All Things Wedding

You don't have to be a genius to figure out that the wedding industry is huge. These days there seems to be a very specific idea of the different elements that comprise a wedding:

Favours, save the dates, invitations, the bar, photographer, videographer (or both), hair, make-up, gifts for the wedding party, gifts for the parents, dresses, groomsmen outfits, bridesmaid outfits, photobooths, appetisers, food, reception venue, destination wedding, flowers, centrepieces, seating arrangements, colour theme, accessories for the bride, groom and wedding party, flower girls and ring bearers, I could go on, and on....

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And that's barely skimming the surface! There are wedding websites, blogs, magazines and wedding planners to think about too! No wonder they now sell cool wedding planner notebooks with inserts, stickers and directories... taking advantage of the cash that flows in the industry (and apparently you aren't really able to plan anything without one, I'm going to get a $2 dollar spiral notebook...)

The parting of cash happens even before the proposal. If you are lucky enough to know what your bride-to-be's taste are with rings then you can buy the engagement ring before the proposal then just get it re sized (if needed) after she says yes. If not, you go ring shopping together (I've been reading wedding blogs) this can quickly spiral out of control thanks to jewellers who throw terms such as 'cushion set' (I still don't know what that means!) and different diamond cuts (square, round, oval you name it they have it) also jutting in are the wedding magazines. Take the winter Martha Stewart Weddings for example, they have an entire page dedicated to this year's fashion statement 'candy colored rings' most of which look too heavy to keep on your finger and should you choose the third world adventure honeymoon you could expect to get your finger cut off! The cheapest on the page costs US$13,700, some prices aren't even listed and one costs $18 million (that's the pink cushion one)

We are sparkly and expensive! Source

Save the dates and invitations are keeping a thousand graphic designers afloat, or you can diy by buying a US$400 Gocco printer, adding to the multimillion dollar scrapbooking industry or using your own computer software and printer at home (while keeping fingers crossed)

Most brides tend to splurge on the photographer, which I can't blame them for. You want something that can be treasured for the rest of your life and if you hire someone who doesn't match your tastes then you will cringe every time you look at that album. They also splurge on the dress, designers like Vera Wang have made their career out of being the number one to go to if you want to have a 'real' wedding, and don't gain weight.... her dresses don't have seam allowance!

Funky wedding photo
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On a more positive note, many brides are now keeping their budget to well below the $10,000 mark, diy-ing flowers, dresses and favours. The wedding industry can be very overwhelming once you first enter it, but I think if you stay on top of what you do and don't want then it can't get out of control!