research on wedding planner

37 Statistics for Wedding Planners in 2021

• April 2, 2021

Following a year in which a global pandemic affected nearly all industries ‒ with weddings and events hit particularly hard ‒ wedding statistics show that 2021 is shaping up to be one of the busiest years in modern history for couples saying “I do.”. 

The return of in-person weddings that follow health and safety guidelines should give us reason to be both hopeful and optimistic.

Top Statistics About the Wedding Planner Industry

• Twenty-seven percent of couples getting married hire a professional wedding/event planner, with day-of planners being the most in demand. ( The Knot )
• “Wedding planner (or planning)” is the number one search term couples most use when they begin wedding planning. ( WeddingWire )
• The average cost of a wedding planner is $1,850. ( WeddingWire )
• When it comes to the type of wedding planner couples hire, 37 percent seek the services of a day-of coordinator, while 31 percent opt for a full-service or all-inclusive planner. ( The Knot )
• Thirty-one percent of same-gender newlyweds would describe planning their wedding as “extremely” challenging. Thirty-four percent of different-gender newlyweds classified wedding planning the same way. ( Brides )
• Fifty-one percent of women and 47 percent of men identify “personal style” as a top priority in wedding planning. ( Brides )
• Wedding planner statistics show being connected is crucial as 80 percent of millennials are planning their wedding online, and 39 percent of those are actively doing so on their mobile device. ( WeddingWire )
• More than a third of engaged Americans who moved their wedding date in 2020 will keep their wedding planner as they reschedule. ( LendingTree )

Statistics on Wedding Budgets

The average cost of weddings over the past 12 months went wildly askew, with grand affairs becoming intimate backyard gatherings and weddings going from massive to micro. And then there’s the 63 percent of American engaged couples who postponed their wedding by at least a year  according to Lending Tree .

Generally speaking, newly published wedding statistics are promising. Engaged couples maintain the relatively same budget on average despite the pandemic, a positive economic indicator for wedding planners who have worked to maintain vendors for their couples as new dates (and sometimes new venues) are confirmed.

The average couple will spend $22,500 for their ceremony/reception in 2021, down only slightly compared to 2019 as per The Knot . That very slight drop can be attributed to contracts and agreements that left couples unable to recoup some nonrefundable deposits, payments and fees .

While couples might plan every aspect of their wedding meticulously, they underestimate their wedding ceremony and reception budget by nearly 45 percent ‒ and 65 percent of couples recalibrate with a revised, detailed budget. At least, based on a report by WeddingWire .

Men Are Taking on a Bigger Role, According to the Numbers

That common social trope about brides wanting every detail of the wedding their way? As the numbers show, grooms are increasingly having more say when planning the wedding of their dreams.

Though brides do 54 percent of wedding planning, grooms account for an impressive 25 percent (based on a heterosexual relationship). 

Forty-four percent of men, as opposed to 39 percent of women, list incorporating their hobbies , special interests, and even “fandoms” into their wedding day to make the event more unique and personal. 

More than 40 percent of men want their wedding day to reflect their religious/spiritual beliefs, ethnic/cultural backgrounds, and/or political and social beliefs.

When Are Couples Getting Married?

Wedding planners can expect their busiest months to be in the fall, with nearly 40 percent of all weddings taking place during the autumn months. 

The Millennial Marriage, A Few Stats

• Eighty percent of today’s marrying couples are considered millennials. 
• The average dollars spent on a millennial couple’s ceremony/reception is $31,000. 
• Millennials are getting married later in life compared to generations before. ( Pew Research )
• The U.S. Census Bureau reports the median age of women marrying for the first time is 26, and for men, 29.
• Millennial couples are getting to know each other better before saying I do compared to previous generations. On average, they spend 4.9 years in a relationship before tying the knot. ( Business Insider )
• When it comes to paying for the wedding, the average millennial couple pays for about 40 percent of their wedding cost, but their parents pay for 51 percent. ( WeddingWire )

New Statistics on the Number of Guests

As more big-picture wedding statistics become available following a very non-traditional 2020 wedding year, we are learning more about new trends driven by health and safety measures. 

During COVID, half of all couples who moved forward with their wedding were forced to reduce their guest count , with many weddings seeing 50 guests or fewer, while nearly a quarter had less than 25.

Throughout this world-altering event, wedding planners and engaged couples with a wedding date on the books have been working closely with their contacts at both their ceremony site and reception venue to keep apprised of any changes in capacity restrictions that keep in line with health and safety guidelines that may affect the final guest count.

Twenty-four percent of couples report changing their guest count contributed to an increase in their total wedding cost. Today’s couples spend about $230 per guest. The average wedding size is currently 131. 

When it comes to anticipating how many RSVPs couples can expect to return with a “yes,” a ballpark acceptance rate for local guests is around 85 percent, while out of town guests acceptance rate is around 55 percent . 

Today’s to-be-wed couples are making planning decisions that couples in the past never had to consider. Some of these include socially distanced seating charts or creative tech solutions that will allow loved ones who may not be ready for in-person gatherings to be a part of a couple’s celebration. Here’s where a wedding planner’s expertise is especially helpful as they have experience collaborating with venue staff and know how to find creative solutions quickly.

For other ideas on continued safety measures, and how one couple pivoted their ceremony, check out The Big Wedding Planner Podcast, episode #228. Great intel for continued health and safety measures in 2021.

Changes to Destination Weddings

With popular wedding destinations reopening and travel restrictions loosening, industry experts are predicting a wedding boom not only this year but into 2022. From exotic elopements to romantic micro weddings that may have a larger celebration closer to home when it’s safe to do so, wedding planners are critical when it comes to helping couples choose a location

Twenty-five percent of couples consider their wedding to be a type of destination, defined by the event taking place neither where they currently live nor in their hometowns. The average cost of a destination wedding is $32,000. Destination weddings on average welcome 48 guests. 

Las Vegas still leads the pack when it comes to the highest number of destination weddings, followed by Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

There are myriad variables when it comes to destination wedding spends, but the average cost is $28,000.

Use Updated Wedding Stats to Help with Decision Making

Weddings have endured a year of change, but what hasn’t changed is that couples determined to say “I do” will do so no matter what. Wedding planning statistics help us see where today’s engaged couples are turning their attention, dedicating their budget and how they’re making decisions. 

Annette Corrie

Our ‘Certificate of Professional Wedding Planning Course’ is here to help you through the process, by providing a step-by-step guide to getting started and becoming successful in your new career. This course will help you gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence you need to oversee all the details of a wedding. This course will help you prepare a successful and magnificent event!

Related Articles

5 reasons why 2023 is the perfect time to become a wedding planner.

Wedding planning is a rewarding career that allows you to use your creativity and organizational skills to help couples celebrate their love. If you’re considering

17 Rustic Decor Ideas for a Farm Wedding

Planning a rustic wedding for your clients next summer? The rise of cottage core amongst millenials and Gen Z is taking aesthetics back to the

Over Budget? 15 Ways to Cut Wedding Costs

The budget can make or break a wedding, but these wedding budget tips can save the day!  Having the budget and overspending conversation with your

DIY Wedding Ceremony Backdrops

The aesthetics of a wedding are composed of many things. It’s the flowers and food, the outfits and decorations all combined. However, there is one

Course Director

Our  ‘Certificate of Professional Wedding Planning Course’  is here to help you through the process, by providing a step-by-step guide to getting started and becoming successful in your new career. This course will help you gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence you need to oversee all the details of a wedding. This course will help you prepare a successful and magnificent event!

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COURSE BROCHURE

A 3 Day Wedding: How to Curate a Multi Day Experience

How to Build Your Wedding Coordinator Business Plan

Wedding Menu Ideas: Working with Dietary Restrictions

Certificate of professional wedding planning course’, find your way to a new career.

• ENROL AS STUDENT

TERMS PRIVACY & DISCLAIMER

Wedding Planners in the US - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2029)

Instant access to hundreds of data points and trends.

• Market estimates from
• Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
• Incorporates SWOT, Porter's Five Forces and risk management frameworks
• PDF report or online database with Word, Excel and PowerPoint export options

100% money back guarantee

Industry statistics and trends.

Access all data and statistics with purchase. View purchase options.

Wedding Planners in the US

Industry Revenue

Total value and annual change from . Includes 5-year outlook.

Access the 5-year outlook with purchase. View purchase options

Trends and Insights

Market size is projected to over the next five years.

Market share concentration for the Wedding Planners industry in the US is , which means the top four companies generate of industry revenue.

The average concentration in the sector in the United States is .

Products & Services Segmentation

Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.

Ready to keep reading?

Unlock the full report for instant access to 30+ charts and tables paired with detailed analysis..

Or contact us for multi-user and corporate license options

Table of Contents

About this industry, industry definition, what's included in this industry, industry code, related industries, domestic industries, competitors, complementors, international industries, performance, key takeaways, revenue highlights, employment highlights, business highlights, profit highlights, current performance.

What's driving current industry performance in the Wedding Planners in the US industry?

What's driving the Wedding Planners in the US industry outlook?

What influences volatility in the Wedding Planners in the US industry?

• Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix

What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Wedding Planners in the US industry?

• Industry Life Cycle Matrix

Products and Markets

Products and services.

• Products and Services Segmentation

How are the Wedding Planners in the US industry's products and services performing?

What are innovations in the Wedding Planners in the US industry's products and services?

Major Markets

• Major Market Segmentation

What influences demand in the Wedding Planners in the US industry?

International Trade

• Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
• Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
• Industry Trade Balance by Country

What are the import trends in the Wedding Planners in the US industry?

What are the export trends in the Wedding Planners in the US industry?

Geographic Breakdown

Business locations.

• Share of Total Industry Establishments by Region ( )

Data Tables

• Number of Establishments by Region ( )
• Share of Establishments vs. Population of Each Region

What regions are businesses in the Wedding Planners in the US industry located?

Competitive Forces

Concentration.

• Combined Market Share of the Four Largest Companies in This Industry ( )
• Share of Total Enterprises by Employment Size

What impacts market share in the Wedding Planners in the US industry?

Barriers to Entry

What challenges do potential entrants in the Wedding Planners in the US industry?

Substitutes

What are substitutes in the Wedding Planners in the US industry?

Buyer and Supplier Power

• Upstream Buyers and Downstream Suppliers in the Wedding Planners in the US industry

What power do buyers and suppliers have over the Wedding Planners industry in the US?

Market Share

Top companies by market share:

• Market share
• Profit Margin

Company Snapshots

Company details, summary, charts and analysis available for

Company Details

• Total revenue
• Total operating income
• Total employees
• Industry market share

Company Summary

• Description
• Brands and trading names
• Other industries

What's influencing the company's performance?

External Environment

External drivers.

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Wedding Planners in the US industry?

Regulation and Policy

What regulations impact the Wedding Planners in the US industry?

What assistance is available to the Wedding Planners in the US industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Cost structure.

• Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
• Depreciation

What trends impact cost in the Wedding Planners in the US industry?

Financial Ratios

• 3-4 Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
• 15-20 Income Statement Line Items (2018-2023)
• 20-30 Balance Sheet Line Items (2018-2023)
• 7-10 Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
• 1-5 Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
• 3-4 Leverage Ratios (2018-2023)
• 3-5 Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
• 5 Cash Flow and Debt Service Ratios (2018-2023)
• 1 Tax Structure Ratio (2018-2023)

Data tables

• IVA/Revenue ( )
• Imports/Demand ( )
• Exports/Revenue ( )
• Revenue per Employee ( )
• Wages/Revenue ( )
• Employees per Establishment ( )
• Average Wage ( )

Key Statistics

Industry data.

Including values and annual change:

• Revenue ( )
• Establishments ( )
• Enterprises ( )
• Employment ( )
• Exports ( )
• Imports ( )

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the wedding planners industry in the us.

The market size of the Wedding Planners industry in the US is measured at in .

How fast is the Wedding Planners in the US market projected to grow in the future?

Over the next five years, the Wedding Planners in the US market is expected to . See purchase options to view the full report and get access to IBISWorld's forecast for the Wedding Planners in the US from up to .

What factors are influencing the Wedding Planners industry in the US market trends?

Key drivers of the Wedding Planners in the US market include .

What are the main product lines for the Wedding Planners in the US market?

The Wedding Planners in the US market offers products and services including .

Which companies are the largest players in the Wedding Planners industry in the US?

Top companies in the Wedding Planners industry in the US, based on the revenue generated within the industry, includes .

How many people are employed in the Wedding Planners industry in the US?

The Wedding Planners industry in the US has employees in United States in .

How concentrated is the Wedding Planners market in the United States?

Market share concentration is for the Wedding Planners industry in the US, with the top four companies generating of market revenue in United States in . The level of competition is overall, but is highest among smaller industry players.

Methodology

Where does ibisworld source its data.

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights. 

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools.

To learn more about specific data sources used by IBISWorld's analysts globally, including how industry data forecasts are produced, visit our Help Center.

Deeper industry insights drive better business outcomes. See for yourself with your report or membership purchase.

Discover how 30+ pages of industry data and analysis can give you the edge you need..

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Market Research Consumer Goods Market Research Consumer Goods & Retailing Market Research House & Home Market Research Wedding Market Research

Wedding Market Research Reports & Industry Analysis

Wedding industry research & market reports, refine your search, bridalwear manufacturers (uk) - industry report.

