The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study

Whether it's a garden soiree filled with beautiful botanicals, a sophisticated ballroom affair or a cozy backyard gathering, a wedding is the perfect opportunity for a couple to celebrate with loved ones and cherish what makes their relationship special. In The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study, you'll discover how couples are bringing this exciting day to life through the planning process. Our wedding report includes insights from nearly 17,000 US couples who got married in 2024 as well as data from couples getting married in 2025 to help you understand how to plan a wedding. For the first time, we have also included user behavior trends from The Knot Vendor Marketplace, The Knot Registry and The Knot Invitations.

The Engagement

Before jumping into statistics about weddings today, let's take a peek into the lead-up to the proposal.

Gen Z and Millennial Couples Diverge on Their Paths to Engagement

According to our wedding study, many couples reach the same milestones before getting engaged; however, Gen Z and millennials experience some milestones differently based on their relative age. The Pew Research Center decided in 2019 that the millennial generation ended with individuals born in 1996 and a new generation, Gen Z, began with anyone born in 1997 or later. Today, in 2025, that puts millennials as anyone aged 28 to 43 and Gen Z as anyone aged 18 to 27.

Regardless of age, our wedding report reveals that the most common way to meet a significant other is via an online dating site or app. In 2024, over a quarter (27%) of couples met this way which is similar to the past two years. Three dating apps dominated the list of services that led to an eventual engagement: Hinge (36%), Tinder (25%) and Bumble (20%). While online dating is the most common method among all couples, Gen Z couples were more likely to have met their future spouse while in school (college or high school) than their millennial counterparts.

Photo: Kir2Ben | Design: Megan Herlihy

After meeting, half of couples spend two to five years in a dating relationship getting to know one another. During this time, couples discuss future finances, children and mental health. They also experience relationship milestones like spending major holidays together, taking vacations with family members, being intimate and attending weddings as each other's date.

The Proposal

Conversations of engagement between couples often begin long before the proposal itself, as revealed in our wedding report. In fact, over half (57%) discussed engagement and marriage more than a year before the proposal even took place. More Gen Z couples (61%) are having discussions of engagement over a year before the wedding day than their millennial counterparts (50%).

Design: Megan Herlihy

According to our wedding study, December continues to be the most popular month to get engaged, with Christmas Day being the most popular day of the year. The holidays are a great time to ask for parents' permission or blessing (which nearly 70% of proposers did). Proposers aren't just focused on parents—21% will also ask the permission (or blessing) of their future spouse's other family members before proposing. Outside of the holidays, proposers find other opportune times to pop the question such as on a planned trip, when they're around friends/family or on a day with a special meaning to their relationship. Couples who took a planned trip often did so to propose at a scenic spot, at the beach or during an outdoor activity. The gravity of the moment is not lost on proposers; over half felt some or a lot of pressure to plan a highly unique proposal, with the majority of proposers reporting planning the moment for one to three months in advance.

Don't be surprised if your future partner seems to be taking a while to ask you to marry them. Over half (54%) of proposers spent one to four months selecting and purchasing an engagement ring. A quarter (25%) of proposers needed more time than that to choose the perfect ring. Just 22% were able to select and purchase a ring in less than a month, according to our study. A contributing factor to needing extra time was the increased number of store visits. In 2024, the average proposer visited five different jewelers, an increase from only two retailers in 2023 and 2022. With 7 in 10 proposers saying it was important to shop in person and nearly 6 in 10 proposers agreeing it was important to see the ring in person before purchasing, it's no surprise that proposers visited more stores than usual this year.

Similar to last year, proposers are enlisting the help of vendors to make the day truly magical. Again, a quarter of proposers say they hired a photographer and/or additional vendor(s) to help to make it a complete surprise.

The Ring

It's time to shine the light on that stunning sparkler—the engagement ring! Almost all couples exchanged at least one ring after getting engaged (94% to be exact). Among LGBTQIA+ couples, the majority (65%) also exchanged one ring; however, 29% traded rings. The exchange of two rings is significantly more common among LGBTQIA+ couples (29%) compared to hetero-couples (5%).

