Average wedding cost in 2026: US, UK, Australia and Canada
Updated 2026-10-17
In the latest studies the average wedding cost about US$34,200 in the US (117 guests), £20,604 in the UK, and A$38,252 in Australia (85 guests). Canadian estimates are thinner: a 2026 BMO survey puts the average expected cost around C$19,000.
At a glance
| Country | Average cost | Guests | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $34,200 | 117 (about $292 per guest) | The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study |
| United Kingdom | £20,604 | about £278 per guest | Bridebook 2026 |
| Australia | A$38,252 | 85 | Easy Weddings 2026 survey |
| Canada | about C$19,000 (expected) | – | BMO/Ipsos 2026 survey |
Averages hide a wide range
Averages are pulled up by large weddings. Your venue’s city, the season and especially your guest count move the number far more than the national average does. Treat the averages as a sense check, then build your own budget from real quotes.
Where couples overspend
Easy Weddings reports Australian couples overspent their planned budget by about 23%. The usual culprits are per-guest costs that grow as the list grows, extras added late, and forgotten items like vendor tips, alterations and service fees.
Questions
What is the average cost per wedding guest?
About US$292 in the US (The Knot, 2026) and about £278 in the UK (Bridebook, 2026).
Is the average wedding cost going up?
Easy Weddings reports the Australian average rose about 8% in its 2026 survey.
Sources
- The Knot – average wedding cost (2026 Real Weddings Study)
- Bridebook – UK average wedding cost 2026
- Easy Weddings – average wedding cost in Australia 2026
- BMO – Canadians and the cost of weddings (Jul 2026)
Last checked 2026-10-17.