Apr 01, 2024  |  Published by: Plimsoll Publishing Ltd.  |  USD 400

... CARINA BAVERSTOCK COUTURE LTD, ELIZABETH DICKENS LTD and IMPRESSION BRIDAL UK LTD. This report covers activities such as wedding, bridesmaid, bridal, bride, white and includes a wealth of information on the financial trends over the ... Read More

Bridalwear Retailers (UK) - Industry Report

... ALWAYS & FOREVER LTD, BELLA B LTD and BRIDAL BOX LTD. This report covers activities such as bridal, wedding dresses, wedding, wedding dress, bridesmaids and includes a wealth of information on the financial trends over ... Read More

2024 Wedding Still Photography Services Global Market Size & Growth Report with Updated Recession Risk Impact

Mar 04, 2024  |  Published by: Kentley Insights  |  USD 295

... and share across 4 global regions (The Americas, Europe, Asia & Oceania, Africa & Middle East), 22 subregions, and 195 countries. Figures are from 2012 through 2023, with forecasts for 2024 and 2028. The historical ... Read More

2024 Wedding and Special Event Photography Services Global Market Size & Growth Report with Updated Recession Risk Impact

... market size, revenue, growth, and share across 4 global regions (The Americas, Europe, Asia & Oceania, Africa & Middle East), 22 subregions, and 195 countries. Figures are from 2012 through 2023, with forecasts for 2024 ... Read More

The 2025-2030 World Outlook for Bridal Wear

Mar 03, 2024  |  Published by: Icon Group International, Inc.  |  USD 995

... industry earnings (P.I.E.), for the country in question (in millions of U.S. dollars), the percent share the country is of the region, and of the globe. These comparative benchmarks allow the reader to quickly gauge ... Read More

Bridal Wear

Mar 01, 2024  |  Published by: Global Industry Analysts  |  USD 5,600

... growing at a CAGR of 4% over the period 2022-2030. Offline Bridal Wear, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is expected to record 4% CAGR and reach US$71.3 Billion by the end of ... Read More

Destination Wedding Global Market Report 2024

Feb 23, 2024  |  Published by: The Business Research Company  |  USD 4,000

... By Venues: National; International5) By Booking Channel: Phone Booking; Online Booking; In Person BookingCovering: Sparkles & Bubbles Weddings; Tropical Wedding & Honeymoon; Vivaah Weddings; Revel Events Weddings; The Wedding Travel Company Destination Wedding Global Market ... Read More

Bridal Stores in the US - Industry Market Research Report

Feb 15, 2024  |  Published by: IBISWorld  |  USD 1,095

... clashed with a strong macroeconomic climate. Although fewer couples tied the knot during the five-year period, growth in per capita disposable income and consumer spending encouraged more brides and grooms to splurge on high-value wedding ... Read More

Global Wedding Jewelry Market Professional Survey by Types, Applications, and Players, with Regional Growth Rate Analysis and Development Situation, from 2023 to 2028

Feb 14, 2024  |  Published by: Maia Research  |  USD 3,160

... growth of the Wedding Jewelry industry between the year 2018 to 2028, and breaks down according to the product type, downstream application, and consumption area of Wedding Jewelry. The report also introduces players in the ... Read More

US Wedding Management Market - Focused Insights 2024-2029

Feb 06, 2024  |  Published by: Arizton Advisory and Intelligence  |  USD 1,800

... management is included in the report. This report provides a comprehensive and current market scenario of US wedding management, including the US wedding management market size, anticipated market forecast, relevant market segmentations, and industry trends. ... Read More

2024 Rental of Space for Weddings, Banquets, Parties, and Similar Short-Term Social Uses Global Market Size & Growth Report with Updated Recession Risk Impact

Feb 06, 2024  |  Published by: Kentley Insights  |  USD 295

... and Similar Short-Term Social Uses Global Market Size & Growth Report covers market size, revenue, growth, and share across 4 global regions (The Americas, Europe, Asia & Oceania, Africa & Middle East), 22 subregions, and ... Read More

Photo Market By Type (Stock Photography, Theme Park and Cruise Line, Schools and Colleges, Sports, Conferences, Events and Weddings): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

Feb 01, 2024  |  Published by: Allied Market Research  |  USD 5,730

... million in 2022, and is projected to reach $9163.3 million by 2032, registering a CAGR of 6.7% from 2023 to 2032. The photo market is engaged in the buying and selling of digital images and ... Read More

Wedding Wear Market by Category (Children Wear, Men Wear, Women Wear), Product (Accessories, Footwear, Gown), Distribution Channel - Global Forecast 2024-2030

Jan 15, 2024  |  Published by: 360iResearch  |  USD 4,749

... and expected to reach USD 12.53 billion in 2024, at a CAGR 5.30% to reach USD 17.10 billion by 2030. Global Wedding Wear MarketWedding wear includes all garments that are worn by the couples, during ... Read More

Wedding Planners in the US - Industry Market Research Report

Jan 04, 2024  |  Published by: IBISWorld  |  USD 1,020

... plan their weddings themselves rather than hire industry operators. According to 2021 data from the Wedding Planning Institute, 27.0% of couples are using wedding planners. This contraction in demand for industry services mainly stems from ... Read More

Bridal Wear Market Trends in China

Dec 31, 2023  |  Published by: Asia Market Information & Development Company  |  USD 3,000

... manufacturing capabilities and rising consumer consumptions in China have transformed China’s society and economy. China is one of the world’s major producers for industrial and consumer products. Far outpacing other economies in the world, China ... Read More

Wedding Services in China - Industry Market Research Report

Nov 30, 2023  |  Published by: IBISWorld  |  USD 1,095

... 2023, to total $26.8 billion in 2023. This trend includes expected revenue growth of 2.9% in the current year. In the first half of 2020, many small and medium-sized enterprises in the industry closed due ... Read More

Wedding Planning Apps Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Outlook, and Insights Report, 2023- Industry Forecasts by Type, Application, Segments, Countries, and Companies, 2021- 2030

Nov 23, 2023  |  Published by: VPA Research  |  USD 3,400

... growth industry. In 2023, the market is poised to register positive year-on-year growth over 2022. Further, the Wedding Planning Apps market size maintains a super-linear growth trajectory, registering continuous expansion from 2023 to 2030. As ... Read More

Global Wedding Planning Market Professional Survey by Types, Applications, and Players, with Regional Growth Rate Analysis and Development Situation, from 2023 to 2028

Nov 14, 2023  |  Published by: Maia Research  |  USD 3,160

... growth of the Wedding Planning industry between the year 2018 to 2028, and breaks down according to the product type, downstream application, and consumption area of Wedding Planning. The report also introduces players in the ... Read More

Asia-Pacific Underwater Hotels Market Assessment, By Location [Coastal Areas, Open Oceans], By Type of Accommodation [Underwater Suites, Underwater Villas, Underwater Pods/Capsules], By Design [Partially Submerged, Fully Submerged], By Target Audience [Luxury Travelers, Adventure Seekers], By Package [Corporate Retreat, Wedding & Honeymoon Packages, All-inclusive Stays, Others], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2016-2030F

Nov 03, 2023  |  Published by: Market Xcel  |  USD 4,500

... By Package [Corporate Retreat, Wedding & Honeymoon Packages, All-inclusive Stays, Others], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2016-2030F Asia-Pacific underwater hotels market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 14.2% between 2023 and 2030. The ... Read More

2023 Rental of Space for Weddings, Banquets, Parties, and Similar Short-Term Social Uses Global Market Size & Growth Report with COVID-19 & Recession Risk Impact

Oct 15, 2023  |  Published by: Kentley Insights  |  USD 295

... Parties, and Similar Short-Term Social Uses Global Market Size & Growth Report covers market size, revenue, growth, and share across 4 global regions (The Americas, Europe, Asia & Oceania, Africa & Middle East), 22 subregions, ... Read More

2023 Wedding and Special Event Photography Services Global Market Size & Growth Report with COVID-19 & Recession Risk Impact

... covers market size, revenue, growth, and share across 4 global regions (The Americas, Europe, Asia & Oceania, Africa & Middle East), 22 subregions, and 216 countries. Figures are from 2014 through 2022, with forecasts for ... Read More

2023 Wedding Still Photography Services Global Market Size & Growth Report with COVID-19 & Recession Risk Impact

... growth, and share across 4 global regions (The Americas, Europe, Asia & Oceania, Africa & Middle East), 22 subregions, and 216 countries. Figures are from 2014 through 2022, with forecasts for 2023 and 2027. The ... Read More

Lingerie, Bridal & Swimwear Stores - 2023 U.S. Market Research Report with Updated Recession Risk & COVID-19 Forecasts

Oct 12, 2023  |  Published by: Kentley Insights  |  USD 295

... most comprehensive and in-depth assessments of the retail sector in the United States with over 100 data sets covering 2014-2027. This Kentley Insights report includes historical and forecasted market size, ecommerce, product lines, inventory turns, ... Read More

Bridal Stores in Australia - Industry Market Research Report

Oct 02, 2023  |  Published by: IBISWorld  |  USD 770

... increases in the number of marriages and in consumer sentiment benefitted industry performance. Additionally, the legalisation of same-sex marriages in December 2017 expanded the industry's addressable market for bridal stores. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has ... Read More

Underwater Hotels Market Assessment, By Location [Coastal Areas, Open Oceans], By Type of Accommodation [Underwater Suites, Underwater Villas, Underwater Pods/Capsules], By Design [Partially Submerged, Fully Submerged], By Target Audience [Luxury Travellers, Adventure Seekers], By Package [Corporate Retreat, Wedding and Honeymoon Packages, All-inclusive Stays, Others], By Region, Opportunities, and Forecast, 2016-2030F

Sep 12, 2023  |  Published by: Market Xcel  |  USD 4,500

... Package [Corporate Retreat, Wedding and Honeymoon Packages, All-inclusive Stays, Others], By Region, Opportunities, and Forecast, 2016-2030F The underwater hotels market has emerged as an innovative and captivating niche within the broader hospitality industry. These submerged ... Read More

< prev 1 2 3 next >

Filter your search

• Global (51)
• Middle East (1)
• North America (10)
• Oceania (2)

Research Assistance

Join Alert Me Now!

Start new browse.

• Consumer Goods
• Food & Beverage
• Heavy Industry
• Life Sciences
• Marketing & Market Research
• Public Sector
• Service Industries
• Technology & Media
• Company Reports
• Reports by Country
• View all Market Areas
• View all Publishers

90 years of expert advice and inspiration, for every couple.

• Engagement Rings
• Wedding Bands
• Celebrity Weddings & News
• Wedding Planning
• Destination Wedding
• Invitations & Stationery
• Wedding Décor
• Flowers & Bouquets
• Food & Drink
• Wedding Cakes
• Photography
• Wedding Dresses
• Bridesmaid Dresses
• Makeup & Hair
• Accessories
• Groom Style
• Wedding Party Attire
• Wedding Guest Attire
• Bridal Fashion Week
• Skincare & Wellness
• Engagement Party
• Bridal Shower
• Bachelorette Party
• Rehearsal Dinner
• Registry Tips
• Anniversary Gifts
• Wedding Favors
• Friends & Family
• Marriage Proposal Ideas
• Married Life
• Love & Dating
• The Brides Team
• Editorial Guidelines
• Editorial Policy
• Terms of Use and Policies
• Privacy Policy
• Wedding Ideas & Advice

The Ultimate Guide to Hiring the Right Wedding Planner

We spoke with three experts about this crucial part of planning your wedding day.

Molly Allen is a previous bakery owner with expertise in wedding orders, as well as a former event planner. She is now a freelance writer focused on lifestyle, travel, and food and beverage.

PHOTO BY BROOKE MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY

Deciding to hire a wedding planner is one of the first (and biggest) decisions you’ll make in the exciting process of planning your wedding. For many couples, it’s definitely worth the expense; wedding planning pros know the ins and outs of the wedding industry better than anyone, so naturally, they can help you coordinate, get you access to exclusive vendors, help manage your budget, and maybe even save you money in the long run.

Because a wedding planner will ultimately be playing a key role in one of the most important days of your life, selecting somehow who is knowledgeable, experienced, and really just gets exactly what you and your partner want is crucial. So, where do you start? We spoke to three industry experts to help you decide what kind of wedding planner is right for you and your partner.

Meet the Expert

• GiGi McDowell is the founder of Fêtefully , a digital wedding planning platform connecting couples to event planners around the world.
• Shauna Karver is the owner and creative director behind  J29 Events , a full-service wedding planning and event design company based in the Northwest.
• Lara Mahler is the founder and chief planner of  The Privilege is Mine , a wedding planning collective based in New York.

Know Your Vision

While this may develop throughout the wedding planning process with the right guidance, it’s helpful to know your vision before deciding on a planner.

"The biggest tip I can offer to couples is knowing who you are and know what you want from your wedding,” says McDowell. “I am recently engaged and am enjoying being on the other side of the table now. I love creating the vision, décor, and how the reception looks, but I want my planner to be a great organizer and scheduler, someone to send out emails to vendors and schedule meetings. Pick a wedding planner whose strengths are the opposite of your weaknesses, so they plug in the gaps."

Ask Your Social Network

One of the first steps to finding the perfect wedding planner is to use your network. Check with friends and family members to see if they have any recommendations, and begin making a list. “Ask around. If you went to a wedding that you absolutely loved, ask the couple about their planner,” suggests Karver. They’ll be able to give you first-hand knowledge of what it was like to work with their planner.

Scour Social Media

We use social media to plan trips and to find hotels and restaurants. Why not use it to find a wedding planner too? “We recommend looking on Instagram to make sure [the planner] has done real events that map to your overall wedding style. Then follow up with a deep dive to critique their real wedding experience,” says Karver. “Read their reviews on Google and The Knot. Check out their website, and see if their voice is a good fit.”

Mahler also suggests doing a quick Google search to get the ball rolling. “I have been finding that just googling ‘NYC wedding planner’ or ‘Brooklyn wedding planner’ is how folks find wedding planning in their area or city,” she says.  

Check Magazines, Websites, and Events

Aside from searching social media and asking your social network, you may also find the perfect planner by looking at other resources. “There are local resources that couples can look into, like open houses for different venues and bridal shows," says McDowell. "Those two are great ways to see how planners engage with prospective couples." In addition, be sure to check out wedding planning magazines or websites . If you see a real wedding you're obsessed with, look at the credits to find the planner who worked on it.

Ask Your Venue

As you’re searching for the perfect planner, you may have already selected your venue. If so, ask the coordinator or director of sales there if they have a shortlist of excellent wedding planners who already know your dream venue like the back of their hand.

Match Your Aesthetic

If you have a clear idea of your wedding theme and exactly how you want it to look, be sure to consider that in your choice. Double-check that the prospective planner has executed weddings that fit the same look and feel you’re going for. “Once you have an initial call with your planner, they should be adding to your ideas and your vision in a way that makes you feel confident that they understand what you are trying to portray on your wedding day,” says Mahler.

Discuss Budget and Fees

Of course, you’ll need to make sure the perfect wedding planner fits your budget as well. Before committing, double-check that you’re on the same page with the services that you need for your big day. “Figure out how much help you'll need (day of event management, partial planning, or full service), and look at a planner's pricing model,” says Karver. “If you feel that you want one type of package with the option to add on later, make sure you find a planner with customizable pricing.”

Mahler adds: “What you are investing in is the experience of planning weddings that a wedding planner has, the ability to foresee any issue or problem ahead of time, a roster of amazing vendors they are able to refer to you, and the list goes on."

Identify Shared Values

“You are going to be spending a lot of time with your planner. They are going to be involved in a very personal time in your and your partner’s life,” says Mahler. “In the end, you need to like your planner as a human being first, and the work that the company or planner puts out there needs to mesh with your vibe and the aesthetic of your wedding.”

Karver notes that you should take the time to find someone you feel comfortable and completely in sync with. “For us, it's a lot like a first date. If we have an amazing call with a couple, we're giddy and can't wait to follow up,” says Karver. And you and your partner should feel the exact same way as well as you’re making your decision.

Double-Check Services

While a planner may match your dream aesthetic , it’s important to be sure they can provide the services you need as well. “You want to know that you have access to your planner through phone and email communication so that you can feel confident knowing that you can ask questions and feel taken care of pre-wedding,” says Mahler. “You would want to know that they will maintain communication and coordination with your vendors leading up to your wedding day so that you can rest assured that everything is going to show up on time and have all the run-of-show details.”

Other key services you may want to double-check that they will provide include drafting your timeline for the day and reviewing contracts.

Prepare for the First Meeting

Once you’ve done your research and it’s time to meet your top choice planner, ask them what they’d like for you to bring to the meeting. It will depend on where you are in your planning stage, as well as the services you’re hoping they will provide.

"When we meet with a couple for the first time, we want the chance to get to know you. We believe that the main ingredient to successful wedding planning is finding the right fit,” says Karver. “We spend so much time talking, texting, and emailing with each client, that if we don't vibe, it all feels forced, and the end result will suffer because of it. Bring yourself, a little bit about what you imagine your wedding day to be, and basic info about what you have booked.”

Find an Advocate

As you’re making a final decision, it's important to reflect on whether or not your planner will be your best advocate. “When looking for a wedding planner, you should not feel judged or made to feel like your ideas or vision are silly in any way,” says Mahler. “When you are looking for a planner, you should feel like you are being advocated for; you should trust your planner, like them as a person, and most importantly you should feel a sense of ease after meeting or getting off the phone with them.”

