Taylor has us thinking about weddings

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What could possibly upstage the 250th birthday of our country?

How about the wedding of one of the world’s biggest pop stars? To an NFL star no less?

Those who read the tea leaves seem increasingly confident that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will make it official in New York, at Madison Square Garden, on or about July 3. Prediction markets are going wild. Heck, even the New York Times is weighing in on the signs. 

All the wedding talk got the MoneyNerd team thinking about the cost of weddings, and personal finance writer Amanda Barroso digs in below.

All this talk also got me (Rick) looking back at the cost of my own wedding, which we brought in for under $3,000. That included a nice venue, the gown, the tux, the food, the photographer, the cake, flowers and decorations. A live classical trio for the reception, even. 

How did we do it? We were resourceful, for one thing.  We had a cash bar (which my brother generously turned into an open bar). Our photographer was a friend from my college newspaper (price: $75, and we got the negs). It was not a destination wedding, unless you consider Riverside, Calif., a destination.

But our real secret was: We got married … in 1983. (And yes, we’re still married. You do the math.)

In 2026 dollars, thanks to inflation, that’s almost $10,000 — but still less than a third of what the average wedding costs today. And sure, expectations are higher now (would you serve cold hors d’oeuvres at your wedding? We did). But could I come close to replicating our 1983 wedding today on $10,000? 

Definitely not.

How much did your wedding cost? Let us know at [email protected].

Also in MoneyNerd this week:

- Amanda Barroso, personal finance writer

As noted above, rumors are swirling that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will finally tie the knot sometime this summer — perhaps as soon as the July 4 holiday weekend. While details aren’t public, one thing seems safe to assume: Their wedding budget will probably look very different from yours.

What does a wedding actually cost these days? According to The Knot, the average U.S. wedding cost $34,200 in 2025 — and three factors account for a majority of that bill. 

⛪ Location: Let’s take Taylor and Travis: some predict that they will hold their reception in New York City, where the average wedding cost is $88,000. Other big cities, like Los Angeles ($45,000) and Chicago ($54,000), are also pricey. Couples looking to get more for their money head outside city limits. Planning a wedding in Idaho or Utah? You’ll be paying an average of $18,000. 

👫 Guest list: Trimming your list to include only your nearest and dearest is one way to stay on budget. Weddings with 50 guests or fewer cost less than half as much as weddings with 100 or more attendees. Skipping “plus-one” invitations can also help keep your list tight. And you’d be in good company — Taylor and Travis are reportedly limiting plus-ones for their wedding. 

🍰 Vendors: Couples hire an average of 13 wedding vendors, according to The Knot. While the venue, food, photography, flowers and music personalize a wedding to reflect the couple’s personality, they aren’t cheap. And their pricing often reflects the economic moment. This summer, that’s rising costs across the board. As businesses face higher costs for food, labor and transportation, couples may find themselves having to make tough trade-offs to stay on budget.  

Here’s the thing: Taylor and Travis may never have to decide between an open bar or live band, but the rest of us do. If you’re planning a wedding, focus on the parts that matter most to you and let the rest go. The goal isn’t to throw a celebrity wedding — it’s to start your marriage in a meaningful way that doesn’t come at the expense of your financial future.

Over $2 million has been wagered on Taylor Swift's wedding on prediction market sites. 

This isn't really about Taylor Swift. It's about what happens when prediction markets turn every experience — fandom, politics, even war — into something you can bet on.

Click to watch!

- Abby Badach Doyle, mortgages writer

Just when lawmakers from both parties agreed on one of the most ambitious housing affordability plans in years, it got caught in a familiar Washington traffic jam: politics.

After months of negotiations, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act cruised through Congress this week with decisive bipartisan support. But the bill’s momentum came to a surprising halt Wednesday when President Trump canceled a highly anticipated bill-signing ceremony.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act aims to ease the housing affordability crunch by increasing the supply of homes, making it easier for buyers to access financing and limiting large investors' ability to compete for single-family homes.

In a Truth Social post, President Trump tied the housing bill's fate to unrelated voting legislation, saying he would not sign it until Congress acted on election policy changes in the SAVE America Act. The controversial bill would tighten voting requirements, but Senate Republicans have acknowledged they lack the votes needed to pass it.

There’s still hope for the housing bill, though: Under the Constitution, it can become law without the president’s signature if he doesn’t sign or veto it within a 10-day waiting period. (That’s Article I, Section 7, Clause 2, for those of you keeping score at home.)

- Whitney Vandiver, home services writer

Redditors aren’t shy about sharing their opinions, and some threads can get heated. I scrolled subreddits for hotly debated comments about home warranties and wasn’t left wanting.

Here’s the reality behind comments that got Redditors’ fingers flying.

🏡 Reddit says: Home warranties protect your home.

Home warranties can cover some of the costs of repairing appliances and systems when they fail because of everyday wear. But they don’t protect your home or repair damage like homeowners insurance does.

🙅 Reddit says: Home warranties are scams.

No, they’re legit service contracts that save some homeowners money. But they’re strict about when they pay for repairs, which has left some redditors with denied claims.

💸 Reddit says: Home warranties save homeowners a lot of money.

Honestly, it depends on your situation. What your plan covers, excluded parts and how much you pay for each service fee affect how much money — if any — you’ll save.

👎 Reddit says: Home warranties don’t cover anything.

Home warranties cover certain types of repairs when the circumstances are right, but they also have a lot of exclusions. They’re unlikely to repair issues that don't have clear cut causes that relate to normal wear and tear.

Not sure if a subreddit is the best place for advice? Read more about the reality of home warranties here.

What new threats are emerging for identity crime victims? Host Sean Pyles, CFP®, and news colleague Rick VanderKnyff are joined by Mona Terry, chief operating and programs officer of the Identity Theft Resource Center, to walk through the ITRC's 2026 Trends in Identity Report. They explore why more than 1 in 4 victims now face two or more simultaneous identity incidents; how “device compromise” differs from the scams most people think to watch for; and whether AI is already making identity crimes harder to detect and resolve.

Also: Learn what financial advisor fee structures could mean for your wealth and how to find someone who won't sell you out.

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Your MoneyNerd team: Courtney Neidel, Anna Helhoski, Rick VanderKnyff.

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