If you liked it then you shoulda’ put a ring on it. And after the diamond ring, be sure you have plenty of greenbacks saved up to pay for the wedding. The once simple affair that involved a reception with cake and punch in the recreation hall at church following the ceremony has evolved to an event of epic proportions, where money is seemingly no object. According to The Knot, guest counts have shrunk but the cost of weddings in the United States has steadily risen in recent years, reaching a peak in 2014. Topping the list of most expensive areas to wed: East Coast and West Coast cities, not surprisingly.