If a phone call or a meeting makes you feel more stressed , then chances are, the planner isn’t the right fit for you.

Trust Your Gut

No matter where your research leads you, finding a wedding planner that feels good is hands-down the most important piece of the puzzle. Trust your gut to be sure you’re making the right decision. “Your wedding planner is your teammate," says Mahler. "It should feel like you have someone on your side who is working along with you to bring your vision to life."

Related Stories

10 Tips for Planning a Wedding When You Work a 9-to-5 Job

How to Navigate Wedding Planning When You're Type A and Your Partner Is Type B

The Complete Guide to Hiring a Destination Wedding Planner

How to Create a Wedding Vision Board

The 7 Most Popular Types of Weddings to Know

How to Plan a Masquerade Wedding

10 Things to Know If You Aren't Hiring a Wedding Planner

The Complete Guide to Planning a Wedding

36 Important Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer

How to Plan a Rehearsal Dinner: Tips and Etiquette You Need to Know

How Much Space Is Too Much Space in a Relationship?

Giving Away the Bride: What to Know About the Classic Wedding Tradition

12 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Officiant

Everything You Need to Know About Wedding Venue Site Visits

What to Do If You or an Important Wedding Party Member Breaks a Bone Ahead of the Big Day

The Top 5 Wedding Planning Mistakes to Avoid

Consumer Perceptions and Pricing Practices for Weddings

• Original Paper
• Open access
• Published: 20 April 2021
• Volume 44 , pages 407–426, ( 2021 )

Cite this article

You have full access to this open access article

• N. D. Albers 1 ,
• A. O. Wren 1 ,
• T. L. Knotts   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7052-3657 1 &
• M. G. Chupp 2  

7151 Accesses

Explore all metrics

Weddings represent a specific consumption experience with unusual pressures (financial and emotional). Societal pressures of perfection and the experience itself, including conspicuous consumption, experience, and credence qualities, create a unique consumption and pricing environment. Study 1 provides evidence of a two-tier retail pricing approach for “regular” and “wedding” items. Study 2 suggests this phenomenon has been propagated by a tendency to attach elevated importance to wedding products. This paper documents the practice of elevated wedding pricing and offers insight into why the practice is tolerated and perpetuated.

Similar content being viewed by others

Retracted article: low prices and high regret: how pricing influences regret at all-you-can-eat buffets.

Özge Siğirci & Brian Wansink

Presence or Absence of Unit Price Display and Its Influence on Snack Food Choices

Food Retailers and Obesity

Rosemary A. Stanton

Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.

Approximately 2.23 million couples get married each year in the USA (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2017 ). While extremely lavish and over the top weddings have become less common in in the early part of the century (Poquette 2010 ), the average wedding cost in the USA is still $38 700 (Goodson and Francis 2019 ). The average cost of a wedding varies tremendously depending on where the couple marries. The average can be as high as $76 944 in the Manhattan borough of New York City or as low as $17 584 in New Mexico (Jacobs 2018 ).

American consumers spend about $72 billion annually on weddings, not including the honeymoon (Segran 2018 ). Consumers spent almost $2 billion for the busiest wedding day in 2018, which was 8/18/18 (Bertram 2018 ). At least one elaborate international wedding cost more than $66 million (Erdei 2018 ). All over the world, there are massive pressures on couples and families to avoid looking cheap (Poquette 2010 ; Ward 2020 ). For example, one online planning site discourages brides from buying discounted items (O’Gorman Klein 2021 ), and American couples, on average, invite 167 guests to their wedding with 10.7 men and women as part of the wedding party (Brides Editors 2019 ).

Although some couples do not expect parents to cover the cost of the wedding, parents of the couple often feel obligated to make sure their children have the wedding of their dreams (Lepore 2020 ). Parents want to support their children’s aspirations and, in doing so, they have been known to borrow, cash in retirement savings, and/or access the equity in their homes (Lepore 2020 ). While most couples do contribute to the cost of the wedding, only about 27% of couples said they paid fully for their own weddings, often deferring the cost of wedding-related expenses and activities with credit cards and loans (McDowell 2019 ). The demand for wedding loans have quadrupled recently, and many wedding-related credit payments extend for more than three years after the wedding (Bhattarai 2019 ).

Weddings can become major productions complete with elaborate attire for the entire wedding party, limousine rental, venue rental, flowers, photographers, etc. Expenses mount because weddings are publically consumed productions. The cost of a wedding spans pre-wedding to post-wedding events, with pre-wedding events no longer limited to a bridesmaid’s luncheon or a rehearsal dinner. Pre-wedding events are likely to include a combination of engagement parties, fundraising events, bridal and couple showers, wedding party welcome events, bachelor and bachelorette parties, co-ed parties, spa visits, outdoor outings, luncheons, and dinners (Forrest 2018 ; Prendergast 2018 ). Post-wedding events, once consisting of a reception and honeymoon, now may be expanded into not only a post-wedding reception, but also after reception parties, day after brunches, and extravagant honeymoons (Brown 2017 ; Donovan 2020 ; The Knot 2020 ).

The Pressure of the Perfect Wedding

Weddings are not only financially draining, but emotionally fatiguing as well (Strauss 2019 ). While academia is quick to pan publications encouraging perfection-seeking behavior (Bigelow 2006 ; Slade 2006 ), the popular press and Internet have embraced the concept of perfection with an entire wedding magazine dedicated to this purpose (Cooper 2020 ; Ghosh and Ghosh 2010 ). Much like the myth of the perfect mother applying pressure to first time moms (Meeussen and Van Laar 2018 ; Slade 2006 ; Wilborn 1976 ), there is extraordinary pressure on “super brides” to not only be perfect, but to plan and execute the perfect wedding (Cooper 2020 ; Duncan 2016 ; Poquette 2010 ).

This pressure on brides often leads to extended demands on product selection and extensive, protracted search processes with many points of product comparisons. For example, the typical bride, planning a local wedding, will dedicate a year or more to wedding planning (Krueger 2020 ). The recommendation for planning a destination wedding can be two years or more (Shutterfly Community 2020 ).

While the Internet has dozens of wedding checklist for brides, many have 60 or more decision points where brides must make comparisons and choices (Here Comes the Guide 2021 ). When searching for the perfect wedding gown, most brides try on four to seven dresses, but others end up trying on many more (O’Gorman Klein 2021 ). The pressure for the perfect dress is so extreme that it has given rise to more brides selecting custom gowns. While custom dresses are not universally adopted, the brides who decide on a custom dress must increase their level of involvement and financial commitment (Choy and Lokar 2004 ).

Many wedding decisions are fraught with social consequences, such as who will and will not be in the wedding party or who will and will not be invited to the wedding. Along these lines, brides must choose who to involve in the decision-making processes. For decisions related to the wedding cake, wedding planners encourage brides to have friends and family sample many bakeries and contribute to the decision process for buying a wedding cake (Birdwell-Branson 2017 ). Brides are encouraged to begin the process of locating a bakery about six months before the wedding date, making appointments with at least two bakeries for tastings (Birdwell-Branson 2017 ). This can place additional pressure to please the family and friends by acquiescing to the popular choice rather than other fiscally responsible options.

According to wedding planning sites, most decisions that brides make should be thoroughly investigated. For example, selecting a florist is described as an eight-step process (Kay 2021 ). Additionally, the wedding venue is considered vital to the success of the wedding; therefore, brides are encouraged to build a venue research spreadsheet including location, capacity, availability, type, layout, rates, website, restrictions, parking, transportation, caterer, linens, tables, chairs, and media equipment availability (Levy 2019 ).

Media, social networks, and the wedding industry portray weddings as an obtainable consumer fantasy (Boden 2001 ; Mead 2008 ; Weiss 2020 ). While modern brides may feel able to choose between which wedding traditions to follow, expectations to observe family, culture, and regional traditions may still be extreme (Burvill 2019 ). The pressures of old traditions have also been replaced with new expectations. Sociologists explain that expectations on the bride are a result of social expectations and the media (Boden 2001 ; Hochschild 1998 ).

The pressure for perfection is compounded because all wedding-related events, down to the selection of table decorations, are typically captured both on video and in still photographs. The photos are supposed to capture unforgettable memories , but brides are aware that the photos and videos will also document and proclaim the quality of the decisions made long after the wedding events are concluded (Brown 2018 ). Cellphones and cameras allow untrained family and friends to capture amateur images, resulting in guests posting pictures on social media even while the wedding and reception are occurring. These photos document before and after wedding activities and are critiqued on social media (Park 2019 ).

In order to meet the societal expectations for perfection, weddings are expected to be planned on a romantic date and at a romantic church or venue filled with impeccable flowers, even if that means conducting the wedding hundreds of miles away or in a foreign country (Bertram 2018 ). The reception should be at a similarly grand location such as a mansion, historic estate, up-scale hotel, or expensive restaurant with delicious food and beverages (Forrest 2019 ; Schreiber 2020 ). In addition to the perfect wedding, evidence indicates that brides feel immense pressure to achieve personal perfection (Schank 2006 ). As the central focus of the wedding, brides are expected to be immaculate (Steer 2018 ), have a perfect body (Kovanis 2006 ), and wear an exquisite gown (Bridal 2016 ; Hoffower 2020 ). Having beautiful hands and nails, (Murray 2017 ), long flowing hair or glamorous upsweeps (Rud 2020 ; Title 2017 ), healthy, glowing skin, and flawless make-up (Levine 2020 ) are considered essential bridal features.

Consumption Behavior Impact on Pricing

Conspicuous consumption.

Based on the volume of media related to the perfection pressure for weddings and wedding-related products, it is logical to consider that a consumer might have elevated anxiety with regard to these purchases. Weddings and wedding-related products are reasonably considered to be conspicuous goods (Belk 1988 ). The conspicuousness of a wedding can be used to achieve social status (Bloch et al. 2014 ). Consumer response to conspicuously consumed goods is different from goods not consumed conspicuously. Conspicuous goods are often evaluated as priceless goods in that consumers attribute some level of intrinsic value beyond their normal market value. Priceless goods are difficult to assess in terms of an appropriate price using market-related models (Maitland 2002 ). Evidence suggests that marketers of conspicuous goods often take advantage of the social effects to charge a higher price (Amaldoss and Jain 2005b ). An extrapolation of this concept can be found in a WeddingWire post by a bride regarding the price of a wedding venue:

“… I absolutely fell in love with a place and it's $7000 for the reception and an extra $2500 for the ceremony. Is that too much? It's pretty much the place of my dreams a place I can look like an actual Disney princess at but other family members and friends say it might be a little too much. Then again they've all gotten married on beaches or in Barns (Wedding Ceremony 2018 ).”

Consumers buy goods for both material and social needs (Amaldoss and Jain 2005a ; Duan and Dohlakia 2017 ). Amaldoss and Jain ( 2005a ) explain that social needs may manifest in a consumer’s desire to appear to be exclusive or to conform. It is common among marketers of conspicuous goods to emphasize a product’s exclusivity (Pollay 1984 ).

Wedding consumption generates both needs simultaneously. Clearly, there is media and society-based pressure for the bride to make decisions that will result in the perception that her wedding is different and unique compared to all other competing weddings. Yet, brides are also expected to make appropriate decisions that will maintain traditionally expected aspects of the wedding. For example, a bride may feel compelled to have a formal, white wedding dress to conform to tradition, and yet, locate a unique and exclusive design that is remarkably different from all of her friends’ gowns, even to the point of customization (Choy and Lokar 2004 ).

Consumers’ Ability to Judge Quality

All things being equal, consumers perceive a relationship between appropriate price and product quality. As quality increases, consumers are willing to pay more for the better quality product. In the best of consumption settings, a consumer would have complete knowledge about product quality and would be willing to pay a price appropriate to the incremental level of quality. Research confirms that consumers in this setting will pay more for a product even if there is no evidence of an increase in quality or utility (Amaldoss and Jain 2005a ).

Service researchers have long acknowledged that consumers do not have complete knowledge about quality. Services are intangible goods, and hence it is difficult for customers to judge the price/quality relationships (Berry and Manjit 1996 ). Zeithaml ( 1981 ) described service quality in three levels: search, experience, and credence. At the lowest level, search quality, a consumer can judge quality before purchase. Experience quality can only be judged during consumption. Credence quality cannot be accurately judged even after consumption. Credence quality is often judged by consumers based on their satisfaction, but doubt may linger if they wonder if a different provider might have delivered a better service or good.

Ostrom and Iacobucci ( 1995 ) empirically validated relationships between the ability to estimate value accurately, the perceived importance of the purchase, and price sensitivity. Not at all surprising, consumers are more price sensitive when a purchase is not perceived to be highly important. As importance increases, however, consumers become less sensitive to increases in price. Furthermore, when the consumer is faced with an inability to judge quality accurately, consumers do not expect to offset risk with anticipated lower prices, but rather may in fact use price as a proxy for quality. Consumers are theoretically willing to spend the most on products deemed as highly important and for which measures of quality are inadequate.

Wedding-related purchases, both services and even potentially tangible goods, may represent this type of purchase. Clearly, wedding purchases are considered as important. The ability to judge quality reasonably may be emotionally and psychologically hindered by the pressure for perfection. Conceivably, all product purchases fall short of perfection. Consumers striving for a perfect wedding may consider the highest priced item to be the closest to perfect.

Consumer Pricing Acquiescence

If vendors or venues charge more for a wedding than another event, they could be engaging in price discrimination. A price discrimination strategy is a strategy to sell products (identical or not) to different people at different prices. According to Paczkowsk ( 2018 , p. 5), legally, price discrimination is described in three forms or degrees.

“First-degree: Price varies by how much each consumer is willing and able to pay for the product.

Second-degree: Price varies with the amount purchased using a pricing schedule which is not a linear function of the quantity.

Third-degree: Price varies by consumer segments. This is a common form of price discrimination.”

Pricing by consumer segment would be the type of price discrimination that might be used in wedding price discrimination scenarios. Most often, price discrimination is legal unless it violates US antitrust law. The Act that prohibits unlawful price discrimination is the Robinson-Patman Act (Robinson-Patman Act 1936 ).

Empirical evidence confirms that consumers are often outraged when they believe that they are being charged unfairly. Concerns of price gouging (the charging of inappropriately high prices) have been levied against banking (Washington 2006 ), pharmaceutical companies (Greene and Padula 2017 ; Weissman 2004 ), and the oil and gas industry (Deck and Wilson 2004 ; Noel 2017 ). However, consumer response may be related to the degree the consumer believes the increases are unjustified (Deck and Wilson 2004 ; Rottier et al. 2003 ).

A 2016 study from Consumer Reports found that 28% of vendors in different areas of the USA quoted a higher price for weddings compared to an otherwise identical anniversary party (Stanger 2016 ). An investigation in Australia revealed a similar markup. It showed that venues, the priciest portion of any wedding budget, charged more in 50% of cases (Browne 2014 ).

Wedding consumers have not expressed the same level of outrage as consumers in the forementioned cases. The wedding industry is less constrained by repeat customers, and consumers are inexperienced customers in this category. Consumers have limited basis of comparison on which to evaluate if the price being charged is fair. Furthermore, the level of perceived importance and the inability to judge quality adequately interfere with a consumer’s ability to determine fair value.

