How much do brides spend on a wedding dress on average? That depends on a dazzling array of factors, such as the material, designer, season, and location. Wedding dress prices by city and by state vary dramatically, and some major U.S. cities command wedding dress prices beyond our wildest imagining! The team at Lulus is passionate about making bridal dreams come true in every way possible, from providing affordable wedding dresses to showcasing insightful wedding statistics so brides-to-be can make informed decisions on how to save money on a wedding. We analyzed data from The Wedding Report and beyond to visualize average wedding dress costs by state and average wedding dress costs by city. Check it out:
What Is the Average Cost of a Wedding Dress?
After analyzing wedding dress cost statistics, we concluded that the average spend on a wedding dress in the U.S. is $1,527. However, according to the 2020 Brides American Wedding Study, the average cost of a wedding dress in the United States is $2,439. Wedding Wire, another reputable bridal authority, estimates that the average cost of wedding dresses ranges from $280 to $1,650. So it can be difficult to pinpoint a precise figure for wedding dress prices. Of course, the average price of a wedding dress varies significantly depending on many factors, including the state that you are purchasing your wedding dress in. Here are the most expensive states to buy a wedding dress in based on our analysis:
- Hawaii: $2,146
- New York: $1,897
- Massachusetts: $1,884
- Alaska: $1,883
- California: $1,879
- New Jersey: $1,874
- Connecticut: $1,842
- Maryland: $1,798
- New Hampshire: $1,785
- Washington: $1,784
What about the most affordable places to buy a wedding dress in the United States? Here are the top five states with the cheapest wedding dresses:
- Mississippi: $1,332
- Alabama: $1,385
- Arkansas: $1,393
- Oklahoma: $1,397
- Kentucky: $1,397
The average cost of wedding dresses by state may provide some insight into wedding dress price trends, but states can be big and diverse places, so we also explored wedding dress costs by city. Where are the most expensive places to get married based on dress prices alone? Here are the most expensive cities for a wedding dress purchase:
- Honolulu, Hawaii: $2,268
- Kahului, Hawaii: $2,219
- Kapaa, Hawaii: $2,215
- San Francisco, California: $2,120
- San Jose, California: $2,112
- Hilo, Hawaii: $2,097
- Oxnard, California: $2,078
- Juneau, Alaska: $2,070
- Vallejo, California: $2,032
- Los Alamos, New Mexico: $2,032
Here are the five cheapest cities to buy a wedding dress in for frugal brides:
- Clarskdale, Mississippi: $1,252
- Indianola, Mississippi: $1,259
- Greenwood, Mississippi: $1,275
- Greenville, Mississippi: $1,282
- Starkville, Mississippi: $1,286
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Why Are Wedding Dresses So Expensive?
There are many elements that go into why wedding dresses cost so much. The fabric, workmanship, design, and label all contribute to the eye-watering cost of wedding gowns. For example, the 25 yards of pure silk that go into crafting a beautiful high-end dress might cost around $100 a yard! If a dress is embroidered by hand in another country, that might add thousands more. Beyond the physical cost, wedding dress prices are high because that is often what brides are willing to pay for their special day. Society emphasizes the importance of weddings and encourages a “no expenses spared” approach to making the day as magical and awe-inspiring as possible.
However, there is an abundance of resources to help you have the perfect wedding on a budget. It just takes some creativity, effort, and resourcefulness! Frugal wedding dresses that are breathtaking and timeless are possible to find if you know where to look. Check out Allure’s guide to affordable wedding dresses online. We’re honored to make an appearance!
If you are on the hunt for the perfect, budget-friendly wedding dress, be sure to check out our splendid selection of affordable wedding dresses. We stock all of the latest wedding dress trends as well as frugal bridesmaid dress options. If you are attending a wedding, browse our affordable wedding guest dresses. May all your wedding dreams come true (for less)!
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What U.S. Cities and States Spend the Most and Least on Wedding Dresses?
