Utah weddings: No longer cheap
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Utah no longer lives up to its reputation for inexpensive, mints-and-lemonade church hall weddings.
Why it matters: You'll have to cough up more than $38,000 for the average celebration, per research firm The Wedding Report.
- That's about $5,500 higher than the U.S. average last year.
Zoom in: Salt Lake weddings were even more expensive, at an average of $42,385.
The intrigue: Barely a decade ago, Utah's weddings cost half the national average. That was chalked up to:
- The high number of nondrinking Utahns, versus big alcohol budgets for weddings elsewhere.
- Receptions held at Latter-day Saint meetinghouses, which are free for members to use.
- Scenic vistas and reliably clear high-desert weather that provide free or cheap venues in the great outdoors.
- Utah's enthusiasm for crafting and DIY, allowing couples to rely on relatives and friends for floral arrangements, photography and dessert.
Reality check: Utah's median wedding outlay in 2025 was just $19,205, suggesting that while there are more big spenders, we still have a lot of budget-conscious couples.
- That's still higher than the U.S. median of about $18,000.
Follow the money: Destination weddings are becoming a big business here, with one online travel agent reporting a 113% increase in Utah wedding bookings last year alone.
- Major ski resorts — four of which are within the Salt Lake metro area — have made weddings a central part of their summer operations.
Between the lines: Mormonism accounted for some of Utah's big wedding savings in the past, and the state is becoming less religious.
Fun fact: Our weddings are expensive, but they're not huge. The Wedding Report's analysis found they averaged 83 guests — the fourth-smallest in the nation, behind Nevada, Montana and Hawaii.
Catch up quick: A post-pandemic wedding boom and soaring inflation drove up wedding costs nationally in recent years.