Where Can Couples Spend Less on Destination Weddings in the US?

Updated: September 19, 2024

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Destination weddings have become a popular way for many Americans to celebrate their nuptials, but the excitement often comes with a significant financial commitment — from travel expenses to venue and accommodations. However, there are budget-friendly locations for destination weddings across the country where couples can exchange vows without breaking the bank.

MoneyGeek analyzed travel wedding data from The Wedding Report for 129 cities across the U.S. We focused on cities where destination weddings comprised 50% or more of the total number of weddings in the area. We excluded places with less than 500 weddings in the data year (2023). We learned that couples can expect to spend an average of $17,000 in the top 50 wedding destinations and the most affordable are found in the South.

KEY FINDINGS: MOST AFFORDABLE US DESTINATION WEDDINGS
  • Laughlin, Nevada, is the most affordable U.S. wedding destination. Two of the most visited U.S. wedding destinations (Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Niagara Falls, New York) also rank among the least expensive.

  • The average spend was $24,176 in cities and towns where the majority of weddings were held by visiting couples.

  • Mobile, Alabama — where weddings average just over $15,000 — was the only city with a population over 100,000 in the top 10 most affordable.

  • Boston and Las Vegas are the largest cities where destination weddings account for more than half of all weddings. Couples in Beantown spent nearly $35,000 on average, compared to $23,000 in Sin City.

  • The southern (24%) and western (20%) U.S. had the greatest share of locations in the final ranking list of 129 wedding destinations.

Small Towns and Cities Are the Most Affordable for Destination Weddings

Many of the top U.S. wedding destinations are popular tourism and vacation spots (such as Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Las Vegas) or are close to natural attractions (like Niagara Falls, New York, and South Lake Tahoe, California). Coastal destinations such as Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and cities of great historical significance like St. Augustine, Florida, also make the list.

However, couples reported spending less than $20,000 on average in only 48 of the 129 destinations analyzed. For weddings under $15,000, that number drops to seven. Although costs can rise with travel distance for couples and guests, the following small cities and towns offer the most affordable settings for tying the knot.

1. Laughlin, NV: $8,660
Nestled along the Colorado River, Laughlin, Nevada, is a budget-friendly wedding spot where couples spend $8,660 on average. Nearly all of the weddings held in this town were held by out-of-towners who traveled about 77 miles to get there. Near Las Vegas, Laughlin wedding planners will find plenty of venue and catering options, while wedding-goers will enjoy entertainment like casinos and beaches.

2. De Queen, AR: $12,841
Nearly all weddings in De Queen, Arkansas, involve out-of-town couples. Weddings here average $12,841, and guests travel about 76 miles. De Queen’s peaceful, small-town charm and surrounding natural beauty make it an inviting choice for couples looking for a quiet, budget-friendly wedding spot.

3. Gatlinburg, TN: $13,245
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and the Smoky Mountains go hand in hand. A long-time favorite for weddings, the town hosted 2,864 in 2023 (fourth-highest of cities and towns with less than 100,000 residents), with couples spending $13,245 on average. The scenic views and fun attractions like the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum offer wedding goers plenty to enjoy.

4. Niagara Falls, NY: $14,457
Home to the oldest state park in the U.S., the cascading waterfalls of Niagara Falls, New York, offer a scenic backdrop for couples exchanging vows away from home. More than a third of all weddings were held by out-of-towners and typically cost just under $15,000 in the honeymoon capital of the world.

5. Leesburg, FL: $14,546
Leesburg, Florida, combines natural lakeside beauty and accessibility, making it a popular choice for a destination wedding. With 66% of weddings involving out-of-town couples and an average cost of $14,546, Leesburg is a great mid-budget option.

15 MOST AFFORDABLE US WEDDING DESTINATIONS
Place
Avg. Wedding Cost
Destination Weddings
Population

1.

Laughlin, NV

$8,660

99.1%

8,184

2.

De Queen, AR

$12,841

99.0%

6,132

3.

Gatlinburg, TN

$13,245

100.0%

3,636

4.

Niagara Falls, NY

$14,457

76.3%

48,502

5.

Leesburg, FL

$14,546

65.8%

27,226

6.

Foley, AL

$14,763

71.3%

21,113

7.

Eureka Springs, AR

$14,904

100.0%

2,053

8.

Paducah, KY

$15,096

65.8%

26,869

9.

Sevierville, TN

$15,135

94.9%

17,986

10.

