Average Illinois Wedding Now Costs An Eye-Popping $38,000

Maybe I'm just biased, but I feel September might be the best month of the year to get married in Illinois.

It's probably the changing of the seasons, the cooler temps, or maybe it's just because that's the month my wife and I got married.

If you are planning to get married this month, you're probably already aware that it's a costly endeavor.

bride and groom standing beside brown wooden wall — Photo by Victoria Priessnitz on Unsplash

Average Wedding Cost in Illinois Ranks Among the Highest

Well, according to The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study, getting married in Illinois is even more expensive, making Illinois one of the most expensive places in America to get married.

The Knot says the average American wedding now costs $34,200, based on a survey of over 10,000 couples who got married in 2025.

If you get married in the Land of Lincoln, the average cost is about 11% higher than the national average, $38,000.

gold wedding band on white textile — Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash

Comparing Nationwide Costs: How Illinois Stacks Up Against Other States

New Jersey is apparently the most expensive state to get married in, while Wyoming gets the honor of being the cheapest, with the average wedding cost coming in at $17,000, less than half the cost of getting hitched in Illinois.

Obviously, the location isn't the only factor, as guest count, season, venue, food, booze, music, and clothing can all have a major impact on the cost of the big day.

Whatever you spend, here's hoping the marriage lasts a whole lot longer than the wedding payments.