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Average Wedding Dress Cost by State in 2022
| State | Cost |
| Hawaii | $2,146 |
| New York | $1,897 |
| Massachusetts | $1,884 |
| Alaska | $1,883 |
| California | $1,879 |
| New Jersey | $1,874 |
| District of Columbia | $1,866 |
| Connecticut | $1,842 |
| Maryland | $1,798 |
| New Hampshire | $1,785 |
| Washington | $1,784 |
| Oregon | $1,776 |
| Rhode Island | $1,739 |
| Vermont | $1,731 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,691 |
| Maine | $1,685 |
| Virginia | $1,645 |
| Colorado | $1,639 |
| Delaware | $1,634 |
| Utah | $1,616 |
| Nevada | $1,601 |
| Wyoming | $1,589 |
| Arizona | $1,582 |
| Minnesota | $1,541 |
| Montana | $1,532 |
| United States | $1,527 |
| Idaho | $1,520 |
| Florida | $1,515 |
| Georgia | $1,500 |
| North Carolina | $1,500 |
| Illinois | $1,490 |
| North Dakota | $1,484 |
| South Carolina | $1,477 |
| Texas | $1,477 |
| Wisconsin | $1,474 |
| Nebraska | $1,461 |
| New Mexico | $1,459 |
| South Dakota | $1,450 |
| Iowa | $1,446 |
| Louisiana | $1,431 |
| Indiana | $1,428 |
| Kansas | $1,427 |
| Michigan | $1,425 |
| Ohio | $1,425 |
| Missouri | $1,423 |
| West Virginia | $1,420 |
| Tennessee | $1,401 |
| Kentucky | $1,397 |
| Oklahoma | $1,397 |
| Arkansas | $1,393 |
| Alabama | $1,385 |
| Mississippi | $1,332 |
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Top 25 Metro Areas With the Most Expensive Wedding Dresses
| Metro Area | Cost |
| Honolulu, HI | $2,268 |
| Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI | $2,219 |
| Kapaa, HI | $2,215 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $2,120 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $2,112 |
| Hilo, HI | $2,097 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $2,078 |
| Juneau, AK | $2,070 |
| Los Alamos, NM | $2,032 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $2,032 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | $2,021 |
| Napa, CA | $2,016 |
| Anchorage, AK | $2,009 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $2,006 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD | $2,004 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $1,997 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $1,992 |
| Kingston, NY | $1,992 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $1,990 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA | $1,990 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $1,986 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | $1,982 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $1,976 |
| Trenton, NJ | $1,973 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $1,967 |
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Top 25 Metro Areas With the Least Expensive Wedding Dresses
| Metro Area | Cost |
| Clarksdale, MS | $1,252 |
| Indianola, MS | $1,259 |
| Greenwood, MS | $1,275 |
| Greenville, MS | $1,282 |
| Raymondville, TX | $1,286 |
| Starkville, MS | $1,286 |
| Middlesborough, KY | $1,290 |
| Cleveland, MS | $1,294 |
| McComb, MS | $1,294 |
| Selma, AL | $1,294 |
| Rio Grande City, TX | $1,298 |
| West Point, MS | $1,301 |
| Natchez, MS | $1,305 |
| Newport, TN | $1,309 |
| Atmore, AL | $1,317 |
| Corinth, MS | $1,317 |
| Tahlequah, OK | $1,317 |
| Kennett, MO | $1,320 |
| Meridian, MS | $1,320 |
| Laurel, MS | $1,324 |
| London, KY | $1,324 |
| Vicksburg, MS | $1,324 |
| Grenada, MS | $1,328 |
| Mount Sterling, KY | $1,328 |
| Gallup, NM | $1,330 |
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Top 10 Metro Areas Where People Spent the Most on Wedding Dresses in Total in 2022
| Metro Area | Total Sales |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $294,863,946 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $191,148,528 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL | $86,724,150 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $73,297,316 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA | $72,346,976 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $70,074,090 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE | $69,702,696 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $64,481,920 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $64,453,460 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $61,746,984 |
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