This New York area rated ‘most expensive’

Getting married isn’t cheap—especially for New Yorkers.

It’s best to have local couples long If they hoped to get married on the lush island, they needed money.

“Long Island takes the cake (and probably eats it) as the most expensive place to exchange vows,” wedding researchers warn in a new study.

According to a recent report from virtual groomsmen gift hub GroomsDay, this coastal area ranks as the No. 1 most expensive wedding destination in the United States.

Their big day data found that sweethearts spent an average of a staggering $58,245 exchanging “I dos” in the picturesque paradise outside New York.

“These numbers really show how your wedding ZIP code can tighten your wallet,” said GroomsDay founder Chris Bajda, noting that the cost of a wedding on Long Island is nearly 70 percent higher than the national average of $34,679.

“But the thing is,” the pro continued, “a $60,000 wedding doesn’t guarantee 60,000 magical moments.”

His money was right.

As wedding costs continue to rise due to inflation, cash-conscious couples are becoming increasingly creative to keep expenses low.

Maria Cortese of Poughkeepsie, New York, avoided an eye-popping price tag by leveraging ChatGPT to coordinate her August 2024 wedding.

“I saved a lot of money,” she told The Washington Post before walking down the aisle. “I don’t need a wedding planner. AI can do it all.”

Caroline Spain, a 27-year-old bride-to-be from the East Village, also previously told the Washington Post that she and groom Stephen refused to spend more than $100,000 on their Saturday night wedding in New York.

Instead, this month the frugal fiancés hosted a weekday bash at a castle in Dublin, Ireland. The adventure away from city limits saved the pair about $70,000.

Other local favorites—at least those looking to save a little money—would also be wise to consider having their ceremony away from home.

Second on the list of America’s most expensive wedding hotspots is Westchester, upstate New York, where couples spend about $48,100 on lavish weddings.

Equally fashionable cities like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Boston, Massachusetts; and Hartford, Connecticut, trail Long Island and Westchester, respectively, in the groom’s day luxury lineup.

Experts analyzed wedding cost data from cities and states across the country, including the price of engagement rings, venues, outfits and transportation.

For state-level data, average wedding costs in 2024 were calculated based on a survey of more than 4,000 couples, assuming a guest list of 100 people. City-level costs are derived from thousands of recent couple reviews on WeddingWire and reflect actual pricing for various wedding services.

Newlyweds in Salt Lake City, Utah, can breathe a sigh of relief as their snowy landscape has been named the cheapest wedding destination in the United States. The results revealed that exchanging rings in this wintry haven would cost just $27,210.

Couples in Kansas City, Mo.; Charleston, S.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Portland, Ore., can say “Yoo!” Likewise, rural cities round out the top five cheapest places to get married at SLC.

But Bajda said that no matter where the important people get married, the special occasion is more about love than luxury.

“It’s all about creating those ‘wow’ moments without the need to ‘bleed’ into your bank account,” he said.

“Ultimately, it’s about celebrating your love story, not draining your savings.”