This year, engagement rings became increasingly more varied and unique. Check out the latest statistics when it comes to engagement ring styles:

1. Today, four shapes make up approximately three-quarters of all engagement rings: round (28%), oval (25%), emerald (10%) and princess (10%). Round and oval are now nearly tied for the most popular-shaped center stone where just ten years ago, the round shape dominated as the most-desired ring shape.
2. In 2024, just two metal types (white and yellow gold) were included in over 70% of all engagement rings. Yellow gold continues to increase in popularity, growing another 5% from 2023. In contrast, white gold continues to slip in popularity, losing 3% from last year.
3. In 2024, a brand new setting broke into the top two most popular styles: the hidden halo. Not to be confused with the classic halo, which features a circle of diamonds around the outline of the center stone, a hidden halo is a cluster of diamonds surrounding the base of the cathedral. Hidden halos can be seen on 18% of engagement rings. This style dethrones the classic halo, which represents 13% of designs. A prong setting continues to be the most popular setting with 35% of rings featuring it.
4. For the first time, over half (52%) of couples shared that their engagement ring featured a lab-grown stone. This is a trend that has not stopped growing in popularity, increasing by another 6% from last year and representing a whopping 40% growth from 2019.
5. The rise in popularity of lab-grown stones is fueling the decrease in the average cost of an engagement ring. 2024 served as a continuation of that trend with proposers spending $5,200 on average for their ring. This is a decline from $5,500 in 2023, and $5,800 in 2022. Back in 2021, it was $6,000. Lab-grown stones typically begin at a lower price point than mined stones which is reflected in the average cost. A proposer purchasing a lab-grown engagement ring could expect to spend $4,900 versus spending $7,600, on average, for a mined diamond engagement ring.
6. The interest in lab-grown stones is also impacting the average weight. In 2024, the average carat weight of an engagement ring was 1.7 carats compared to 2021 when the average carat weight of an engagement ring was 1.5 carats.

The Planning Begins

The vision and location of the wedding are two of the first decisions a couple makes during their planning journey, as reinforced by The Knot Real Weddings Study. Statistics on weddings show that 6 in 10 couples chose to get married in a place where they currently live, compared to 23% of folks who opted for a hometown venue and 18% who whisked away for a destination wedding.

Design: Megan Herlihy

The average length of engagement in 2024 was 15 months.The majority of couples (52%) began making plans 12 months ahead of their wedding, giving themselves time to plan the wedding itself in addition to other fun events like the shower (had by 64% of couples), the after party (28%) and the honeymoon (69%). Marriage statistics show that couples spent an average of six hours a week reviewing, organizing and finalizing details; in the end, the wedding festivities spanned an average of two days. In this day and age, nearly all planning takes place online—90% to be exact—through a combination of desktop and mobile usage (47% and 45%, respectively). (Pro tip: The Knot App can help you do just that). Who's responsible for what, you may wonder? Our wedding survey shows that, on average, 80% of the planning is done by the couple themselves, 12% is done by either or both sets of parents and 8% is done by a wedding planner or other loved ones. Additional wedding events, however, see more variety in the primary planner. For example, parents or family are more likely to plan the shower, and friends or the wedding party are more likely to plan the bach party. As couples are planning and festivities are being held, take a look below to see some common practices couples take part in prior to their wedding day.

Photo: Kir2Ben | Design: Megan Herlihy

The Vendor Team, Assembled

The importance of the vendor team is undeniable because these pros help bring the wedding vision to life, spanning from a traditional celebration to a fully-themed event. Speaking of, some top wedding themes that emerged in 2024 include boho, black-and-white, garden party and nautical. Finding the perfect vendors who jive with your personality as a couple is a key task of the planning process and can be accomplished through a little research and consistent communication (Psst: The Knot Vendor Marketplace makes it easy to source and communicate with vendors in your area). This is also an opportunity to support underrepresented business owners doing great work, and couples are often seeking vendors that align with their values. Among those searching for vendors with specific attributes, woman-owned, Black-owned, LGBTQIA+-owned and sustainable vendors were often sought out.

Photo: Kir2Ben | Design: Megan Herlihy

In the wedding industry, digital resources have made it simple for couples to get info about weddings and to get to know their vendors during the planning process. In fact, 74% of wedding study respondents reported following at least one of their vendors on social media, and 56% used video chat to communicate with them.

Per The Knot annual wedding survey, 82% of couples report that the venue is the vendor hired first. This decision can help shape what the overall style will look like. In 2024, many traditional wedding colors continued to be top picks, such as white (41%), gold (36%), and ivory/champagne (32%), though the individualized nature of a wedding allowed other colors to shine as well, such as green (60%), blue (50%) and pink (38%). Beyond aiding the color selection, vendors use their expertise to focus on details like decor, beverages, bouquets and invitations, not to mention the wedding planner who keeps these tasks organized and on track.

