The Truth Behind Why Weddings Are Expensive

If you’re shocked by the price tags you’ve seen since planning your wedding, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Weddings are undeniably pricey, and it isn’t just because they’re such a big deal. From the caterer to the photographer and everything in between, there’s a lot that goes into creating your dream day. Plus, if you’re planning your wedding in a stunning destination like Greece, there are a few extra factors to consider. Here’s the truth behind why weddings are so expensive and how you can manage the costs.

There Are So Many Parts to a Wedding

A wedding isn’t just one thing. It’s a collection of services, vendors, and experiences rolled into a single event. Though you pay a lot, you get a lot. Flower arrangements, catering, venue rental, photography, decorations, entertainment, attire, invitations… The list goes on. Each piece of the puzzle has its own cost. Imagine that each wedding or event has on average 16 different suppliers, more or less, which all have to come together and deliver on a specific day at a specific time.

What’s more, many of these services rely on skilled professionals, like florists, chefs, or make-up artists, who dedicate hours of preparation to bring your vision to life. Many of your vendors also work all day and well into the night to execute your event with perfection! That’s not even mentioning how requiring vendors to work weekends and summer seasons (prime wedding time and high season) means higher rates. It all adds up.

Demand Is High for Specialized Services

Another major factor driving wedding costs is the sheer demand for specialized services, especially during peak wedding seasons. From May to September, venues, photographers, and caterers are juggling bookings all over the place. This high demand pushes prices upward as vendors know they can only commit to a limited number of weddings within the season.

Plus, with a wedding, everything has to be perfect. Professionals are often expected to provide custom, exacting, and highly tailored service, which increases the time and resources they invest.

A Special Note on Destination Weddings

If you’ve chosen Greece for your big day, then your wedding might be on the more expensive end. Destination weddings come with added costs, but depending on the country you are coming from and on the location you choose to host your destination wedding, this might be cheaper or more expensive than having a wedding at home. For instance, if you’re coming from California, where the cost of living and events are higher than in Greece, you can probably get more for your budget than at home.

Greece, as a wedding destination, offers diverse options where you can find a supplier, service, venue or location for your budget and taste.

In any case, having a destination wedding on an island will come with extra expenses. You’ll need to budget for travel expenses and be willing to pay more for vendors and services that need to come from another island, Athens, or even abroad. While Greece will make your wedding memorable, it might not be cheap.

So Does the Wedding Tax Exist?

Ah, the infamous “wedding tax”! The idea that vendors charge more just because it’s a wedding. It’s overall a myth, but there is some nuance and truth to the idea. Weddings are inherently more complex than most events. As we mentioned, they involve many parts and heightened expectations. Vendors need to plan and execute flawlessly, forcing them to charge for their time, precision, and expertise. The prices simply reflect the work required to create your magical day.

Moreover, many couples are simply unaware of what certain services cost, leading them to blame a “wedding tax” when they get quotes higher than they expect. For instance, private event photography is at least $100 an hour, for weddings or otherwise. Secondly, having your hair done in the salon in 1 hour is a totally different experience than having a hair stylist come to your venue and spend all day with you. They cannot take other jobs and need to be compensated for their time and expertise.

Your Big Day, Your Budget

Yes, weddings are expensive, and now that you know the truth behind this fact, you can plan ahead to manage your expectations and costs. To keep your finances healthy and be able to bear the rising costs of goods and services, set your wedding budget goal and start saving towards it well in advance of your wedding date. But remember, you don’t have to go over your budget to have a wedding of your dreams!

We recommend creating a realistic wedding budget that covers all your bases and prioritizes ample funds for your most-wanted elements. For you, that might be your dress and catering or a gorgeous, exclusive venue. Evaluate every cost and each part if you really want it or need it, and get a few different offers to choose the best. But ultimately, try to have fun planning your wedding. The costs will be worthwhile, especially since you’re getting married against Greece’s stunning backdrop!