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Chicago Is The 2nd Most Expensive Place To Get Married In The U.S.

By Mae Rice in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 5, 2016 6:36PM

2016_dogwedding.jpg
How will these puppies get married on a budget?

In 2015, Chicago was the second most expensive place in the U.S. to get married, according to a survey conducted by wedding website the Knot. According to data from roughly 18,000 brides and grooms nationwide, the average wedding price tag in Chicago was $61,265—almost twice the national average wedding price ($32,641), and about 15,000 times the price of a fancy donut at Stan's, the only thing you actually need to be happy.

The only place more expensive than Chicago, according to the Knot, was Manhattan. The average wedding there cost a terrifying $82,299 (and unfortunately, a fancy donut in Manhattan cost roughly that price, too).

Here are the top 10 most expensive places in the U.S. to get married, according to the Knot, along with their average wedding prices:

1. New York - Manhattan: $82,299
2. Illinois - Chicago: $61,265
3. New York - Westchester/Hudson Valley: $57,501
4. New York - Long Island: $56,950
5. New Jersey - North/Central: $55,389
6. Massachusetts - Cape Cod: $54,334
7. Rhode Island: $50,266
8. New York - Outer Boroughs: $46,682
9. California - Palm Springs: $44,646
10. Louisiana - New Orleans: $44,178

And here are the 10 cheapest places in the US to get married, for a refreshing change of pace:

1. Alaska: $17,361
2. South Dakota: $18,890
3. Texas - West Texas: $19,261
4. Arkansas: $19,856
5. New Mexico: $20,114
6. North Dakota: $20,211
7. Idaho: $20,245
8. Montana: $20,322
9. Oregon: $20,456
10. Illinois - Central: $21,818

The moral of the story here is that we should all have destination weddings in Alaska. (Free idea: Ride a polar bear to the altar.) If you'd rather not travel that far, you could also just get married in Central Illinois, and save a chill $40,000.