Cashing In on Wedding Myths

Why might companies charge more for weddings than for other events? Potentially more than consumer naiveté drives supplier expectations for higher prices. Venues and producers may charge more for a myriad of reasons. Some providers see wedding consumers as higher maintenance, demanding more time and attention compared to consumers of other similar sized events (Malone 2017 ). Vendors may perceive a higher legal liability given that unhappy couples are historically more likely to sue than consumers of non-wedding events (Malone 2016 ). Additionally, weddings have a far higher level of injuries and property damage than other kinds of events, often resulting from excessive alcohol consumption (Malone 2017 ). Finally, wedding consumers are more likely to request a higher level of customization than their non-wedding counterparts are requesting. High levels of customization (e.g., napkins that are a specific shade of pink, custom designed centerpieces) are more expensive (Rampell 2013 ). But clearly some price differences are not attributable to cost of supply.

The social and media pressures for bigger, better, and more elaborate weddings have created a consumption environment supporting an upward spiral of expenditures. While products and services for any event can become expensive, especially with large and or lavish events, wedding expenses seem to be disproportionately high. It is unclear if the disproportionately higher prices are a result of liability insurance and demanded customization or if vendors are charging more for identical products. While many researchers have examined unethical pricing methods in general, there has been an almost total absence of academic research in the area of wedding-related pricing. Academic researchers, across a wide range of disciplines, have largely ignored the psychological and consumption experiences of weddings.

Wedding prices could be elevated from a silent price markup used by retailers and service providers. Rampell ( 2013 ) documents the experience of an economics professor, Austan Goolsbee, who was originally quoted a price for an event, but was up charged to 150% of the original quoted price when he disclosed the setting was a wedding. Rampell ( 2013 ) concluded given the inexperience of the consumer purchasing for a “once in a lifetime” event that vendors can pressure sentimental consumers to avoid looking cheap on the most important day of their lives. He extrapolates that even though the Federal Trade Commission has required funeral homes to provide itemized price lists to avoid this very type of hard selling that uses guilt and emotion to drive up spending, the FTC has not extended the same requirements to wedding vendors. Presumably, weddings are not standardized enough to make this practice as useful (Rampell 2013 ). One example would be the observed case where a formalwear store quoted different prices for dye-able shoes with a higher price for a wedding with a long turnaround time and a lower price for identical shoes from the same store for a prom even though the time frame was rushed.

Research Questions, Hypotheses, and Methodology

The research for this project was conducted in two separate studies. The first study was an exploratory examination of wedding-related products. The purpose of this study was to explore the degree to which sellers and retailers were actually using the conspicuous nature and social effects associated with wedding-related products to charge higher prices for their goods. Amaldoss and Jain ( 2005b ) provide the foundational theory for this exploration. The second study was conducted after the first study confirmed the disparity in prices between regular and wedding-related products. The second study examined consumer perceptions of importance and price expectations for wedding-related purchases. The purpose of this study was to explore the degree to which brides elevate the perceived importance of products purchased for their weddings relative to non-bride consumers. Additionally, the second study considered perceptions of appropriate pricing by brides compared to non-brides.

Study 1—Qualitative Exploration of Price Differences

The first study was an exploration of actual prices charged for wedding-related items relative to identical non-wedding items. No previous studies were found that specifically, empirically documented the differences in prices between wedding-related items relative to identical non-wedding items. The examples for this study were collected in matched sets (one wedding item and one non-wedding item) where prices between the two differed. Prices of products designated as wedding items were compared to prices of products that were not designated as wedding items. Sets were collected nationwide from a wide range of product categories. Obviously, there were cases when retailers did not have a price difference between products, but there were many examples where retailers did have differences. Products that were offered specifically in a forced bundle or tie-in were not included in this study because of the difficulty in attributing a specific price to a specific item.

Extreme caution was utilized to insure that comparisons were made between effectively identical items. In every pair, the prices for both products in the pair were obtained from the same seller. Items were matched specifically on brand and features. Great care was taken to ensure that the wedding item in the pair did not include any special features, add-ons, customization, or extra services. In most cases, the products were identical including the same brand, the same model number, the same color or color-options, and/or the same time duration. In one case, the Internet advertisement for the two items in the match set even contained the same typographical error in the two different product descriptions. By necessity, we excluded all providers who specialized in only wedding items because paired sets could not be obtained.

Pairs were located using a variety of methods. One common approach was to visit online retail sites that offered products designated as wedding-related and products which were not so designated. Items were located by following a “wedding” link and recording pricing information. The paired item was then located by looking for identical items that were offered by the company. This was done without following the “wedding” link. For example, on one online jewelry site, a crystal necklace was recorded from the “bridal” link at a price of $70. The site was exited and revisited, but the “bridal” link was not followed. The link to “necklaces” was followed instead. The same necklace (identical description and identical stock number) was located. The price obtained from the non-wedding link was $41.

In addition to obtaining examples from websites, price quotes were obtained over the telephone. In such a case, identical scenarios were provided with the only difference being the occasion of interest. For example, several churches were contacted to obtain the price of renting the church for a Friday evening and entire following Saturday. The pairs of prices were obtained for the same church office, for same date of interest, and for the same length of time. In the case of the wedding, the event was described as a wedding; in the other case, the event was described as a renewal of marriage vows. The price information specifically excluded payments to the clergy, payments to the providers of music, etc. The price included only the rental of the sanctuary. The rental price from churches was as much as $700 more for a wedding.

Some of the examples were obtained by email quotations. In such a case, identical scenarios were provided with the only difference being the occasion of interest. For example, a limousine service provider was contacted twice using the company’s online quote form. In both cases the time and date, the length of time for rental, the number of people, the description of the desired limo, etc. were all identical. The two pickup locations were on the same block of the same street. The quotes were placed using two different contact names, with different home addresses and different return email addresses. The only difference in the request was one request for a wedding transfer and the other for a night on the town. All extras were specifically excluded from the price estimates. The quote from one company for limousine rental for wedding transfers, with a four-hour minimum, was $900. The night on the town was quoted pricing for the first two hours at $225, the third hour at $150, and the fourth hour free ($600).

Some of the examples were obtained in the retail store. The only difference in the request was the intended event. For example, the price for a pair of dye-able shoes was obtained from a store offering bridal and formal wear. The price of the shoes was requested for bridesmaids in a wedding (priced at $80). The second price was obtained from the same store, from the same salesperson on the same day, for the same shoes except the price request was for an upcoming prom (priced at $60).

While some sellers made no effort to disguise the fact that they were selling identical or virtually identical items at two different prices, others were less forthcoming. One of the methods used to disguise the price differential was to quote the wedding item in a different quantity from the non-wedding item. For example, small containers of bubble solution were sold by one company to both wedding planners and to birthday party planners. The birthday party favors were sold in lots of 15 for $15. The wedding favors, which were identical in every aspect except for price, were sold in lots of 25 for $31.25. Another approach for misdirecting consumers was the use of discounts. In many situations, discounts were offered to non-brides that were not offered to brides. For example, one stationary retailer offered free return-address printing for monogrammed note cards that were not identified as wedding. The wedding customers, purchasing identical note cards, paid an additional $1 per envelope for this type of printing.

Wide varieties of examples were obtained using these methods. A t -test comparison of the cumulative set of observed prices (see Table 1 ) indicated that the differences were significant at the 0.01 level across the observations. The average percent difference associated with a product being designated as wedding was 53.68% higher than non-wedding products. Table 1 provides a list of the examples obtained for Study 1.

Study 2—Quasi-Experimental Study of Perceptional Differences

While the first study demonstrated that suppliers do market wedding-related products at higher prices, there are conflicting potential reasons. One research found that by 2009, no previous sociological research in the USA had been conducted on weddings although much has been written on marriage (Ingraham 2009 ). Currie ( 1993 ), a Canadian sociologist, reported a similar absence of research. The omission was considered to be remarkable in light of the role weddings play in our culture (Ingraham 2009 ). A disparity was reported between the focus that weddings receive in the media and the void present in the research. Popular press offers different insight than past empirical research. When pressures to reduce costs come from others, some brides turn to the Internet to support extravagant spending where they will get a wide variety of responses (Wedding Ceremony 2018 ). While some respondents recommend responsible spending, many others tell the bride that she “should do what makes you happy,” offer examples of how the bride could spend even more, or encourage the bride to go over budget.

The second study in this research was performed to help bridge this gap. Clearly, there are practices that indicate that vendors are able to upcharge consumers, but the lack of outrage on the part of consumers warrants additional insight. Do wedding consumers pay more because they are unaware of the difference (e.g., the consumers do not bother to shop and compare or take advantage of reasonable discounts)? Previous research suggests otherwise (Hwang et al. 2014 ). Furthermore, the increased availability for customization, including even the wedding dress (Choy and Lokar 2004 ), suggests that brides do shop and compare, but may bypass readily available products and select custom options regardless of the price differential. Potentially, the higher price actually could be desired or expected because of the social costs associated with weddings. Do higher prices become warranted by an inability of the consumer to judge quality and lead consumers to rely on price as a proxy? Similarly, does the extreme pressure of the conspicuousness of the event drive brides to pay higher prices as a means of communicating the quality of the event? The first step in understanding the situation is to develop a deeper understanding of what brides are willing to pay and comparing what non-brides are willing to pay for comparable items. The second study attempts to shed light on the consumer perceptions of importance and value which underlie the decision-making process. The wealth of popular press literature, along with several studies, suggests elevated levels of importance associated with wedding planning.

Much of the pressure associated with expectations of perfection is centered on the bride. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that:

H1: Brides will perceive the importance of products intended for use in a wedding as greater than non-brides will perceive the importance of similar products intended for events other than a wedding.

Additionally, previous research has indicated that consumers of products identified as conspicuously consumed and of high levels of importance may be valued more highly. Consumers facing these conditions are often less price sensitive. The combination of conditions a bride faces, including conspicuous consumption, high importance, and limited ability to measure quality, has been associated with a positively sloping demand curve. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that:

H2: Brides making product choices for a wedding will be willing to pay more for those products than non-brides making product choices for events other than weddings.

Data Collection

A quasi-experiment was conducted to test these hypotheses. Respondents were sorted non-randomly into two groups of consumers that were as homogeneous as possible with the exception that one group was planning a wedding and the other group was not. To maintain maximum homogeneity, only women in an age range of 18 to 30 were included in this study. Respondents were contacted by using a paid electronic Qualtrics panel.

Data were collected using an online survey. Potential respondents were directed to a web link. The first questions were screening filter questions that removed off-target respondents. Female respondents who indicated that they were single, engaged, and planned to be married for the first time within 12 months were routed to the wedding survey. Female respondents who indicated that they were single, not engaged, and did not have plans to be married within the next 12 months were routed to the special event survey. The special event was described as an important formal event. Other than the event, the questions were largely the same. Each survey began with a brief description of the context in which the respondent would answer the questions in order to standardize characteristics. Brides were asked to answer the questions in the survey in the context of planning a formal wedding for 200 guests. Non-brides were asked to answer the questions in the survey in the context of a major event, such as a wedding anniversary, fundraiser, or significant birthday for 200 guests. The questions reiterated and referenced the context.

In order to examine the hypotheses, five different products were used in this study: dresses (wedding or formal), cakes, invitations, floral centerpieces, and corsages. The survey examined two major issues of interest to this study, perceived importance and perception of appropriate pricing. The respondents were asked to assess the perceived importance of each product on a 5-point Likert-type scale (range from “not at all important” to “absolutely necessary”). For example, respondents were asked, “For the event described above, how important is a (wedding) cake for the event to meet your expectations?” Additionally, the respondents were asked to express the maximum reasonable price to pay for each product described.

Data were collected from 211 total female respondents who fell within the age range of 18 to 30. There were 106 respondents who were not engaged to be married and 105 respondents who were planning weddings. Following a desk edit of the data, several responses were removed. There were 102 women engaged to be married included in the study and 103 women who were not engaged. The average age of brides was 25.1 while the average age of the non-brides was 23.8. Men and women outside the age bracket were not invited to complete the survey.

Data Analysis and Results

The data were considered by comparing the responses from brides to non-brides. The mean responses from the two groups were compared using t -test comparisons for each product category. In keeping with the sociology and popular press literature, this study discovered that products for weddings have elevated importance.

Both brides and non-brides considered all of the products to be important to the success of the event. Across all five categories, the brides attributed more importance to each purchase than non-brides, but brides and non-brides were not significantly different in the importance ratings for the cake, the invitations, the centerpiece, and the corsage. However, the dress was considered to be significantly more important for the wedding dress (4.46) than the special event formal gown (3.39). These findings suggest that traditional wedding purchases remain important for brides, but not significantly more so than women planning other large events with the exception of the wedding dress. These findings offer partial support for Hypothesis 1. These findings are summarized in Table 2 .

Even though both brides and non-brides rate the importance of most wedding purchases similarly, the price expectations from brides are substantially higher than non-brides. Brides were more inclined to be prepared to pay more for the products described. For all five products, brides were statistically significantly inclined to set a higher average mean price for the products. On average, brides were willing to pay $911.10 dollars for a cake compared to a mean maximum price of about $561.40 for the non-brides (significant at the 0.01 level). Brides were willing on average to pay $553.40 for a floral centerpiece, which non-brides drew the line at $264.30 (significant at the 0.01 level). Additionally, brides were willing to pay $169.10 for a single mother’s corsage at the wedding, but mothers of non-brides expected a $75.11 corsage at an anniversary party (significant at the 0.05 level). Perceptions of invitation prices for brides were $450.90, and non-brides expected to pay a maximum of 208.70 (significant at the 0.01 level). The largest difference was observed for the dress. Brides indicated that they would pay no more than $2989.00, and non-brides would pay no more than $561.40 (significant at the 0.01 level). These findings offer strong support for Hypothesis 2 and are summarized in Table 3 .

Comparing Expectations to Actual Prices

A comparison of the respondents’ price cap and the reported actual expenditures as they were reported by The Knot (Table 4 ) and WeddingWire (Table 5 ) provides additional insight. The data from the respondents were compared on three categories, including invitations, wedding cake, and dress. These three categories were the only three with exact direct comparisons.

In one category, invitations, the maximum reasonable price expressed by the brides ($450.90) was compared to the two actual prices reported ($386 on The Knot and $550 on WeddingWire). The maximum price brides reported they would pay fell between the published expenditures. While the anticipated price from the brides was greater than the reported price on The Knot (16.81% difference), the bride maximum price was lower than the report by WeddingWire (−18.02% difference). This result is likely due to the decreasing value of paper invitations resulting from the willingness of some to use paperless products reducing demand for formal paper invitations (Kellogg 2020 ).

For a wedding cake, brides are willing to pay more than the brides from the previous year actually paid. Respondent brides indicated that they would pay $911.10 for a wedding cake, but prices paid by brides previously were reported in The Knot as $528 and $550 in WeddingWire. The percent difference was high, with brides willing to pay between 65.65% (WeddingWire) to 72.56% more (The Knot) than was observed in the previous year. Brides are prepared to pay much more than the actual prices charged for a wedding cake.

Additionally, brides are willing to pay a maximum of $2989.00 for a dress. The reported actual price paid by The Knot was $1631 and $1700 by WeddingWire. Brides’ expectations on what they are willing to pay is substantially more than brides the previous year actually paid. The percent difference that brides are willing to pay was remarkable (83.26% compared to The Knot report and 75.82% compared to WeddingWire).

