Weddings are expensive. We all know this, but what you may not have known is that you can often save a boatload of cash by crossing a state line.
The cost of marriage may even be responsible for the fact that the average American adult’s first marriage is constantly edging closer to 30. The thing is that differences in costs of living and local incomes makes marriage much cheaper in some states than in others.
Weddings are notoriously expensive in any case, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save by making a trip out of one. If you live in New York State, you’ll want to pay special attention to the deals you can find. New York couples spend an average of $34,300, or 53% of the states average annual income, on their weddings, according to a recent study by Magnify Money. Vermont can claim a close second for ridiculously expensive weddings. Regionally, if you’re from the US Northeast, you’re spending too much on your weddings.
If you’re looking for the cheapest place in the US to hold a wedding, with no other expenses including travel in mind, you should prepare a vacation to the South. Southern states offer the best value for weddings, and you can order some excellent southern food catering as well. Specifically, couples spend an average of 35%-36% of their household income on weddings in Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi. According to the US Census Bureau, these states rank near the bottom in income, but that explains why less money is spent on weddings there. So, if you’re in for a vacation, some nice weather, and even nicer food, a wedding down south could be quite agreeable to your stomach and your wallet.