Photo: Kir2Ben | Design: Megan Herlihy

Trends and Traditions

Every wedding is different, largely because the couple can choose to make it as traditional or unique as they want—or include elements of both. Traditions that continue to maintain popularity throughout the decades include having a first dance and/or dances with parents, having a specific order to the day and assigning guests to a specific table at the reception. Then there are other trends which are not as frequently adopted as they were in the past. Over the last ten years, the two trends seeing the biggest decreases in our wedding report both relate to the wedding party: females in the wedding party wearing the exact same dress has decreased from 51% in 2014 to 15% in 2024, and wedding party members being divided by gender has decreased from 70% in 2014 to 58% in 2024.

Top 5 Most Popular First Dance Songs in 2024

1. Elvis's "Can't Help Falling In Love" remains the #1 wedding song for second year in a row
2. "Joy of My Life" by Chris Stapleton
3. "Life With You" by Kelsey Hart
4. "At Last" by Etta James
5. "Lover" by Taylor Swift

Traditions also include those that commemorate a couple's background and culture. In 2024, 21% of weddings included a special custom related to the couple's race, religion and/or culture. During the ceremony, officiants helped a couple honor their heritage through a religious reading (48%), unity candle (18%) and/or communion (15%).

Photo: Kir2Ben | Design: Megan Herlihy

It's safe to say Gen Z and millennials both love to celebrate, but their party styles are different. According to the wedding statistics 2024 couples gave us, roughly one in three newlyweds were Gen Z. Given their younger marrying age (18-27), we see that many embrace more traditional elements which may be a factor of their background and family influence.

Design: Megan Herlihy

In the wedding industry, technology has been used for planning for many years now, but each year brings a new angle of utility. Though AI is still relatively nascent, 1 in 10 couples used it in some form during their wedding journey, most often to help with tasks like writing and communication (e.g. thank you notes and wedding website copy), honeymoon and bach party itineraries and wedding etiquette, including how to say 'no' politely. Our recent data collected from engaged couples getting married in 2025 already shows a higher adoption rate of AI, with nearly 20% saying they're using it to help with planning. Some other emerging tech trends we've seen are betting apps for guests, augmented reality tools, glambots, video mapping and laser shows. Finally, the use of QR codes on a couple's save-the-date or wedding invitation has grown 42% since 2021, with 49% of couples now adopting this practice.

Another factor that impacts the popularity of certain trends includes geography; that is, couples in one region of the US might incorporate a trend or tradition more often than a couple in another area of the country. The culture in the South, for example, can look very different than in the West, and wedding trends do a great job of showcasing this variety.

Photos: Afrik Armando, Kir2Ben, Nikki Daskalakis | Design: Megan Herlihy

Breaking Down the Expenses

The wedding budget breakdown can vary significantly based on several factors: guest count, time of year, day of the week, location relative to home and region are just some examples. That being said, statistics on weddings revealed an average cost in the US in 2024.This helps engaged couples form an understanding around what they can expect to budget and what the cost looks like compared to previous years. In 2024, the average wedding cost for a wedding was $33,000, slightly less than the average cost in 2023 ($35,000). Take a look below to see some average costs for different types of weddings:

• Location: Hometown, $32,000 vs. Destination, $39,000
• Region: Mid-Atlantic, $46,000 vs. Midwest, $29,000
• Guest count: 50 guests or fewer, $15,000 vs. More than 100 guests, $42,000

Similarly to 2023, wedding stats show that 63% of couples' planning in 2024 was affected by the economy to some extent. Ways in which these couples alleviated challenges around inflation included increasing the overall budget (57%), being more selective with their upgrades (53%) and/or having a smaller guest list (40%). Additionally, approximately half of couples rely on vendor guidance to stay within budget. (Pro tip: You can learn even more about the money side of things on The Knot Budget Advisor.)

The Honeymoon

As a final commemoration of the nuptials, the honeymoon is a chance for the couple to relax, explore and enjoy their time as newlyweds. Research from The Knot Real Weddings Study shows that 69% of couples take a honeymoon after their wedding. The majority are motivated to travel to spend quality time with their significant other and create new memories together. The time of year and weather heavily influence where couples travel for their honeymoon, per the wedding industry statistics 2024 couples gave us. In 2024, 41% of couples chose to stay in the US while 18% set off for the Caribbean and 17% traveled across the pond to Europe. In the US, Florida and Hawaii tied for the top destination (17%) and significantly led the pack.