Overall, respondent brides are willing to pay substantially higher prices for weddings than even actual prices paid by brides during the previous year.

Implications, Limitations, and Conclusions

The findings from the first study suggest that at least some providers of wedding-related products are using a significantly different pricing structure for products designated as wedding compared to non-wedding products. The literature on quality and conspicuous consumption gave rise to the possibility that brides would be willing to pay a higher price than was necessary when making purchases for weddings. This research appears to provide some support for that practice. When pricing differentials are used for wedding-related products, the percentage difference is about 53.7%. The fact that brides are willing to pay even more than what is charged presumably offers insight into why engaged couples are not outraged or resentful of the higher prices they pay for wedding products and services. The exploratory study specifically excluded sites where only wedding-related products were offered because these sites did not offer an opportunity to obtain side-by-side comparisons. Future research might broaden the scope of this study to examine closely wedding-only providers. Wedding-only providers represent a large portion of the sales in these product categories.

The price differences were observable across a wide range of products and services. The examples included products intended for use at the wedding (such as yacht rental and floral boutonnieres), at the reception (such as disposable cameras and table place cards), and for the honeymoon (such as casual bride and groom attire). They were products not only intended specifically for the bride (such as a formal wedding dress and bridal jewelry), but also for other bridal party members as well (such as bridesmaid shoes and dresses). They included both services (such as limousine rental and honeymoon packages) and tangible products (such as almonds and cameras). The examples ranged from products of modest costs (such as a few dollars for a votive candle) to items costing thousands of dollars (such as sunset sailboat weddings). In many cases, no effort was made on the part of the retailer to disguise or to differentiate the two products in the pair. In other cases, sellers used various methods of deception.

While both brides and non-brides expressed importance on products purchased for use at a planned event, brides placed a substantially higher importance on the bridal gown than non-brides placed on a formal event dress. The respondents expressed significant differences on the maximum acceptable prices for items used for a wedding compared to items used at another conspicuous event. This willingness to spend more for weddings is likely to be based on the substantial and persistent pressure on brides to achieve perfection when planning weddings that does not exist on people planning other celebratory events. The willingness to spend more has created an environment where vendors, retailers, and service providers are able to up charge wedding-related products and services without censure or negative consequences.

For all products considered, except the dress, brides were willing to pay on average 231.23% more than non-brides were. With regard to the dress, brides were willing to spend up to 532.42% more than non-brides on a formal special event dress. The perceived value gap between brides and non-brides is even greater than actual retail markup observed in Study 1 (53.7%). These findings indicate that sellers of wedding-related products are keenly aware of the degree to which the market will tolerate higher prices.

Policy Implications

Price discrimination in the wedding industry can be frustrating for the bride, groom, parents, and members of the wedding party. It certainly must feel unfair, but it is not just the feelings of annoyance that plague an engaged couple. Price discrimination is a widely recognized problem, or a benefit from the seller’s point of view, in the wedding goods and services industry. Some might even say it is a widely accepted practice by consumers, the wedding industry, and the media.

There are several ways to address the issue of price discrimination in the wedding industry. At the top is action by the Federal Trade Commission. Although, the FTC has not acted on pricing in the wedding industry, it has imposed a rule on another life-event business. The FTC’s so-called Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to provide itemized price lists to bereaved family members, to allow the purchase of separate items not as part of a package, and to allow the use of caskets or containers purchased by the family from an outside source, among other things. One of the main reasons for this rule is to allow consumers to comparison shop. A similar rule by the FTC could address price discrimination issues in the wedding industry.

Another way to address concerns about wedding pricing is through state statutes or local ordinances. Several states have recognized the problem of price discrimination based on gender. For example, in the 1990s, California recognized the numerous studies that showed that women pay a so-called gender tax or pink tax in certain arenas of commerce (Warren 1995 ). One survey by the Assembly Office of Research found that 40% of hair salons charged women from $2.50 to $25 more for similar services. Dry cleaners charged an average of $2 more to launder a woman’s shirt, the survey found. Other research has shown that department stores routinely make women pay for alterations to business suits. Men’s suits, by contrast, often are altered free (Warren 1995 ). California’s law, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, requires certain businesses, such as hair salons, tailors, and dry cleaners, to clearly and conspicuously post pricing lists for their services. The law also applies to both goods and services.

Similarly, New York passed a law last year that went into effect on September 30, 2020. The law prohibits charging different prices for goods or services that are substantially similar but are marketed to different genders. The law applies at all levels of the supply chain. Substantially similar goods are defined as those that “exhibit little difference in the materials used in production, intended use, functional design and features, and brand” (Friedman et al. 2020 ). Finally, Miami-Dade county in Florida has a law comparable to New York’s. The Gender Pricing Ordinance prohibits differential pricing for similar goods based solely on a person’s gender. Businesses are allowed to charge different prices if a good or service involves more time or cost.

Although these state laws and local ordinances do not specifically address weddings, businesses should be on notice that the laws could be applied or expanded to include the wedding industry. Most products and services in the wedding industry are marketed to and purchased by women. As a result, the pink tax laws could easily be applied to gender-biased transactions involving weddings.

Consumer Implications

Weddings are usually a once in a lifetime event. The goods and services purchased in connection with a wedding are not as familiar to consumers as regular, every-day goods and services. For the most part, consumers know how to comparison shop when it comes to regular foods and clothes as opposed to a wedding cake or wedding dress. Most brides and groom are just not familiar with the normal costs of a wedding.

As wedding videographer, Johnny Harris ( 2016 ), states, “Add in that many wedding vendors don't post prices on their websites and you start to see why wedding planning can involve so much stress: The familiarity and transparency we rely on for other purchases just isn't there.” One common tactic wedding vendors use to cover up high costs of weddings is to present wedding goods and services as an event so that brides and grooms fall in love with the overall experience before being told the prices. This process of stalling on revealing the price is common in the wedding industry (Harris 2016 ).

Consumers can protect themselves by asking for price lists up front. Wedding vendors can post the prices of goods online and provide the individual cost of goods in the information given to the bride and groom. Some states are already considering mandating these practices by law or regulation.

Limitations and Future Research

This project is limited in scope. Future research should expand both the breadth and depth of this study. Future research might expand the number of products included. Additionally, research should examine the degree to which there are differences between tangible products and services. This study did not examine pricing from the perspective of the groom or parents funding the wedding, and future research might compare differences in expectations between brides and grooms and/or parents.

Furthermore, pricing is complicated in event planning. While Study 1 carefully controlled for exactly identical items from the exact same supplier, this was not possible with Study 2. Future research may consider the hidden costs that could arise in a wedding (such as higher levels of damage at a reception hall) that might not occur for other social events. Additionally, it is possible that brides demand higher quality to achieve satisfaction (e.g., demanding roses instead of carnations in a center floral piece) which created a difference in cost of supply between those planning weddings and those planning other social events. Finally, this study does not address bundling, in particular forced bundling, but future research may need to explore the policy concerns in wedding bundling.

In Study 2, this research does not address the vastly different search process untaken by individuals planning weddings and individuals planning other large social events. A deeper understanding of the relationship between the amount of time a bride spends researching and planning a wedding may be needed. Future research might explore the relationship between actual spending on weddings and the time committed to planning the event.

Conclusions

While this study does generate additional questions, it provides early insight into consumer perceptions and expectations with regard to wedding-related spending. The massive amount of pressure placed on brides appears to be generating the anticipated outcomes of high levels of importance attribution and decreased price sensitivity for wedding-related goods. The study provides exploratory examples validating a tendency of retailers to charge a higher price for wedding-related goods and a tendency for brides to be vulnerable to accepting those differences, even when there is no noticeable or actual quality difference.

Amaldoss, W., & Jain, S. (2005a). Conspicuous consumption and sophisticated thinking. Management Science, 51 (10), 1449–1467.

Article   Google Scholar  

Amaldoss, W., & Jain, S. (2005b). Pricing of conspicuous goods: A competitive analysis of social effects. Journal of Marketing Research, 42 (1), 30–42.

Belk, R. W. (1988). Possessions and the extended self. Journal of Consumer Research, 15 (2), 139–168.

Berry, L. L., & Manjit, S. Y. (1996). Capture and communicate value in the pricing of services. Sloan Management Review, 37 (Summer), 41–51.

Google Scholar  

Bertram, C. (2018). Saturday busiest wedding day of the year, at a cost of almost $2 billion. Bloomberg Pursuits . Retrieved from https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-16/over-1-billion-will-be-spent-on-weddings-this-weekend . Accessed 22 2020.

Bhattarai, A. (2019). Married to debt: couples are taking out loans to pay for their weddings. The Washington Post . Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/06/19/married-debt-couples-are-taking-out-loans-pay-their-weddings/ . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Bigelow, D. (2006). A review of a more perfect union: How I survived the happiest day of my life. Library Journal, 131 (1), 138.

Birdwell-Branson, J. (2017). All you need to know about wedding cakes: Tastings and ordering. Weddingbee . Retrieved from https://www.weddingbee.com/ceremony-and-reception/all-you-need-to-know-about-wedding-cakes-tastings-and-ordering/ . Accessed 16 Jan 2021.

Bloch, F., Rao, V., & Desai, S. (2014). Wedding celebrations as conspicuous consumption signaling social status in rural India. The Journal of Human Resources, Summer , 675–695.

Boden, S. (2001). Superbrides: Wedding consumer culture and the construction of identity. Sociology Research Online, 6 (1), 1–14.

Bridal, G. S. (2016). Why the wedding dress is the most important thing of all. Medium . Retrieved from https://medium.com/@GeorginaScottBridal/why-the-wedding-dress-is-the-most-important-thing-of-all-85452df51ea8 . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Brides Editors. (2019). This is what American weddings look like today. Brides . Retrieved from https://www.brides.com/gallery/american-wedding-study . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Brown, A. (2017). Everything you need to know about the 9 most common wedding-related events. Martha Stewart . Retrieved from https://www.marthastewartweddings.com/617134/pre-and-post-wedding-parties-events . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Brown, A. (2018). Is wedding videography really worth the splurge? Martha Stewart . Retrieved from  https://www.marthastewartweddings.com/630985/is-wedding-videography-worth-the-splurge . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Browne, K. (2014).What costs more - a wedding or a party? CHOICE . Retrieved from  https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/shopping-for-special-occasions/weddings/articles/wedding-costs . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Burvill, L. (2019). Everything you need to know about wedding traditions in 2020. British Vogue . Retrieved from  https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/wedding-traditions . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). FastStats - Marriage and Divorce . Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/marriage-divorce.htm . Accessed 22 May 2020.

Choy, R., & Lokar, S. (2004). Mass customization of wedding gowns: Design involvement on the internet. Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, 22 (1-2), 79–87.

Cooper, G. (2020). Perfect wedding magazine . Retrieved from https://perfectweddingmagazine.com/ . Accessed 22 May 2020.

Currie, D. (1993). Here comes the bride: The making of a “modern traditional” wedding in Western culture. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 24 (3), 403–421.

Deck, C. A., & Wilson, B. J. (2004). Economics at the pump. Regulation, 27 (1), 22–30.

Donovan, B. (2020). Wedding after-party planning: How to host a budget-friendly celebration. Brides . Retrieved from https://www.brides.com/story/budget-friendly-after-party . Accessed 22 May 2020.

Duan, J., & Dohlakia, R. R. (2017). Posting purchases on social media increases happiness: The mediating roles of purchases’ impact on self and interpersonal relationships. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 34 (5), 404–413.

Duncan, M. (2016). Wedding industry. In C. L. Shehan (Ed.), The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Family Studies (pp. 2041–2044). Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

Erdei, I. (2018). TOP 10 most expensive weddings in history. Business Review . Retrieved from https://www.business-review.eu/lifestyle/top-10-most-expensive-weddings-in-hystory-170217 . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Forrest, K. (2018). All the pre-wedding parties you need to be aware of . WeddingWire . Retrieved from https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/all-the-pre-wedding-parties . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Forrest, K. (2019). How to choose a wedding venue. WeddingWire . Retrieved from https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/how-to-choose-a-wedding-venue . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Friedman, C., Yaghi, M., Ludaway, N.O., Albracht, J., & Trivette, S. (2020). New York law prohibits gendered pricing, retail and consumer products. Crowell Moring . Retrieved from https://www.retailconsumerproductslaw.com/2020/11/new-york-law-forbids-gendered-pricing . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Ghosh, S., & Ghosh, M. (2010). The making of an EPIC wedding film. EventDV, 23 (1), 40–46.

Goodson, L., & Francis, K. (2019). The 2019 WeddingWire newlywed report. WeddingWire . Retrieved from https://go.weddingwire.com/newlywed-report/2019 . Accessed 15 Jan 2021.

Greene, J., & Padula, W. (2017). Targeting unconscionable drug prices—Maryland’s anti-price-gouging law. New England Journal of Medicine, 377 (2), 101–103.

Harris, J. (2016). What I’ve learned about wedding prices from working in the industry. Vox . Retrieved from  https://www.vox.com/2015/7/30/9061419/weddings-so-expensive-economics . Accessed 10 Jan 2021.

Here Comes the Guide. (2021). 90-day wedding planning checklist. Here Comes THE GUIDE . Retrieved from https://www.herecomestheguide.com/wedding-ideas/90-day-wedding-planning-checklist . Accessed 16 January 2021.

Hochschild, A. R. (1998). The sociology of emotion as a way of seeing. In G. Bendelow & S. Williams (Eds.), Emotions in Social Life: Critical Themes and Contemporary Issues (pp. 3–16). London: Routledge.

Hoffower, H. (2020). Five easy steps for finding your perfect wedding dress. Brides . Retrieved  https://www.brides.com/story/how-to-find-the-perfect-wedding-dress . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Hwang, Y., Ko, Y., & E., & Megeheeb, C. (2014). When higher prices increase sales: How chronic and manipulated desires for conspicuousness and rarity moderate price’s impact on choice of luxury brands. Journal of Business Research, 67 (9), 1912–1920.

Ingraham, E. (2009). White weddings: Romancing heterosexuality in popular culture (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.

Jacobs, S. (2018). The average wedding cost in America is over $30,000 – But here’s where couples spend way more than that. Business Insider . Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/average-wedding-cost-in-america-most-expensive-2018-3 . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Kay, L. (2021). Eight steps to finding your florist. The Knot . Retrieved from https://www.theknot.com/content/steps-to-finding-wedding-florist . Accessed 16 Jan 2021.

Kellogg, K. (2020). How to send digital wedding invitations. Brides . Retrieved from https://www.brides.com/story/unique-ways-send-paperless-wedding-invitation . Accessed 22 May 2020.

Kovanis, G. (2006). The princess brides: January is the busiest time of the year for newly engaged women searching for the perfect wedding dress. Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, 1 .

Krueger, A. (2020). How long does it take to plan a wedding? Brides . Retrieved from  https://www.brides.com/how-long-it-takes-to-plan-a-wedding-5087258 . Accessed 17 Jan 2021.

Lepore, M. (2020). Here’s how much parents pay for their children’s weddings. Brides . Retrieved from https://www.brides.com/story/how-much-parents-pay-for-their-childrens-weddings . Accessed 22 May 2020.

