When it comes to tying the knot in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, understanding the average wedding cost in Minnesota is key to planning a celebration that aligns with both dreams and spending plans. In this guide, we’ll go over the various factors that influence wedding expenses in Minnesota so you can navigate the wedding planning journey with confidence.
What about the US average wedding cost?
Considering the responses from couples at the wedding website The Knot, the current national average cost of a wedding stands at $30,000. This reflects a $2,000 increase compared to 2023. If you are curious you can also explore the Average Wedding Spending by state
Wedding budget breakdown
The following wedding cost breakdown is based on national averages and should be used just as a starting point to plan your budget!
| Venue | 37% |
| Catering | 29% |
| Band | 13% |
| Wedding Rings | 9% |
| Photographer | 9% |
| Florals | 8% |
| Videographer | 7% |
| Liquor | 8% |
| Attire | 7% |
| Wedding Planner | 6% |
| Event Rentals | 6% |
| LIghting and Decor | 6% |
| DJ | 5% |
| Guests Entertainment | 4% |
| Transportation | 3% |
| Ceremony musicians | 2% |
| Stationary | 2% |
| Cake Desserts | 2% |
| Hair & makeup | 1% |
| Wedding favors & Gifts | 1% |
| Officiant |
1% |
Source: The Knot
How much do couples spend on average on a Minnesota wedding ?
How much do couples typically spend on a wedding in Minnesota ?
The average wedding cost in Minnesota for 2022 was $27,358 and Minnesota ranks 19 out of 51 States in average wedding cost (Source: The Wedding Report)
The average wedding cost in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI – (Metropolitan Area) for 2022 was $35,344 according to WeddingReport – ranking 63 out of 933 Metropolitan Areas in average wedding cost.
According to the Knot, the average spending is $25000 for 2023. This is interesting, as 2022 was indeed a boom for the wedding industry after the pandemic put a pause on many weddings.
The average wedding cost in 2020 was $33900 and Minnesota ranked 16 out of 51 States in average wedding cost with $28,800.
I am sourcing the following percentage references from the Knot Wedding website breakdown, so here is the spending based on the average $27358
| Percentage | Amount | |
| Venue | 37 | $10,122 |
| Catering | 29 | $7,934 |
| Band | 13 | $3,557 |
| Wedding Rings | 9 | $2,462 |
| Photographer | 9 | $2,462 |
| Florals | 8 | $2,189 |
| Videographer | 7 | $1,915 |
| Liquor | 8 | $2,189 |
| Attire | 7 | $1,915 |
| Wedding Planner | 6 | $1,641 |
| Event Rentals | 6 | $1,641 |
| LIghting and Decor | 6 | $1,641 |
| DJ | 5 | $1,368 |
| Guests Entertainment | 4 | $1,094 |
| Transportation | 3 | $821 |
| Ceremony musicians | 2 | $547 |
| Stationary | 2 | $547 |
| Cake Desserts | 2 | $547 |
| Hair & makeup | 1 | $274 |
| Wedding favors & Gifts | 1 | $274 |
| Officiant | 1 | $274 |
| TOTAL | $45,414 |
You will notice the total surpasses the budget, as you can image this average spending can only be used as a reference for each category. All weddings are different in sizes, venues and vendors.
Most of the wedding couples I have worked with realistically spend from $30000 to $60000.
I also adjusted the venue and catering prices based on lower /higher end venue costs in MN.
Realistic wedding budget in Minnesota based weddings
| Percentage | Amount | Lower End | Higher End | |
| Venue | 22 | $13,200 | $7,000 | $10,000 |
| Catering | 18 | $10,800 | $8,000 | $15,000 |
| Band | 8 | $4,800 | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Wedding Rings | 8 | $4,800 | $2,000 | $8,000 |
| Photographer | 9 | $5,400 | $4,000 | $7,000 |
| Florals | 8 | $4,800 | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| Videographer | 7 | $4,200 | $3,500 | $5,000 |
| Liquor | 8 | $4,800 | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Attire | 7 | $4,200 | 2000 | 8000 |
| Wedding Planner | 6 | $3,600 | $1,800 | $10,000 |
| Event Rentals | 6 | $3,600 | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| LIghting and Decor | 6 | $3,600 | $1,000 | 1500 |
| DJ | 5 | $3,000 | $1,000 | $2,500 |
| Guests Entertainment | 4 | $2,400 | $1,500 | 2500 |
| Transportation | 3 | $1,800 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Ceremony musicians | 2 | $1,200 | $600 | 1000 |
| Stationary | 2 | $1,200 | $1,250 | $4,500 |
| Cake Desserts | 2 | $1,200 | $600 | 1100 |
| Hair & makeup | 1 | $600 | $75 | $300 |
| Wedding favors & Gifts | 1 | $600 | $300 | $500 |
| Officiant | 1 | $600 | 350 | 500 |
| $80,400 | $46,475 | $99,400 |
How inflation in 2023 is impacting wedding costs
If you’re planning a wedding for 2024, inflation may impact those wedding costs.
Venues, food and other key wedding expenses are more expensive in 2023 due to inflation.
This is how prices have changed, over the last year, for common wedding expenses.
| Wedding expense | Price increase from January 2022-January 2023 |
|---|---|
| Fresh cakes and cupcakes | +13.5% |
| Full service meals and snacks | +8.1% |
| Alcoholic beverages away from home | +6.9% |
| Alcoholic beverages at home* | +5.3% |
| Women’s dresses | -4.2% |
| Men’s suits, sports coats and outerwear | +7.4% |
| Jewelry | +5.3% |
| Personal care products | +7.1% |
| Personal care services | +5.2% |
| Lodging away from home, including hotels and motels | +8.5% |
| Stationery, stationery supplies, gift wrap | +16.2% |
Source: BankRate.com
