 The cost of a wedding surged more than 15% last year. WTOP business reporter Jeff Claybaugh breaks it down. Wedding planning site The Knot says the average wedding in the U.S. cost $35,000 last year. The venue is the biggest cost, but catering is right behind, an average $90 a head. Couples are scaling back the invite list. 50% of weddings last year had fewer than 50 guests. 2% had fewer than 10. Cutting back on guests is the number one way to save money.