 (14th lowest)

41. South Carolina

Cost of typical wedding: $20,846
Number of weddings in 2017: 33,176 (23rd most)
Average dress cost: $1,177 (24th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,172 (16th lowest)
Median household income: $46,898 (9th lowest)

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40. North Carolina

Cost of typical wedding: $20,950
Number of weddings in 2017: 67,541 (8th most)
Average dress cost: $1,168 (23rd lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,147 (15th lowest)
Median household income: $48,256 (11th lowest)

39. Missouri

Cost of typical wedding: $20,951
Number of weddings in 2017: 41,602 (17th most)
Average dress cost: $1,089 (3rd lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,113 (10th lowest)
Median household income: $49,593 (15th lowest)

38. Montana

Cost of typical wedding: $21,179
Number of weddings in 2017: 8,276 (8th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,150 (18th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,121 (12th lowest)
Median household income: $48,380 (12th lowest)

37. Oklahoma

Cost of typical wedding: $21,475
Number of weddings in 2017: 28,470 (22nd fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,159 (21st lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,198 (21st lowest)
Median household income: $48,038 (10th lowest)

36. Florida

Cost of typical wedding: $21,842
Number of weddings in 2017: 168,166 (2nd most)
Average dress cost: $1,190 (23rd highest)
Average ring cost: $3,206 (22nd lowest)
Median household income: $48,900 (13th lowest)

35. Michigan

Cost of typical wedding: $21,850
Number of weddings in 2017: 58,412 (11th most)
Average dress cost: $1,095 (4th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,096 (8th lowest)
Median household income: $50,803 (18th lowest)

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34. Ohio

Cost of typical wedding: $22,026
Number of weddings in 2017: 65,496 (9th most)
Average dress cost: $1,104 (8th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,121 (11th lowest)
Median household income: $50,674 (17th lowest)

33. Indiana

Cost of typical wedding: $22,090
Number of weddings in 2017: 45,705 (15th most)
Average dress cost: $1,107 (9th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,130 (14th lowest)
Median household income: $50,433 (16th lowest)

32. Arizona

Cost of typical wedding: $22,338
Number of weddings in 2017: 40,334 (18th most)
Average dress cost: $1,150 (19th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,121 (13th lowest)
Median household income: $51,340 (21st lowest)

31. Georgia

Cost of typical wedding: $22,589
Number of weddings in 2017: 59,942 (10th most)
Average dress cost: $1,177 (25th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,172 (17th lowest)
Median household income: $51,037 (20th lowest)

30. South Dakota

Cost of typical wedding: $22,854
Number of weddings in 2017: 6,134 (6th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,125 (14th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,215 (23rd lowest)
Median household income: $52,078 (22nd lowest)

Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas

29. Nevada

Cost of typical wedding: $23,008
Number of weddings in 2017: 109,028 (5th most)
Average dress cost: $1,183 (25th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,215 (25th lowest)
Median household income: $53,094 (23rd lowest)

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28. Kansas

Cost of typical wedding: $23,090
Number of weddings in 2017: 17,507 (16th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,116 (10th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,189 (18th lowest)
Median household income: $53,571 (25th lowest)

27. Iowa

Cost of typical wedding: $23,669
Number of weddings in 2017: 19,576 (18th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,119 (12th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,198 (20th lowest)
Median household income: $54,570 (24th highest)

26. Nebraska

Cost of typical wedding: $23,798
Number of weddings in 2017: 11,985 (12th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,125 (15th lowest
Average ring cost: $3,215 (24th lowest)
Median household income: $54,384 (25th highest)

25. Wisconsin

Cost of typical wedding: $24,681
Number of weddings in 2017: 32,865 (24th most)
Average dress cost: $1,141 (16th lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,223 (25th highest)
Median household income: $54,610 (23rd highest)

24. Texas

Cost of typical wedding: $25,327
Number of weddings in 2017: 157,577 (3rd most)
Average dress cost: $1,205 (20th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,325 (21st highest)
Median household income: $54,727 (22nd highest)

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23. Oregon

Cost of typical wedding: $26,605
Number of weddings in 2017: 28,226 (21st fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,336 (14th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,657 (15th highest)
Median household income: $53,270 (24th lowest)

22. Illinois

Cost of typical wedding: $26,700
Number of weddings in 2017: 71,834 (7th most)
Average dress cost: $1,165 (22nd lowest)
Average ring cost: $3,291 (23rd highest)
Median household income: $59,196 (16th highest)

21. Maine

Cost of typical wedding: $26,780
Number of weddings in 2017: 9,697 (10th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,281 (16th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,759 (13th highest)
Median household income: $50,826 (19th lowest)

20. Wyoming

Cost of typical wedding: $27,003
Number of weddings in 2017: 4,235 (the fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,199 (21st highest)
Average ring cost: $3,257 (24th highest)
Median household income: $59,143 (17th highest)

19. North Dakota

Cost of typical wedding: $27,494
Number of weddings in 2017: 4,485 (2nd fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,186 (24th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,385 (19th highest)
Median household income: $59,114 (18th highest)

18. Utah

Cost of typical wedding: $27,953
Number of weddings in 2017: 25,553 (20th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,217 (19th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,308 (22nd highest)
Median household income: $62,518 (13th highest)

