Wedding or a House? Getting Married Costs More Than a Home Down Payment in These 23 US Cities

Wedding expenses surpassed a 13% home down payment in 23 US metro areas, highlighting stark differences between marriage and housing costs. (Credit: This is an AI-Generated Image)

For couples saving for both a wedding and a home, getting married can cost more upfront than buying a house. In 23 US metro areas, the average wedding exceeded the cost of a 13% down payment on a median-priced home, according to an analysis of 150 major metro areas by SmartAsset.

The largest difference was in Peoria, Illinois, where the average wedding was nearly 41% more than the amount needed for a 13% home down payment. Note that the comparison is based on historical data, with wedding costs from 2021 and housing figures from October 2021 to October 2022, not current prices.