Levine, H. (2020). 17 tips for glowing wedding skin: How to get your skin in top-notch shape before your wedding. The Knot . Retrieved from https://www.theknot.com/content/tips-to-glowing-wedding-skin . Accessed 24 May 2020.

Levy, K. (2019). How to choose a wedding venue (no, really). A Practical Wedding . Retrieved from  https://apracticalwedding.com/choose-a-wedding-venue . Accessed 18 Jan 2021.

Maitland, I. (2002). Priceless goods: How should life-saving drugs be priced? Business Ethics Quarterly, 12 (4), 451–480.

Malone, S. (2016). What to think about before signing your wedding venue contract. Brides . Retrieved from https://www.brides.com/story/wedding-responsibility-and-liability-sandy-malone . Accessed 16 Jan 2021.

Malone, S. (2017). Why venues charge wedding more. Sandy Malone Weddings . Retrieved from  https://weddingrealitycheckwithsandymalone.libsyn.com/-why-venues-charge-weddings-more . Accessed 24 May 2020.

McDowell, E. (2019). A staggering percentage of couples are going into debt to pay for their weddings — Here are the countries where the problem is the worst. Business Insider . Retrieved from  https://www.businessinsider.com/wedding-cost-go-into-debt-pay-couples-2019-7 . Accessed 24 May 2020.

Mead, R. (2008). The perfect day: The selling of the American wedding . New York, NY: Penguin Books.

Meeussen, L., & Van Laar, C. (2018). Feeling pressure to be a perfect mother relates to parental burnout and career ambitions. Frontiers in Psychology, 9 , 2113.

Murray, B. (2017). Bridal beauty bootcamp: A guide to the perfect manicure. Harper’s Bazaar . Retrieved from https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/beauty/make-up-nails/a38675/wedding-nails-manicure-tips . Accessed 24 May 2020.

Noel, M. (2017). Retail gasoline markets. In E. Basker (Ed.), Handbook on the economics of retailing and distribution (pp. 392–412). Cheltenham: Edward Edgar Publishing.

O’Gorman Klein, K. (2021). 10 mistakes brides make when dress shopping. Bridal Guide . Retrieved from  https://www.bridalguide.com/fashion/wedding-dress-shopping-guide/wedding-dress-shopping-tips . Accessed 16 Jan 2021.

Ostrom, A., & Iacobucci, D. (1995). Consumer trade-offs and the evaluation of services. Journal of Marketing, 59 (1), 17–29.

Paczkowsk, W. R. (2018). Pricing analytics: Models and advanced quantitative techniques for product pricing . Abindgon: Routledge.

Park, A. (2019). How social media plays a role in almost every aspect of a wedding. Brides . Retrieved from  https://www.brides.com/story/american-wedding-study-social-media-number-1-resource . Accessed 24 May 2020.

Pollay, R. (1984). The identification and distribution of values manifest in print advertising 1900-1980. In R. E. Pitts Jr. & A. G. Woodside (Eds.), Personal values and consumer psychology (pp. 111–135). Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.

Poquette, B. L. (2010). Going to the chapel. Library Journal, 134 (20), 60–62.

Prendergast, A. (2018). Pre-wedding party timelines. WeddingWire . Retrieved from  https://www.weddingwire.ca/wedding-ideas/pre-wedding-party-timeline%2D%2Dc569 . Accessed 24 May 2020.

Rampell, C. (2013).The wedding fix is in . The New York Times Magazine .  Retrieved from  https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/magazine/the-wedding-fix-is-in.html . Accessed 24 May 2020.

Robinson-Patman Act. (1936). 15 U.S.C. § 13 et seq.

Rottier, H., Hill, D. J., Carlson, J., & Griffin, M. (2003). Events of 9/11/2001: Crisis and consumer dissatisfaction response styles. Journal of Consumer Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction and Complaining Behavior, 16 , 222–232.

Rud, M. (2020). The 8 best clip-in hair extensions that will help you score your perfect bridal ‘do. Brides . Retrieved from  https://www.brides.com/best-wedding-hair-extensions-4843055 . Accessed 24 May 2020.

Schank, H. (2006). A more perfect union: How I survived the happiest day of my life . New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.

Schreiber, S. (2020). 25 unexpected wedding food ideas your guests will love. Martha Stewart . Retrieved from  https://www.marthastewartweddings.com/341786/11-unexpected-wedding-food-ideas . Acccessed 22 May 2020.

Seaver, M. (2019). The national average cost of a wedding is $33,931. The Knot . Retrieved from  https://www.theknot.com/content/average-wedding-cost . Accessed 16 Jan 2021.

Segran, E. (2018). Zola’s plan to take on the $72 Billion wedding industry. Fast Company . Retrieved from  https://www.fastcompany.com/90212949/zolas-plan-to-take-on-the-72-billion-wedding-industry . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Shutterfly Community. (2020). How long does it take to plan a wedding? Shutterfly . Retrieved from  https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/how-long-does-it-take-to-plan-a-wedding/ . Accessed 18 Jan 2021.

Slade, A. (2006). Perfect madness: Motherhood in the age of anxiety. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 45 (1), 123–125.

Stanger, T. (2016). Get more wedding for your money.  Consumer Reports . Retrieved from  https://www.consumerreports.org/weddings/get-more-wedding-for-your-money/ . Aaccessed 2 April 2021.

Steer, C. (2018). Wedding make-up tips – the dos and don’ts you need for your big day. Marie Claire . Retrieved from  https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/life/weddings/wedding-make-up-tips-2-101116 . Accessed 24 May 2020.

Strauss, A. (2019). From wedding bells to wedding blues. The New York Times . Retrieved from  https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/18/fashion/weddings/from-wedding-bells-to-wedding-blues.html . Accessed 24 May 2020.

The Knot. (2020). How to plan a wedding: The ultimate guide. The Knot . https://www.theknot.com/content/how-to-plan-a-wedding . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Title, S. (2017). Our best tips for perfect wedding hair. WeddingWire . Retrieved from  https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/our-best-tips-for-perfect-wedding-hair . Accessed 24 May 2020.

Ward, T. (2020). How to plan a cheap wedding (that doesn’t look cheap). Simply Eloped . Retrieved from  https://simplyeloped.com/plan-cheap-wedding-doesnt-look-cheap/ . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Warren, J. (1995). State bans gender bias in service pricing. Los Angeles Times .  Retrieved from  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-10-14-mn-56735-story.html . Accessed 22 May 2020.

Washington, E. (2006). The impact of banking and fringe banking regulation on the number of unbanked Americans. The Journal of Human Resources, 41 (1), 106–137.

Wedding Ceremony. (2018). How much is too much? WeddingWire . Retrieved from  https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/how-much-is-too-much/d456c753ac02e2cc.html . Accessed 15 Jan 2021.

Weiss, M. (2020). How to plan a wedding: 42 tips for the DIY bride. Brides . Retrieved from https://www.brides.com/gallery/how-to-plan-your-own-wedding . Accessed 23 May 2020.

Weissman, R. (2004). Drug price gouging OK’d. Multinational Monitor, 25 (9), 6–7.

Wilborn, B. L. (1976). A review of the myth of the perfect mother. Counseling Psychologist, 6 (2), 42–45.

Zeithaml, V. A. (1981). How consumer evaluation processes differ between goods and services. In J. H. Donnelly & W. R. George (Eds.), Marketing of services (pp. 186–189). American Marketing Association.

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Louisiana State University Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71115, USA

N. D. Albers, A. O. Wren & T. L. Knotts

Berry College, Mount Berry, USA

M. G. Chupp

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. L. Knotts .

Additional information

Publisher’s note.

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ .

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Albers, N.D., Wren, A.O., Knotts, T.L. et al. Consumer Perceptions and Pricing Practices for Weddings. J Consum Policy 44 , 407–426 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-021-09488-y

Download citation

Received : 04 June 2020

Accepted : 17 March 2021

Published : 20 April 2021

Issue Date : September 2021

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-021-09488-y

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Discrimination
• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research

• Seating chart
• Wedding Vendors
• Wedding website
• Hotel Blocks
• Date Finder
• Color generator
• Hashtag generator

Get the WeddingWire app

• Barns & Farms
• Rooftops & Lofts
• Waterfronts
• Wineries & Breweries
• Country Clubs
• Historic Venues
• Restaurants
• Banquet Halls
• Churches & Temples
• Photography
• Hair & Makeup
• Wedding Planning
• Videography

Complete your wedding team

• Event Rentals
• Photo Booths
• Dress & Attire
• Transportation
• Ceremony Music
• Lighting & Decor
• Invitations
• Travel Agents
• Favors & Gifts
• Destination Weddings

2024 Couples' Choice Awards

• Wedding Attire
• Community Conversations
• Married Life
• Family and Relationships
• Etiquette and Advice
• Parties and Events
• Style and Décor
• Fitness and Health
• Hair and Makeup
• Local Groups

Stay up to date

• Discussions
• Account support
• Bridesmaid dresses
• Engagement rings

Featured designers

• Planning Basics
• Wedding Ceremony
• Wedding Reception
• Wedding Services
• Wedding Fashion
• Events & Parties
• Family & Friends

Find wedding inspiration that fits your style with photos from real couples

Sit back and relax with travel info + exclusive deals for the hottest honeymoon destinations

• Start Your Registry
• Registry Retailers
• Registry Ideas

• Create your wedding website
• Find a couple's WeddingWire website

• Wedding invitations
• Save the dates
• Change the dates
• Ceremony & reception
• Thank you's

• Wedding Cost

Wedding Planner Cost Guide

Costs displayed in graph are based on spend from thousands of couples who recently reported pricing for this service within their WeddingWire review. Pricing varies based on factors including, but not limited to, vendor’s experience, level of expertise, event guest count, date, and geographic region.

How much does a wedding planner cost?

A wedding planner can be an absolute lifesaver for busy couples, ensuring that the planning process and actual event run smoothly. As a professional who’s been through the process before, they can also offer countless wedding planning recommendations and tips. It’s important to know wedding planning is not a one size fits all service - your wedding vision is unique and a wedding planner will customize their offering to fit your needs. Because of this and the wide range of services these professionals provide, pricing varies widely with most couples in the U.S. spending at least $1,500 on wedding planner services for their big day. Wedding planner costs also differ based on the planner’s level of expertise, among many other factors, as more experienced pros typically come with a higher price tag (and with that comes top-tier service!).

What services does a wedding planner's fee include?

The services a wedding planner’s cost includes vary depending on the type of professional you’re hiring — whether it’s a full-service, month-of, or day-of planner, or a planner who specializes in destination weddings . Here are some of the most common services that your wedding planner may include in his or her package:

• Correspondence: About 30 percent of a wedding planner’s time is spent communicating with you and your vendors via email and phone. Think of your planner as the “coach” of your vendor team who ensures that all of your wedding pros work together well—and frequent communication is a huge part of that.
• Venue and vendor selection: Your planner likely has a lot of connections in the wedding industry and can help you pick the right venue and vendors that can help bring your wedding vision to life. Often, your planner will attend interviews and meetings with you and your vendors, too.
• Organization: A big part of wedding planning is... paperwork? Yes, unfortunately it’s true. But wedding planners can make sure that all of your budgets, contracts, timelines, etc. are properly organized and easily accessible if needed.
• Wedding prep: There are lots of seemingly small tasks that go into creating your perfect day both before and on the day-of from creating a wedding-day timeline , assembling invitations, setting up your favor display, assisting with your seating chart , and much more.
• Day-of coordination: You might not see your wedding planner much on the day of your wedding—and that’s how it should be! Your planner will arrive long before your ceremony begins and stay well afterwards, making sure that everything runs on-time and smoothly from behind-the-scenes and any issues are handled quickly and quietly so that you and your new spouse can enjoy the day, stress-free!
• Post-wedding tasks: There will likely be several important tasks to handle after the wedding, from ensuring clean-up and breakdown occur properly to returning rental items and making sure vendors receive their tips.

What wedding events does a planner's fee cover?

In most cases, a wedding planner will assist with the wedding itself—both ceremony and reception. However, if you are able to increase your wedding planning budget and costs, your planner can also help plan your rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch. If you’re having a destination wedding with lots of events over the course of the weekend, your planner may assist with those as well—but expect to pay more.

How much does a day-of wedding planner cost?

A day-of wedding planner isn’t heavily involved in the wedding planning process and is usually hired closer to the wedding, but has a big role to play on the wedding day, ensuring that the events run on time and everything is running smoothly. On average, the starting cost for a day-of wedding planner in the U.S. is $800 with starting rates for higher-end planners averaging $1,250 to $3,395.

How much does a partial wedding planner cost?

A partial wedding planner usually comes on board a month or so before the wedding day and assists with last-minute tasks—helping with the seating chart, confirming vendors, and day-of responsibilities. The average starting rate for a partial wedding planner in the U.S. comes in at $1,250, but can range from $2,300 to $6,000 if you’re working with a more experienced pro.

How much does a full wedding planner cost?

A full wedding planner helps to plan your wedding from start to finish and is usually hired early on in the planning process—at least 10 months in advance. The average starting rate for a full service wedding planner in the U.S is about $3,000 with top-tier planners averaging $4,500 to $12,000.

What is the hourly rate of a wedding planner?

If you don’t need a full wedding planner, but just want a coordinator to assist with a few wedding-related tasks, you may hire a planner by the hour (be aware that not all planners offer this service and only offer packages). As an hourly rate, the average starting cost of a wedding planner is around $75, but higher-end professionals typically range from $100 to $275 an hour.

Does a wedding planner save you any money?

It may sound counterintuitive, but spending money on a wedding planner can absolutely save you money! Not only will a planner ensure that you stick to your wedding budgets and help you avoid overspending, he or she can also hook you up with wedding vendors who are within your price range—and perhaps use his/her connections to get you discounts on certain products or services.

Do you have to tip your wedding planner?

Traditionally, wedding planners don’t receive tips, but if you feel that yours has provided exceptional service, you can tip between 10 and 20 percent of your total wedding planner cost. Writing an online review of a wedding planner is another great way to show your appreciation.

What questions should I ask a wedding planner before hiring?

A big part of hiring a wedding planner comes down to personality and trust. Reading online reviews of wedding planners in your area is a great way to start the research process, but it’s also important to meet with any wedding planners you’re considering (in person if at all possible). There are several questions you should be sure to ask:

• How many weddings do you have per year? Per month?
• Have you planned weddings similar to mine before in terms of guest count, location, style, etc.?
• How does your payment work? Do you offer packages or a per hour rate?
• Do you work alone or with a team?
• Will you personally be at our wedding?
• How do you communicate with clients?
• Can I see a contract?

Search vendors within your budget

• $750 - $1,499
• $1,500 - $2,249
• $2,250 - $2,999

Discover the best planning tools, tips and inspiration for your wedding.

Manage your wedding spend and track payments with WeddingWire's free budget tool.

Planning a wedding is a lot of work! Wedding planners offer different levels of planning ...

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

In an ‘Anti-Wedding,’ It’s Personality Over Tradition

For people who are excited to get married but don’t want to plan a classic wedding, one planner offers a solution: “love parties.”

By Alix Strauss

Amy Shack Egan describes herself as an “anti-wedding” event planner. The company she founded in 2015, Modern Rebel , creates what she calls “love parties,” personalized events that celebrate the couple and their relationship and often include modernized or reimagined wedding traditions (or sometimes almost no traditions at all).

