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.

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Future Utah data centers will face more guardrails under an executive order signed by Gov. Cox on Friday.

The big picture: The order comes amid mounting pushback to "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary's proposal to build a massive data center in Box Elder County and just weeks after Cox downplayed alarm over the project.

What they're saying: "The public has brought up some concerns that some of us didn't think about that are important," Cox told reporters Friday, referring to impacts on water, air quality and the effects on residents.

• Cox made the comments after a "Make the Lake Great Again" roundtable at Farmington Bay to discuss President Trump's proposed $1 billion in funding to aid the Great Salt Lake, which would require congressional approval.

Zoom in: The order calls for protecting the Great Salt Lake, air quality and water resources while reducing impacts on nearby communities.

• It also seeks to shield utility ratepayers from the costs of serving large data centers, support job creation in rural Utah and improve transparency and opportunities for public input.

What we're watching: It's not clear how, or if, the order will impact the Box Elder County proposal.

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🏗️ Water levels at the Great Salt Lake have fallen so low that people are starting to pull their boats out of it. (FOX 13)

• A crane removed two dozen vessels Saturday to prevent them from breaking down.

Layoffs are expected in the University of Utah athletic department amid a restructuring that follows the school's new private equity partnership with New York-based firm Otro Capital. (Salt Lake Tribune)

🚫 SLC Pride canceled a planned car wash in Millcreek this month amid statewide drought conditions and water restrictions, organizers announced on social media.

Busker Fest returned downtown on Friday, drawing crowds with acts by musicians, jugglers and acrobats.

• The annual festival celebrates busking, street performing for tips, a profession that dates back to the Medieval ages.