Ruben B. Hughes 
Gas prices, raw material costs and purchasing issues are hitting the wedding industry hard this spring. It seems that the cost of everything related to marriage is rising.
Consultants everywhere in bridal shops are trying to find affordable dresses for nervous couples stunned by recent price hikes. Bride-to-be Madison Cox is struggling to control costs. “Things have gone up a lot, even from people who got married a few years ago,” Cox said.
According to The Knot, the average dress now costs $1,900, up from $1,600 before the pandemic. Store manager Tina Minshell says manufacturers are hitting her with rising labor, shipping and silk costs. “They’re just passing on the price increases they’ve had over the last two years,” Minshell said.
But it’s not just wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses that are seeing price increases this year. Bride and groom are struck with sticker shock when it comes to all aspects of wedding planning. Seated dinner? Expect $75 per guest, according to The Knot’s latest survey. Photographer? The average is now $2,500, which shocked grandmother Sandra Ashby. “We were talking about thousands of dollars. Not just a thousand or $1,500 like it was when my daughters got married,” Ashby said.
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And if you’re a guest, you’re not off the hook either. A fine china dinnerware set now costs nearly $100. “The cost of food has gone up, the price of rentals has gone up, gas prices, and that affects everything when you’re planning a wedding,” Minshell said.
She also says to cut costs, look for off-the-shelf dresses, and start planning a year in advance, if you can. Six months is no longer enough, especially with sellers now overbooked due to postponed weddings. “When I was looking for my venue, there were two weekends available for 2022,” Cox said. She’s just glad she locked in some decent prizes last year.
Finally, the day of the week you get married can make a big difference! Saturday is the most expensive time to get married. Friday or Sunday may be cheaper, so you don’t waste your money.