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17. Minnesota

Cost of typical wedding: $28,132
Number of weddings in 2017: 31,616 (24th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,196 (22nd highest)
Average ring cost: $3,411 (18th highest)
Median household income: $63,217 (10th highest)

16. Colorado

Cost of typical wedding: $28,590
Number of weddings in 2017: 36,823 (20th most)
Average dress cost: $1,241 (18th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,376 (20th highest)
Median household income: $62,520 (12th highest)

15. Delaware

Cost of typical wedding: $28,970
Number of weddings in 2017: 5,686 (5th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,275 (17th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,445 (17th highest)
Median household income: $61,017 (14th highest)

The cost of typical wedding in Delaware is $28,970.

14. Pennsylvania

Cost of typical wedding: $29,891
Number of weddings in 2017: 73,216 (6th most)
Average dress cost: $1,345 (11th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,802 (12th highest)
Median household income: $54,895 (21st highest)

13. Virginia

Cost of typical wedding: $30,197
Number of weddings in 2017: 57,037 (13th most)
Average dress cost: $1,296 (15th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,504 (16th highest)
Median household income: $66,149 (8th highest)

12. Washington

Cost of typical wedding: $30,629
Number of weddings in 2017: 45,077 (16th most)
Average dress cost: $1,339 (12th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,666 (14th highest)
Median household income: $62,848 (11th highest)

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11. Vermont

Cost of typical wedding: $31,250
Number of weddings in 2017: 5,581 (4th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,336 (13th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,912 (10th highest)
Median household income: $56,104 (20th highest)

10. Rhode Island

Cost of typical wedding: $32,090
Number of weddings in 2017: 6,645 (7th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,351 (10th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,955 (8th highest)
Median household income: $58,387 (19th highest)

9. California

Cost of typical wedding: $32,770
Number of weddings in 2017: 246,700 (the most)
Average dress cost: $1,433 (6th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,929 (9th highest)
Median household income: $63,783 (9th highest)

8. Maryland

Cost of typical wedding: $34,503
Number of weddings in 2017: 36,934 (19th most)
Average dress cost: $1,430 (8th highest)
Average ring cost: $3,878 (11th highest)
Median household income: $76,067 (the highest)

7. New Hampshire

Cost of typical wedding: $35,300
Number of weddings in 2017: 9,326 (9th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,382 (9th highest)
Average ring cost: $4,040 (7th highest)
Median household income: $68,485 (7th highest)

6. Alaska

Cost of typical wedding: $35,401
Number of weddings in 2017: 5,345 (3rd fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,476 (4th highest)
Average ring cost: $4,048 (6th highest)
Median household income: $74,444 (2nd highest)

5. New York

Cost of typical wedding: $35,477
Number of weddings in 2017: 137,984 (4th most)
Average dress cost: $1,476 (3rd highest)
Average ring cost: $4,167 (5th highest)
Median household income: $60,741 (15th highest)

4. Massachusetts

Cost of typical wedding: $36,709
Number of weddings in 2017: 36,732 (21st most)
Average dress cost: $1,430 (7th highest)
Average ring cost: $4,176 (4th highest)
Median household income: $70,954 (6th highest)

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3. Connecticut

Cost of typical wedding: $36,971
Number of weddings in 2017: 18,685 (17th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,434 (5th highest)
Average ring cost: $4,184 (3rd highest)
Median household income: $71,755 (5th highest)

2. New Jersey

Cost of typical wedding: $38,049
Number of weddings in 2017: 47,854 (14th most)
Average dress cost: $1,501 (2nd highest)
Average ring cost: $4,235 (2nd highest)
Median household income: $73,702 (3rd highest)

1. Hawaii

Cost of typical wedding: $39,078
Number of weddings in 2017: 22,630 (19th fewest)
Average dress cost: $1,635 (the highest)
Average ring cost: $4,491 (the highest)
Median household income: $71,977 (4th highest)

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Detailed findings

Hawaii has the highest average wedding cost at $37,078 -- more than $1,000 ahead of New Jersey, which was the state with costliest average wedding tab on last year's list.

Generally, couples in the Northeast region of the country spend more tying the knot than anywhere else in the United States. Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York come in after New Jersey and Hawaii as the states with the most expensive weddings.

Wedding costs can be affected by regional differences in the price of goods and services. Since Alaska and Hawaii are geographically isolated, prices there tend to be much higher compared to the lower 48 states. Both states have wedding costs in excess of $35,000.

The cost of a state’s average wedding tends to be affected by the typical state income, as people in more affluent areas have more money to spend.

Only Americans in eight states — Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Louisiana — spend less than $20,000 on the average wedding. All of these states rank near the nation's bottom in median household income and typically have lower costs of living.

Methodology

To identify the cost of a wedding in every state, 24/7 Wall Street reviewed the 2017 average cost of a wedding in every state from wedding industry research company The Wedding Report, Inc. The estimated number of 2017 weddings in each state as well as the cost of engagement rings and other items also came from The Wedding Report, Inc. Average household income figures came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016 American Consumer Survey.

24/7 Wall Street is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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