Think back to spring and summer 2020 when any of the upcoming weddings of family and friends had to be canceled because of the global health crisis. Now that most things are back in full swing, more and more weddings are scheduled to happen or are being planned during these next few months, but at what cost? Things are certainly adding up quite differently in the wedding calculator than they did a few years back.
There are a record number of weddings set to take place in 2022. According to the Wedding Report, an estimated 2.5 million weddings are scheduled this year, which is the highest number since 1984.
But with that many weddings set to happen in just one year, a lot of them in the spring and summer, Good Morning America reported that thanks to supply chain issues and “limited labor” available, the price tag attached to putting on a wedding in 2022 has definitely gone up.
Inflation certainly affects things, but it’s not the only thing that’s impacting wedding costs.
The inflation rate in the United States has risen to 8.5% as of March 2022, according to a report from the US Department of Labor, which can certainly be felt when doing everything from buying groceries, gas, or even planning a wedding.
But according to Shane McMurray, CEO of the Wedding Report, it’s also a “supply and demand” issue. He believes that “as people put off their wedding, because of the pandemic and weren’t able to get married, all of a sudden … [there’s] this flux of people getting married,” which drives up the demand for services such as flowers, DJs, and photographers.
When you have a large number of people needing the exact same service and only a finite number of floral shops and photographers, they’re able to raise their prices, especially if they’re experiencing supply chain issues themselves.
Flowers are one of the priciest items on the wedding budget list, and the cost just keeps going up.
Even for those that are looking for a simple bouquet of their favorite garden roses with a few floral touches throughout the wedding venue will likely find themselves shelling out a pretty penny.
Good Morning America spoke to Ashley Mueller of Ash and Oak Floral based in Northern California, and she said that “the demand has increased so much for flowers that the prices have just gone up and we have to adjust our prices accordingly.”
There are a few ways to save money, and it even includes the very important wedding day ensemble.
Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts partnered with Good Housekeeping to bring viewers the Bridal Blitz, which is full of tips and tricks on how to save money during wedding planning in 2022.
One thing to think about is the bridal gown, but the really cool thing is it doesn’t have to be a gown at all. Good Morning America noted that it can be beneficial to the wedding budget to shop at more off-the-rack stores or even opt for a cool wedding suit instead of a pricey wedding dress.
Also, think about choosing flowers that are in season and choose a wedding day other than Saturday.
Good Morning America also noted that to get flower prices down, it can be really helpful to choose flowers for bouquets and table arrangements that are in season. For example, in the early summer, mini calla lilies are a beautiful choice; you could go with autumnal mums for a fall wedding.
Turning to wedding venues, future brides and grooms should think about having the wedding on a day other than Saturday. Thursday can be a good choice, especially for kicking off a whole wedding weekend full of festivities. It’s really important to be flexible, such as considering having a morning wedding with brunch instead of dinner.
The key is patience and maybe playing the waiting game, especially when booking for weddings in 2023 and 2024.
Planning a wedding doesn’t happen overnight, and there are certain things that can wait, especially for those looking to save money. McMurray from the Wedding Report advised that “couples stay patient as they find vendors for their weddings within their budget.”
It also can be helpful to stay off social media to a certain degree as there’s always super trendy wedding items that will immediately make a budget skyrocket. Keep things personal and “timeless” and don’t be afraid to cut out what doesn’t feel right.