Photo: Kir2Ben | Design: Megan Herlihy

Historically, couples began their honeymoon immediately after the wedding, according to wedding industry research. Now, couples are relaxing their timelines to take a break between the wedding day and their honeymoon travels. While the majority of couples (58%) leave for their honeymoon within a week of their wedding, nearly one in five couples won't head out until a month or more after the wedding. Couples today spend a little over a week on their honeymoon, including travel days arriving to and departing from their destination.

In the past year, couples invested an average of $5,300 in their honeymoon experience, per our wedding survey. Of course, the cost of a honeymoon trip varies depending on the destination. Couples who traveled within the US spent an average of $3,400, while folks traveling internationally spent an average of $6,800 in 2024. Over half of couples funded their honeymoon entirely on their own and the remaining half received financial support from parents and gifts from wedding guests.

Looking Ahead

Based on wedding stats, 2025 is expected to be an exciting year of weddings with a mix of ever-evolving trends and traditional elements. In fact, 84% of engaged couples say they're looking forward to their wedding day more than anything else this year given the current macroeconomic and socio-political landscape. The influence of social media will continue to shed light on new ways couples can make their wedding day reflective of their personal style—and this will be especially pronounced among Gen Z. For example, aesthetics like "old money" and "quiet luxury" are expected to play a role in wedding style which complements historically popular style descriptors like "elegant" and "romantic." In fact, Gen Z expects that when it comes to cultural phenomena, the following trends will take the lead in 2025 weddings:

• Old money aesthetic - 47%
• Quiet luxury - 33%
• Cottagecore - 29%
• Demure and mindful - 27%
• Fairytale - 25%

As we saw in The Knot Worldwide 2025 Wedding Trends to Watch Report, several wedding hotspots are in high demand. Santa Barbara, San Diego, Chicago, New Orleans, and Long Island, continue to be the most-searched-for wedding destinations for 2025 couples on The Knot Vendor Marketplace.

Couples predict guests will think about weddings differently in 2025, too—and potentially enjoy them even more than in years past.

Design: Megan Herlihy

When it comes to gifting, NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL tickets are the most registered gift experiences on The Knot Registry, and Home Depot, Airbnb and Delta Airlines are the top three most requested gift cards by couples. Honeymoon funds, new home funds, and round-trip airfare are the top three registered cash funds on The Knot Registry.

Another factor that couples planning for a 2025 wedding are taking into account is the economy. Wedding data gathered in January 2025 from our most recent economic survey* found that roughly 85% of couples planning for a 2025 wedding say that the economy has had or will likely have an impact on their wedding planning or decision making. To address these challenges, couples are considering a variety of solutions like making modifications to their original plans (54%) or reducing their guest count (43%). While economic pressures continue to shape wedding planning, couples remain deeply committed to their celebrations—with nearly 8 in 10 saying their wedding is well worth the financial investment. Over two-thirds of couples reported that at least one of their wedding vendors helped reduce their stress, further highlighting the significance of the vendor team's role.

Early wedding industry statistics hint at some additional expectations for 2025 weddings. Creativity, personal style and happy tears will no doubt be common themes, and we can't wait to watch them all unfold.

Photo: Kir2Ben | Design: Megan Herlihy

Survey Methodology:To provide the most comprehensive insights, The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study combines multiple research studies, along with data from The Knot Vendor Marketplace, The Knot Registry, and The Knot Invitations. The study analyzed couples with wedding dates from Q2 2024 through Q1 2025 (invitations), Q3 2024 through Q2 2025 (registry), and 2024-2025 (vendor marketplace).

The Knot Real Weddings Study captured responses from 16,956 US couples married between January 1 and December 31, 2024; respondents were recruited via email invitation from The Knot and/or WeddingWire membership. Respondents represent couples from all over the country with various ethnicities, income levels, race, age, sexual orientation and gender identity. To provide the most comprehensive view of 2024 wedding industry trends, this report also includes statistics on weddings from ad hoc studies conducted throughout the year. In a typical year, The Knot Worldwide conducts research with more than 300,000 couples, guests and wedding professionals globally.

*Based on The Knot January 2025 Economic Pulse Study, N=2,021