Mobile, AL

$15,199

54.5%

186,316

11.

Anderson, IN

$15,342

66.7%

55,011

Most Affordable US Wedding Destinations in Large or Midsize Cities

Las Vegas is the biggest city where couples spend under $25,000 on average for their destination weddings, which make up more than half of all weddings. Mobile, Alabama, is the most budget-friendly in this group — 55% of all weddings in Mobile were destination weddings averaging $15,199. In contrast, couples with destination weddings in Boston, Honolulu and Surprise, Arizona, spent over $30,000 on average.

15 LARGEST AFFORDABLE US WEDDING DESTINATIONS
City
Avg. Wedding Cost
Destination Weddings
Population

1.

Mobile, AL

$15,199

54.5%

186,316

2.

Independence, MO

$17,627

50.7%

122,218

3.

Fayetteville, NC

$18,383

53.1%

208,697

4.

Topeka, KS

$18,629

62.0%

126,431

5.

Amarillo, TX

$19,596

60.0%

200,360

6.

Norfolk, VA

$21,766

51.5%

236,973

7.

Salt Lake City, UT

$22,014

60.1%

201,269

8.

Port St. Lucie, FL

$22,881

50.3%

210,520

9.

Las Vegas, NV

$23,330

71.0%

644,835

10.

St. Petersburg, FL

$24,581

52.7%

259,343

11.

Reno, NV

$25,271

53.8%

265,196

Tips for Saving on Wedding Expenses

    checkList icon

    Set a clear budget that includes all potential wedding costs such as travel, accommodation, venue rental and vendor fees. Doing so early on can help prevent overspending and allow you to prioritize what matters most for your big day.

    calendar icon

    Opt for a wedding during an off-peak season to significantly reduce costs on venues, flights and accommodations.

    cashBack icon

    Use a rewards credit card for your wedding expenses to earn points or cash back, which you can put toward your honeymoon or other post-wedding expenses.

    payingForAWedding icon

    Hiring local vendors at your destination can often be cheaper than bringing in vendors from elsewhere. Local vendors are also more familiar with the area, which can lead to better service and fewer logistical challenges.

    money2 icon

    Set aside a portion of your wedding budget to cover unexpected expenses such as last-minute travel changes or unforeseen costs at the destination.

Methodology

MoneyGeek analyzed 2023 data from The Wedding Report on destination weddings, miles traveled to vacation weddings and average wedding spending in U.S. cities. We focused on places where destination weddings made up 50% or more of all weddings in the area and that had at least 500 weddings in total occur within the year. This left us with a total of 129 locations. Population data comes from the U.S. Census five-year American Community Survey (ACS).

Full Dataset

In the data that informed our analysis, we analyzed factors like average wedding costs, the percentage of destination weddings and guest travel distances to highlight the most affordable places for tying the knot. Note that wedding spending can vary with more distance.

City
Avg. Wedding Cost
Destination Weddings
Population
Avg. Miles Traveled

1.

Laughlin, NV

$8,660

99.1%

8,184

76.5

2.

De Queen, AR

$12,841

99.0%

6,132

76.0

3.

Gatlinburg, TN

$13,245

100.0%

3,636

77.0

4.

Niagara Falls, NY

$14,457

76.3%

48,502

63.6

5.

Leesburg, FL

$14,546

65.8%

27,226

62.3

6.

Foley, AL

$14,763

71.3%

21,113

66.0

7.

Eureka Springs, AR

$14,904

100.0%

2,053

77.0

8.

Paducah, KY

$15,096

65.8%

26,869

59.3

9.

Sevierville, TN

$15,135

94.9%

17,986

74.0

10.

Mobile, AL

$15,199

54.5%

186,316

56.7

11.

Anderson, IN

$15,342

66.7%

55,011

54.0

Avg. Wedding Cost: The average spend reported by couples for a wedding in the location. This does not reflect vendor pricing.
Destination Weddings: The percentage of weddings held by couples that traveled from outside of the local wedding market.
Population: The number of people who reside in the city.
Avg. Miles Traveled The average distance traveled by couples who got married in the location.

About Anja Solum, CEPF


Anja Solum, CEPF headshot

Anja Solum is a certified educator in personal finance and the Data Journalism Manager at MoneyGeek. For over six years, she has produced data analyses and studies for agency and in-house teams across multiple verticals.

Solum holds a bachelor's degree in communication arts from Florida International University. She's passionate about using data to tell compelling, informed stories that empower readers.


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