Why Are Weddings So Expensive?

There’s no denying that weddings cost lots of cash. And while it is often hard to justify, and appear baffling to outsiders, the reality is, if you ask most couples after their wedding (and we neutralize our budget breakdown series!), they need no regrets about forking out what they may afford to, on “just one day” because that day was so special (and fun!), it had been worthwhile to them. I’m visiting to warn you though, there’s some real talk involved!

1. Weddings are expensive because they’re not ‘just a party’
One myth we’re desperate to dispel from the outset is that suppliers suddenly add a bunch of zeros at the tip of a quote after they hear the word ‘wedding’. That simply isn’t true. the extent of service, the standard of product, the materials used, and also the time is taken to supply what you would like are most greater for marriage, than say, for a party.

So yes, while it’s still ‘a bouquet’, it is a pretty special one, and lots longer, thought, skill, and work have gone into it, than your average bunch of flowers. and therefore the same rule applies to every single detail across your entire wedding.

2. Weddings are expensive because they’re on an even bigger scale
Imagine taking everyone you recognize (I’m talking friends, family, your partner’s work colleagues, your in-laws’ next-door neighbors) out for drinks and getting around in at the bar – that might be pretty pricey, right? Now imagine taking them to a pleasant restaurant for a three-course meal. Now add the wine. You’re probably hitting a minimum of the €10,000 mark, and that is before a band, a photographer, or one flower.

While it should only be you and your partner paying for marriage, and therefore the amounts you’re talking about feeling more like Monopoly money than cold notes, it is vital (and more comprehensible!) to think about real-world examples so rescale.

3. Weddings are expensive because they’re time-consuming
There are such a big amount of wedding services where the work you really see, is simply a fraction of the time that goes into it.

Take, as an example, wedding photography. Your photographer may be there for eight hours on the day, but they’ve also spent several hours in consultation, either over email or meeting with your nose to nose. And after your wedding, they’ll spend several days pouring over every single shot, selecting the most effective ones, doing touch-ups, and packaging them up so you’ll be able to easily show them off to friends and family. Editing the photography on average takes three to fourfold as long because of the time spent actually taking photographs. Your investment is covering such a lot longer than it takes to merely grab some snaps.

4. Weddings are expensive because it takes lots of individuals to tug it off and that they all must be paid fairly. Anyone who’s looked into planning a marquee or dry hire wedding where you wish to herald your own staff will know exactly how costly it will be!

5. Weddings are expensive because suppliers know their job
Yes, your Auntie can make your cake, your mate can do your hair, and your cousin with an honest camera can take the pics. Sorted? Perhaps, but to not the identical standard as if you hire knowledgeable. What if something goes wrong, someone gets sick, something gets damaged in transit, (or deleted from a tough drive – true story!)

When you pay professionals, you’ll expect expert service. It’s worth considering which elements of your wedding are so important to you, you’d only trust knowledgeable to urge them right.

6. Weddings are expensive because wedding budgets are sometimes hard to achieve
Weddings get plenty of flack for being pricey, and we’re all for couples getting the simplest they’ll for his or her money. But a part of meaning setting your expectations from the beginning, and realizing what’s achievable on your budget, and what isn’t – whatever that budget might be!

We’re not ones to advocate or justify spending quite you’ll afford on your wedding – I’ve seen beautiful weddings that cost €5,000 and exquisite weddings that cost €150,000. But when someone tells you that they had the dream dresses or suits, the proper flowers, the bottomless Prosecco, and also the seemingly, best band, photographer, and venue (all for under 20 grand) the reality is, something had to allow.