Based on 2025 estimations, 67% of newlyweds took on debt to pay for their wedding, highlighting how wedding costs continue to outpace many couples’ ability to save adequately for their special day.
A recent study by JJ’s House, an online dress shop for every special occasion, compared wedding costs nationwide to identify how many days people have to work in each state to afford a wedding. The research calculated the average cost of a wedding in each state and matched it with disposable income per working day. The final list ranks the states from fastest to longest path to a fully-funded wedding.
Here is the summary of the findings:
| State | Average Cost of Wedding | Disposable Income per Working Day | Days to Work to Afford Wedding | Years to Work to Afford Wedding |
| Hawaii | $32,280 | $37 | 879 | 3.38 |
| Vermont | $44,720 | $72 | 617 | 2.37 |
| Rhode Island | $49,180 | $85 | 578 | 2.22 |
| New Jersey | $54,400 | $94 | 578 | 2.22 |
| South Carolina | $36,170 | $75 | 484 | 1.86 |
| Louisiana | $33,240 | $69 | 484 | 1.86 |
| Delaware | $38,880 | $83 | 468 | 1.8 |
| Maine | $36,000 | $77 | 465 | 1.79 |
| New Hampshire | $36,080 | $79 | 457 | 1.76 |
| Massachusetts | $45,000 | $102 | 442 | 1.7 |
*You can check the full research findings here.
Hawaii is the state where it takes the longest to afford a wedding, with 3.3 years or 879 days of savings. Hawaiian weddings are quite costly, with an average spending of $32.2K. At the same time, Hawaiian residents have the lowest disposable income on the list, with only $37 a day, which leads to the longest saving process.
Vermont is 2nd in the ranking of the states where it takes the longest to afford a wedding, with 2.3 years, a whole year less than in Hawaii. The weddings here are much more expensive on average, costing $44.7K. Higher income allows Vermont residents to save money faster, with $72 in disposable income, which leads to 617 days of savings.
In third place is Rhode Island, with 2.2 years of money savings. The state has the second-most-expensive weddings in the list, at $49.1K on average. With a daily disposable income of $85, residents will need 578 days to get enough money for the big occasion.
New Jersey takes fourth place, with a similar 2.2 years, just as in Rhode Island. The state stands out with the most expensive weddings, which cost $54.4K on average in New Jersey. The state also has the second-highest disposable income in the ranking, at $94, which would allow for saving money faster for a smaller and cheaper wedding.
South Carolina is fifth, with 484 days of work needed to afford a wedding. Weddings here are much more affordable than in New Jersey or Vermont, with an average cost of $36.1K. At the same time, the disposable income, allowing for saving money, is lower here, at $75, amounting to 1.86 years to accumulate the necessary budget.
Louisiana holds the sixth position, with a similar 484 days of savings. The state has the second-cheapest weddings in the top 10, at $33.2K on average, closely following Hawaii. The earnings and disposable income are much tighter in Louisiana than in most states in the ranking, leading to a longer saving time.
Delaware closely follows Louisiana, with seventh place and 1.8 years. Weddings here cost $38.8K, but the disposable income is similar to Rhode Island at $83, allowing for saving for a wedding a bit faster.
In eighth place is Maine, with residents needing to save for 465 days for a wedding. The weddings here are a little more affordable than in Delaware, with an average celebration costing $36K, but Maine residents have a smaller disposable income. With only $77 to save each day, it takes 1.79 years to accumulate the necessary budget.
New Hampshire is ninth, with 1.7 years of work needed. Weddings here cost almost the same as in Maine, but $79 of daily disposable income lets New Hampshire residents save money for one week less.
Massachusetts rounds up the list of the U.S. states where it takes the longest to afford an average wedding, with 442 days, just 15 days less than in New Hampshire. The state stands out with the highest disposable income in the top 10, at $102, which allows for accumulating a budget for a wedding faster. An average wedding costs $45K here.
A spokesperson from JJ’s House commented on the study: “Planning and saving for a wedding has become a significant financial milestone for couples, often requiring years of dedicated budgeting and careful money management. The wide variation in wedding costs across different regions highlights how important it is for couples to set realistic expectations based on their local market and personal financial situation. Rather than focusing solely on achieving an expensive “dream wedding,” couples need to prioritise what matters most to them and explore creative ways to celebrate meaningfully within their means.”