Just over 31 years ago, when my wife Amy and I tied the knot in June of 1991, the cost of an average wedding in the United States was $15,580. As you might imagine, that cost has gone up substantially since then.

According to WeddingStats.com, across the country, you're now looking at a price-tag of around $30,433. As you can see in the photo below, we took the extra money we saved and spent it on balloons.

If you've already been through the whole wedding thing, whether it was your own or you covered the costs for your kid(s), you probably saw the biggest expenditure being for the wedding or reception venue.

Maroo.us has a rundown on some of a wedding's biggest costs, and what they average out to in 2022 America. Keep in mind, these are just averages:

That $30,000-plus price-tag also includes engagement and wedding rings, but does not include the honeymoon.

Remember when I told you that the average cost in the U.S. for a wedding in 2022 is $30,433? Remember, that's the average. In order to calculate the average, you have to look at places both more expensive and less expensive.

Illinois is definitely more expensive than the national average at $39,700. Want to save some money? Cross the border into Wisconsin, where their average wedding runs about $27,800. Iowa is even cheaper at $22,600. Indiana is at $22,800, Michigan is at $29,700, Missouri weddings run about $26,600, and in Kentucky you'll shell out about $23,900.

The most expensive state for a wedding is New Jersey, where the average cost is a whopping $53,400.