2,128,446
marriages were recorded in the United States in 2024.
This is the latest provisional national count reported by the National Center for Health Statistics.
CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, 2024 data, published 2026Wedding planning reference
U.S. wedding statistics for clearer planning conversations.
Current, citable benchmarks on marriage volume, wedding budgets, and the life stage couples are planning from. Last updated October 16, 2026.
At a glance
These figures are useful context, not rules for any one wedding. Use them to start a better conversation about budget, timing, and priorities, then shape the details around the people and day you actually want.
6.3
marriages per 1,000 people was the U.S. marriage rate in 2024.
The national rate rose from 6.1 per 1,000 in 2023, using the same provisional records series.
CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, 2024 data, published 202630.2 / 28.6
was the estimated median age at first marriage for men and women in 2024.
The figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey estimates.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024$34,000
was the average wedding cost reported for U.S. couples married in 2025.
An average is a benchmark, not a budget. Location, guest count, season, and priorities all move the final total.
The Knot Real Weddings Study, 2025 weddings, report published 2026$24,000
was the median wedding cost reported for U.S. couples married in 2025.
The median helps show the midpoint of reported wedding spending, which can differ substantially from the average.
The Knot Real Weddings Study, 2025 weddings, report published 2026$12,000–$41,000
was the spending range reported for the middle 50% of 2025 weddings in the study.
That spread is a useful reminder to build a budget around the celebration you want, rather than one national number.
The Knot Real Weddings Study, 2025 weddings, report published 202625%
of couples spent about $12,000 or less on their 2025 wedding in the study.
A meaningful celebration does not have one required price point, especially when couples are clear about their priorities.
The Knot Real Weddings Study, 2025 weddings, report published 202613%
of couples spent $60,000 or more on their 2025 wedding in the study.
The same study shows how widely wedding budgets can vary, even within one national sample.
The Knot Real Weddings Study, 2025 weddings, report published 2026Method and sources
How to read these numbers.
The marriage count and rate come from the National Center for Health Statistics’ provisional vital statistics records. The age figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey.
Wedding spending figures come from The Knot’s 2026 Real Weddings Study, a survey of 10,474 U.S. couples married in 2025. Survey results describe that study’s respondents and should not be treated as a guarantee of any individual wedding cost.
Cite this page
Enchanté Research & Planning. “U.S. Wedding Statistics: Costs, Timelines, and Marriage Trends.” Updated October 16, 2026. https://enchanteresearchplanning.com/wedding-statistics
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