The couples she works with may forgo walking down an aisle or even conventional attire. (Ms. Egan once did an event where the wedding party was dressed as astronauts.) Another offered permanent tattoos to guests instead of a wedding favor. A few might skip the dance floor, but maybe have a bouncy castle instead.

Though she is involved in her clients’ lives, she would never call herself a couples’ therapist. “But I might call myself a relationship expert,” said Ms. Egan, a 32-year-old Orlando, Fla., native who now lives in Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood with her husband, John Egan, 41, and their 2-year-old son, Arlo.

“When you have a front-row seat to the intensity of the wedding-planning process, you learn a lot about what makes a relationship work and how important it is to reflect that relationship — and to celebrate it — in your event,” she said.

Ms. Egan started her company after helping a stressed friend organize her wedding. “I wasn’t identifying with this defining wedding moment,” she said. “Neither were my friends. They were excited to get married, but weren’t excited to plan a wedding. They didn’t feel seen, celebrated or represented.”

She averages 50 weddings a year, working mainly with young couples who find her from referrals and from searching online using keywords like “anti-wedding” and “untraditional.”

“They usually spend $100,000 to $200,000 on their event and are more relaxed about their wedding, rather than feeling defined by it,” said Ms. Egan, whose rates starts at around $15,500. (The average cost of a wedding nationwide last year was $35,000, according to a recent study by the Knot.)

Ms. Egan described her process of planning anti-weddings and explained why these types of celebrations are becoming popular.

The following interview has been edited and condensed.

What is a “love party” and how is that different from a wedding?

It’s a wedding that has personality. Wedding planners plan and focus on the wedding, not the relationship, which is what I’m highly invested in, and making sure that relationship is reflected in the event. I call weddings “love parties” because that’s what these are, parties about love. It’s really asking people to think about their wedding differently. The moment you get engaged, you’re saddled down with expectations. We’ve become obsessed with perfection, trends and putting your big day on a pedestal. I try to subvert that with love parties.

You call Modern Rebel an “anti-wedding” planning company, what does that mean?

We give couples permission to rewrite the rules and to do the wedding their way. Perhaps that means getting rid of traditions they’ve been talked into believing they need in order for it to be a wedding: that there’s a bride and a groom; that she will wear a white dress; and walk down an aisle. Some people don’t feel connected to those ideas. We get rid of them and ask, “What if there were no rules or you could rewrite them? Then what would your wedding look like?”

Why are we having an anti-wedding moment?

People in their mid-20s are finally voicing that they want to be connected to their experience rather than being told how to have an experience, and what that experience should be and look like. There has been an anti-bride trend on TikTok and Instagram over the past year. A lot of women were saying, “I don’t care about being a bride as much as you think I should.” Then others said they felt the same way, saying “I’m excited to get married but this isn’t the most important day of my life.”

What do couples care about, and how are they shifting?

Couples are shifting away from tradition and leaning into what makes them unique. They want a party, and for that party to be about love. They’re interested in it being a relaxed version of what they have been sold and told their wedding should be — a fluffy dress, a band, cutting the cake. These couples are getting pizza delivery on the dance floor, they’ve got bridesmaids dressed as astronauts, a bounce house at a reception. You wouldn’t have seen that at your parent’s wedding.

Because this is an experience-driven economy, couples want to walk away feeling that they were moved, collectively, and that their wedding didn’t feel like another wedding. Having personalized details and choices that directly reflect their relationship and that celebrate their partnership is what they’re looking for.

What are couples requesting most?

Personalized design details. They want silly quotes about their relationship on cocktail napkins rather than seeing a specific type of flower on their tables.

A couple designed a scented candle that burned during the cocktail hour. One couple took rugs from their home to use for walking down the aisle.

What are some other big changes you’ve seen?

Solo walking down the aisle, or no aisle at all. The solo walk feels empowering to them, which is a choice they’ve made. Some couples don’t want the spotlight. Weddings can feel very public and performative. Those couples might not get on a mic, or they’ll skip the first dance.

On your website it says you don’t work with someone’s mom.

I love moms; I’m a mom. But the wedding-planning experience is a rich opportunity for a couple to learn together how to delegate, communicate, budget and problem solve. When you get to the end of planning a love party, and you’ve collaborated together, that’s a huge, cool moment. Hopefully you’ve learned more about what your partner’s strengths are, and what yours are. That’s going to serve you in the relationship moving forward.

You ask couples to create a marriage mantra halfway through the planning process. Why?

A marriage mantra is a phrase, quote or lyric that resonates with your relationship. It’s not defining your relationship, but it holds meaning. It’s specifically done halfway through the planning process so couples can reflect on why they’re getting married, which is an important conversation to have. It also gives us something to use in the design process that personalizes it further.

Some memorable ones were: “Out of this world”; “Keep it bright and bold”; “I don’t want to lean in, I want to lie down.” For that one, the couple didn’t want to do any dancing, so everything had a living-room vibe. Couches were everywhere. We had a cannabis bar, boba tea and comfort-food stations. We had video games and did a first Mario Kart match instead of a first dance. The party felt like home

Weddings Trends and Ideas

Reinventing a Mexican Tradition: Mariachi, a soundtrack for celebration in Mexico, offers a way for couples to honor their heritage  at their weddings.

Something Thrifted: Focused on recycled clothing , some brides are finding their wedding attire on vintage sites and at resale stores.

Brand Your Love Story: Some couples are going above and beyond to personalize their weddings, with bespoke party favors and custom experiences for guests .

Going to Great Lengths : Mega wedding cakes are momentous for reasons beyond their size — they are part of an emerging trend of extremely long cakes .

Popping the Question: Here are some of the sweetest, funniest and most heartwarming ways that c ouples who wed in 2023 asked, “Will you marry me? ”

Classic Wedding Traditions: Some time-honored customs have been reimagined  for modern brides and grooms seeking a touch of nostalgia with a contemporary twist.

Someone in Chicago doesn’t want family member in wedding party

The next time wedding drama comes up as you plan your wedding day, sit down with people you trust and see what you’re willing to compromise and what’s nonnegotiable..

Someone in Chicago doesn’t want family member in bridal party.

Kacie Trimble/Sun-Times

Dear Ismael,

I was pressured into having a family member as my bridesmaid. I'm getting married in 2025 and I decided I only wanted three bridesmaids — my two sisters and my best friend. I am not close to this family member, so I didn’t think she would care if she was in my wedding party or not. She found out from an aunt that I didn’t choose her, and she was upset and texted me within hours that she wasn’t attending my wedding because of cost even though we have not set a date yet.

My family members guilted me into adding her as a bridesmaid to “keep the peace,” and I ended up giving in. Whose peace am I really keeping, my family’s or mine?

— Keeping the Peace in Lake View

Dear Keeping Peace,

"Congratulations on your engagement! I'm happy for you."

That should be only opinion people have when you invite them to your wedding — unless they are pitching in $56,000 for the event or buying you a house after the ceremony. Even then, let people enjoy their day.

Weddings can be insightful: If you want to understand a family's dynamic, ask someone how their last wedding went and they'll point out all the annoying troublemakers.

I'm really sorry you're dealing with petty people. But I salute you being the bigger person in order to just get past such a childish reaction.

When I asked some of my married friends, what I heard is that it's common to stress about keeping family members happy and to have a hard time standing up for yourself.

• Someone in Chicago keeps distance from boyfriend’s drama-filled family
• Someone in Chicago isn’t wasting time on family disputes
• Someone in Chicago is tired of being partner’s personal driver

Next time something like this comes up as you plan your wedding day, sit down with people you trust — perhaps your partner or parents. And ask yourselves: "What are we willing to negotiate and what is definitely not up for discussion?"

That will help separate the bigger problems, such as "Who is going to walk me down the aisle?" from the little stuff like "What if my cousin doesn't like that topping on their chicken?"

Realistically, yes, weddings are stressful to plan, and you may be a wreck in the weeks leading up to it. But it's also important to remind yourself to be in the moment on the day you fully give yourself to that special someone.

Lean on those who care about you. While you're taking those wedding party photos, the people who truly love you and want to see you happy wouldn't mind fixing a button on a shirt or making sure everything is OK with the caterer.

Write to  Someone in Chicago  at [email protected].

A couple started planning their winery wedding without a set budget. Here's how their $73,000 day came together, from a pricey venue to DIY decor.

• High-school sweethearts Julia and Mark Baugh got married on September 3, 2023.
• Julia broke down their  $73,405 wedding day for Business Insider.
• The venue cost  $41,000, and the couple DIYed some of their decor.

When Julia and Mark Baugh got engaged, they didn't know much about the cost of a wedding .

They were the first of their friends to get married , meaning they had no real idea of venue prices, how much a floral arch would cost, or what they could expect to pay a videographer.

Julia spoke to Business Insider about how their wedding came together, breaking down the cost of their day.

Julia and Mark Baugh have been together since they were teenagers.

Julia was best friends with Mark's cousin throughout her childhood, but she didn't meet her now-husband until they were teenagers, she told Business Insider.

They finally met when Mark took the duo to get ice cream when Julia was 16 and he was 17. Their connection was instant.

"We've been best friends and dating ever since," Julia said.

Today, the Baughs live in New Jersey, where Julia, now 24, works for a mortgage company, and Mark, 25, works for a health company. Julia also creates content on TikTok .

When they got engaged in 2021, the Baughs didn't know much about weddings.

Mark popped the question in 2021 when he and Julia were 23 and 22.

Julia told BI they were the first of their friends to get engaged , so they didn't know much about weddings as they started planning their day.

"I was never one of those people that was like, 'I can't wait to get married,'" Julia said. "I never really thought about it. So honestly, planning a wedding was kind of a shell shock for me because of how overwhelming and expensive it was."

They set the wedding for September 3, 2023, giving them ample planning time.

As they started planning, Julia and Mark weren't sure how much to budget for their wedding.

Julia and Mark are savers, but they weren't financially planning for their wedding when he popped the question.

"We were actually trying to buy a house when he proposed," Julia said. "So that was really what we were saving for, and then we were like, 'Crap, now we have to save for a wedding.'"

Because they knew so little about the cost of weddings, the Baughs didn't set a budget as they started looking at vendors. Instead, they decided to find a venue that fit their needs, planning to select affordable vendors to complement it.

They fell in love with a winery.

When Julia saw photos of the Renault Winery & Resort in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, online, she was pretty certain she would get married there.

"When I first saw it, I was like, 'This is it.' But just to appease everyone else, I checked out other ones," Julia said. "But as soon as we got there, my husband and I were like, 'Yep, let's just book it. This is our dream venue.'"

The outdoor space at the property particularly appealed to Julia, as she thought the winery would be the perfect backdrop for their ceremony.

Julia also liked that the venue provided catering and bar services as part of its wedding package.

The venue booking included alcohol, catering, tableware, and linens for the event, so the Baughs didn't have to outsource those services. Julia didn't want to have to worry about additional vendors on the wedding day, so the all-inclusive nature of Renault Winery & Resort appealed to her. It even included the cost of the cake.

"I didn't really want to set up anything on our wedding day," Julia said. "I didn't want to have to worry about bringing alcohol. I didn't want to have to worry about finding caterers."

"I just wanted to be able to enjoy getting ready and not have to worry about setting up, so it made it really easy," she added.

The venue was the priciest aspect of the wedding for the Baughs, and their parents ended up paying for it.

"Our parents split the venue price, which was awesome because we weren't even expecting to have help," Julia said.

Venue cost: $41,000

Julia wanted to invest in florals for the wedding.

Julia decided to go with a garden party theme for the nuptials, which meant flowers would be essential to the decor.

She tapped Bespoke Floral & Event Design to create floral displays with white flowers and a plethora of greenery, choosing the colors based on how photos of the event would look down the road.

"I picked our flower colors because I thought it would always match our home decor," she said. "If I picked pink flowers or whatever color, I would not want to hang the photos if I changed my home decor."

The ceremony included a floral arch, as well as arrangements lining the aisle.

But the Baughs reused the flowers that made a statement at their ceremony to get the most bang for their buck.

In terms of their budget, the Baughs spent a large portion on flowers.

"Flowers were definitely a splurge," Julia said. "I wanted that to be the main focus of the whole day."

However, they were able to get the most out of their investment by reusing flowers throughout the day. For instance, the arch at the altar was repurposed to accent Julia and Mark's sweetheart table, as were several bouquets lining the aisle.

Florals: $12,000

The Baughs also rented furniture to add more seating for their guests.

The Baughs wanted to add more furniture to the venue, specifically a couch and chairs for guests to lounge on throughout the event. Julia said they were particularly useful during cocktail hour.

They chose white couches and chairs with gold accents, as well as a glass coffee table, from Vision Furniture Event Rentals , placing flowers near them so they fit with the event's aesthetic.

"They were just another place to hang out and sit down," she said. "We actually took photos in front of it, which was really fun."

Furniture rentals: $800

To make the day run smoothly, the couple hired a coordinator for the wedding.

The Baughs didn't hire a full wedding planner, as Julia planned much of the day. But they did hire Tutti Belle Events to help them in the final stretch of wedding planning and on the day of the event.

"I pretty much planned the whole thing, and then two months before, she took over and did everything, which was so helpful," Julia said. "I was having a nervous breakdown two months before because I was so nervous, so it worked out."

Looking back at the day, Julia told BI that hiring a day-of coordinator for the wedding was one of the best investments she made in the wedding.

"She did so many things I did not even think of that needed to be done," Julia said.

Coordinator: $2,000

The Baughs added DIY touches to their wedding, which saved them money and brought their vision to life.

For instance, Mark made their welcome sign and brought Julia's vision for the seating chart to life.

"I found two pictures of a seating chart that I wanted to combine," she told BI. "My husband's very handy. He loves doing projects, and he's done a ton of stuff around the house."

So when he offered to make the seating chart for the day using materials they already had at home — making it essentially free — Julia was thrilled. The white, arched board had shelving with seat assignments and small bud vases of flowers. A "find your seat" decal written in cursive completed the sign.

Mark used materials they already had for the welcome sign as well.

"We always say I'm the brains behind the operation, and he does everything," Julia said of herself and her husband.

Seating chart and welcome sign: $100

Julia also designed their menu cards.

Julia made the menu cards herself, working with a printer to bring them to life. She even added a wax seal to the top of them.

Menu cards: $50

The Baughs also added an ice cream cart to their day.

Churn House is a local New Jersey ice cream shop with a churn cart for mobile events that provides ice cream sandwiches.

The brand reached out to Julia about including one of its carts at her wedding after seeing some of her TikTok content.

"Everybody loved it," Julia said of the cart. "The ice cream sandwiches were gone."

"They were such a hit, especially because it was 95 degrees on the day of the wedding," she added.

Churn cart: $650

Julia and Mark's wedding was documented in several ways.

Julia wanted "bright, airy photos" for the wedding, and Amber Dawn Photography was the perfect fit for her vision.

"She was so friendly," Julia said of Amber. "She took the best photos. When we got them back, I was like, 'I could not even imagine them looking this good.'"

Photographer: $5,200

They also hired a videographer.

The Baughs struggled to find a videographer, as many of them were out of their price range.

But then they found Forever Filmworks , which was perfect for their needs.

"I'm so glad we did it because we have the audio," Julia said. "We have the vows. We have all the speeches."

Videographer: $1,900

The Baughs had a content coordinator to document candid moments from the day, too.

In recent years, couples have started hiring people to create content for their weddings, capturing shorter and more behind-the-scenes moments than traditional photographers or videographers often do.

The Baughs tapped Salt Air Socials for the job, so their wedding was covered from as many angles as possible.

Content creator: $475

Music played a big role in the couple's wedding.

The Baughs had live music at their ceremony, hiring Ceremonious Strings for $650 to accompany them.

But their reception had more of a party feel thanks to DJ Treble & Bass Productions , whose services cost $3,000.

Music: $3,650

Julia's wedding dress was a gift, but she paid for her hair and makeup for the nuptials.

Julia's mother bought her a $4,000 Badgley Mischka Bride wedding dress and a $400 veil.

But Julia paid for her hair and makeup herself. Prostyled Bride styled her hair, which cost $250, and her makeup services were provided by Makeup By Brielle for $350.

Mark chose to rent a tuxedo for the wedding, which cost $180.

Dress and veil: $4,400

Hair and makeup: $600

Groom's attire: $180

Julia and Mark hired an officiant, but they said private vows, too.

Mark DeMuro officiated their wedding. Julia told BI he "wrote something cute" for them to say during the ceremony.

But they exchanged more personal vows privately during their first look ahead of the ceremony.

"We are both very shy, so we were very nervous to say vows in front of everyone," Julia said. "So it was really sweet to do it by ourselves."

Officiant: $400

In total, the couple's wedding cost over $73,000.

Though Julia and Mark's parents helped cover some of the costs, the couple still spent $28,000 of their own money on the wedding.

Julia thinks it's important for couples to know the real cost of weddings before they get engaged, which is why she's been open about her budget breakdown on TikTok .

"I feel like a lot of people don't really understand how much of an investment a wedding is," she said. "If you're going to have a big wedding with 150 people, it's going to be a lot of money, and you have to figure out whether that's worth spending the money for you."

"Once you sign those contracts, you can't get out of it," Julia said. "You'll lose a ton of money. So, I think that's my biggest advice for couples. Really just figure out what you want."

"Don't let social media or family members or anything pressure you into doing something because you feel obligated to," she added.

Total: $73,405

Dress: $4,000

Groom's tuxedo: $180

Six months into their marriage, Julia and Mark are closer than ever.

"That's my best friend," Julia said of her husband. "If I don't want to hang out with anybody, we can sit on the sofa together in silence and still just enjoy each other's company."

"He's always been my best friend," she added.

If you want to share the real cost of your wedding with Business Insider for a story, get in touch at  [email protected] .

• Main content

• Sports Betting
• Sports Entertainment
• New York Giants
• New York Jets
• Transactions

Recommended

Olivia culpo reveals the ‘most difficult thing’ in planning christian mccaffrey wedding.

• View Author Archive
• Email the Author
• Get author RSS feed

Contact The Author

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Wedding planning is in full swing for Olivia Culpo and Christian McCaffrey.

When taking part in an Instagram “ask me anything” over the weekend, the 31-year-old model revealed what has been “the most difficult thing” in the planning process thus far.

“Guest list is by FAR the hardest part,” Culpo replied in an Instagram Story. “A lot of venues have restrictions on # of ppl [people].”

Culpo, who announced her engagement to the star 49ers running back in April 2023, also expressed what she’s most looking forward to on the big day.

“Marrying my best friend!!!!!” the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit alum exclaimed of McCaffrey, 27, in a separate post.

Though details surrounding the couple’s upcoming nuptials have been kept under wraps, McCaffrey has been in awe of Culpo “steering the ship” where planning is concerned.

‘“She’s done a hell of a job,” McCaffrey told “Extra” last month.

“She’s definitely steering the ship when it comes to anything regarding the wedding as of now, but I give my input when needed, but obviously her style is unbelievable and everything she wants I also like, so it’s going really well. I’m so thankful I have someone like her who’s not just supporting me the way she is, but also handling all stuff like that, allowing me to do what I love in the moment while she’s still working on her career as well.”

It’s been a busy start to the year for McCaffrey and Culpo.

The former Miss Universe winner supported the NFL’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year in February when he played in Super Bowl 2024.

The 49ers faced the defending champion Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with San Francisco ultimately falling short in overtime , 25-22.

“Thanking God for a healthy season and for putting my best friend on this earth,” Culpo posted on Instagram following the loss.

“Now let’s get married!”

McCaffrey finished the 2023 regular season rushing for a career-high 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also tallied 564 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Share this article:

Advertisement

Olivia Culpo reveals 'most difficult part' of planning wedding with Christian McCaffrey

W ith the offseason in full swing, San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey and fiancée Olivia Culpo can focus on wedding planning. 

And Culpo revealed what the hardest part has been so far. 

The model decided to engage her large following on Instagram by answering questions from them on her Instagram story . One question asked about the "the most difficult thing" about wedding planning. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"Guest list is by FAR the hardest part," Culpo said on her Instagram story. "A lot of venues have restrictions on # of ppl [people]."

As one of the most recognizable NFL couples , trying to narrow a guest list filled with celebrities and athletes, not to mention family and friends, isn't easy. 

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY'S BROTHER ONE-UPS 49ERS STAR AT NFL SCOUTING COMBINE

The couple announced their engagement in April 2023, but they’ve kept their wedding plans a secret. McCaffrey has also mentioned that Culpo is the one "steering the ship" with those plans.

"She’s done a hell of a job," McCaffrey told Extra.

"I’m so thankful I have someone like her who’s not just supporting me the way she is but also handling all stuff like that, allowing me to do what I love in the moment while she’s still working on her career as well."

Culpo responded to another question from a fan on Instagram when asked, "What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?"

"Marrying my best friend!!!!!" Culpo responded. 

McCaffrey is coming off an All-Pro season for the 49ers, though it ended with an overtime Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. 

McCaffrey led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, while hauling in 67 receptions for 564 yards and seven more scores. That earned him Offensive Player of the Year and his second first-team All-Pro nod. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s  sports coverage on X , and subscribe to  the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Original article source: Olivia Culpo reveals 'most difficult part' of planning wedding with Christian McCaffrey

Scientists gear up to study solar eclipse with high-altitude planes and sun-orbiting probes

For the millions of people across North America who will be treated to a total solar eclipse on April 8, it will be spectacular show — a chance to see the moon fully obscure the sun’s face .

But for scientists, it is a rare opportunity to study Earth, the moon and the sun “in entirely different ways than we usually do,” said Pam Melroy, NASA’s deputy administrator.

One of the agency’s main priorities will be to observe the sun’s outer atmosphere, or the corona, which normally can’t be seen because the star is too bright. During a total solar eclipse, the corona comes into view as faint wisps around a glowing halo when the moon blocks light from the sun’s surface.

“Things are happening with the corona that we don’t fully understand, and the eclipse gives us a unique opportunity to collect data that may give insights into the future of our star,” Melroy said in a news briefing last week.

Scientists are interested in the corona because it plays a key role in transferring heat and energy into the solar wind, the constant stream of charged particles released from the sun’s outer atmosphere. The solar wind ebbs and flows, occasionally shooting high-powered solar flares into space. These can hit Earth with electromagnetic radiation , which can cause radio blackouts and knock out power grids.

Amir Caspi, a solar astrophysicist at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, has an instrument installed in the nose of a WB-57 aircraft that will study the sun’s atmosphere as the plane chases the eclipse.

It’s a golden opportunity, he said, since even the special telescopes that can block out a star’s light, known as coronagraphs, have limitations.

“A total solar eclipse is like nature’s perfect coronagraph,” he said. “The moon comes between us and the sun, and it’s exactly the right size in the sky to block out the disc of the sun but not too much more.”

Caspi will focus on trying to understand the origin of the solar wind. He also hopes to gather clues about a long-standing mystery: why the corona is millions of degrees hotter than the surface of the sun.

He pioneered this method of imaging the sun’s corona in 2017, during the last total solar eclipse to cross the continental U.S.

“We didn’t know what we would get,” he said. “It was nail-biting for quite some time, and then we got amazing data. I could see it coming down off the live satellite feed.”

The WB-57 plane can fly at an altitude of 60,000 feet, well above any clouds and high enough that Earth’s atmosphere won’t interfere as much with the observations.

Many researchers plan to gather data about the sun’s atmosphere from other vantage points during the eclipse, including from space.

Several spacecraft, including NASA’s Parker Solar Probe , will have their eyes trained on the sun throughout the celestial event. The probe launched in 2018, so it wasn’t available to study the 2017 solar eclipse.

In 2021, the Parker probe became the first spacecraft to fly through the corona, and it has since flown more than a dozen close approaches to “touch” the sun. Due to the timing of its orbit, the probe will not be on a close encounter on April 8. But it will be near enough to the sun to measure and image solar wind as the charged particles stream by, according to Nour Raouafi, the Parker Solar Probe project scientist and an astrophysicist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

Additionally, a spacecraft from the European Space Agency, known as Solar Orbiter , will be circling almost directly above the Parker Solar Probe at the time of the eclipse. Together, the observatories will tag-team to capture details of the sun’s atmosphere and the solar wind.

“It’s one of the rare occasions that these two spacecraft come so close together,” Raouafi said. “So, we will have a lot of synergies between them, in between all the observation we will do during the eclipse from Earth, which is something totally, totally unprecedented.”

The sun has been ramping up toward a peak in its roughly 11-year cycle of activity, expected in 2025. That means the Parker Solar Probe will have a front-row seat should any eruptions belch from the sun.

There are no guarantees that such outbursts will happen during the eclipse, but Raouafi said measurements of the solar wind from space will still be crucial to understanding the effects of the sun’s activity on Earth.

“These are the drivers of space weather, and the probe is probably the best tool we have out there, the best spacecraft mission we have out there, to help us understand that,” he said. “And the way to do it? Let’s hope for the sun to give us the biggest show it can produce.”

Even for nonscientists, the darkness that will temporarily take hold of afternoon skies along the so-called path of totality will be an extraordinary experience.

“I remember the first time that I learned that it’s kind of a very rare thing — that it just so happens that our moon is the right size and distance to cause this effect here on Earth,” Melroy said. “It’s really a miracle of our universe.”

Denise Chow is a reporter for NBC News Science focused on general science and climate change.

Chase Cain is a national climate reporter for NBC News.

NASA to Launch Sounding Rockets into Moon’s Shadow During Solar Eclipse

NASA will launch three sounding rockets during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, to study how Earth’s upper atmosphere is affected when sunlight momentarily dims over a portion of the planet.

The Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) sounding rockets will launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to study the disturbances in the ionosphere created when the Moon eclipses the Sun. The sounding rockets had been previously launched and successfully recovered from White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, during the October 2023 annular solar eclipse . They have been refurbished with new instrumentation and will be relaunched in April 2024. The mission is led by Aroh Barjatya, a professor of engineering physics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, where he directs the Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Lab.

The sounding rockets will launch at three different times: 45 minutes before, during, and 45 minutes after the peak local eclipse. These intervals are important to collect data on how the Sun’s sudden disappearance affects the ionosphere, creating disturbances that have the potential to interfere with our communications.

The ionosphere is a region of Earth’s atmosphere that is between 55 to 310 miles (90 to 500 kilometers) above the ground. “It’s an electrified region that reflects and refracts radio signals, and also impacts satellite communications as the signals pass through,” said Barjatya. “Understanding the ionosphere and developing models to help us predict disturbances is crucial to making sure our increasingly communication-dependent world operates smoothly.”

The ionosphere forms the boundary between Earth's lower atmosphere – where we live and breathe – and the vacuum of space. It is made up of a sea of particles that become ionized, or electrically charged, from the Sun’s energy, or solar radiation. When night falls, the ionosphere thins out as previously ionized particles relax and recombine back into neutral particles. However, Earth’s terrestrial weather and space weather can impact these particles, making it a dynamic region and difficult to know what the ionosphere will be like at a given time. 

It’s often difficult to study short-term changes in the ionosphere during an eclipse with satellites because they may not be at the right place or time to cross the eclipse path. Since the exact date and times of the total solar eclipse are known, NASA can launch targeted sounding rockets to study the effects of the eclipse at the right time and at all altitudes of the ionosphere.

As the eclipse shadow races through the atmosphere, it creates a rapid, localized sunset that triggers large-scale atmospheric waves and small-scale disturbances, or perturbations. These perturbations affect different radio communication frequencies. Gathering the data on these perturbations will help scientists validate and improve current models that help predict potential disturbances to our communications, especially high frequency communication. 

The APEP rockets are expected to reach a maximum altitude of 260 miles (420 kilometers). Each rocket will measure charged and neutral particle density and surrounding electric and magnetic fields. “Each rocket will eject four secondary instruments the size of a two-liter soda bottle that also measure the same data points, so it's similar to results from fifteen rockets, while only launching three,” explained Barjatya. Three secondary instruments on each rocket were built by Embry-Riddle, and the fourth one was built at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

In addition to the rockets, several teams across the U.S. will also be taking measurements of the ionosphere by various means. A team of students from Embry-Riddle will deploy a series of high-altitude balloons. Co-investigators from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Haystack Observatory in Massachusetts, and the Air Force Research Laboratory in New Mexico, will operate a variety of ground-based radars taking measurements. Using this data, a team of scientists from Embry-Riddle and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory are refining existing models. Together, these various investigations will help provide the puzzle pieces needed to see the bigger picture of ionospheric dynamics.

When the APEP sounding rockets launched during the 2023 annular solar eclipse, scientists saw a sharp reduction in the density of charged particles as the annular eclipse shadow passed over the atmosphere. “We saw the perturbations capable of affecting radio communications in the second and third rockets, but not during the first rocket that was before peak local eclipse” said Barjatya. “We are super excited to relaunch them during the total eclipse, to see if the perturbations start at the same altitude and if their magnitude and scale remain the same.”

The next total solar eclipse over the contiguous U.S. is not until 2044, so these experiments are a rare opportunity for scientists to collect crucial data.

The APEP launches will be live streamed via NASA’s Wallops’ official YouTube page and featured in NASA’s official broadcast of the total solar eclipse. The public can also watch the launches in person from 1-4 p.m. at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center .

By Desiree Apodaca NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

Related Terms

• 2024 Solar Eclipse
• Goddard Space Flight Center
• Heliophysics
• Heliophysics Division
• Heliophysics Research Program
• Science & Research
• Science Mission Directorate
• Skywatching
• Solar Eclipses
• Sounding Rockets Program
• Wallops Flight Facility

Explore More

Veronica T. Pinnick Put NASA’s PACE Mission through Its Paces

To achieve the impossible, Veronica T. Pinnick, who put NASA’s PACE mission through its prelaunch paces, says you need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Name: Dr. Veronica T. Pinnick Title: Plankton Aerosol, Cloud and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) Integration and Test (I&T) manager Formal Job Classification: Chemist Organization: Integration and Test Branch, Electrical Engineering Division […]

NASA Partnerships Bring 2024 Total Solar Eclipse to Everyone

On Monday, April 8, NASA and its partners will celebrate the wonders of the total solar eclipse as it passes over North America, with the path of totality in the United States, from Kerrville, Texas, to Houlton, Maine.

That Starry Night Sky? It’s Full of Eclipses

Discover related topics.

2024 Total Eclipse

Total Solar Eclipse Safety

2024 Total Solar Eclipse Broadcast

Eclipse 2024 Science

• open search

From the latest big breakthrough to the most influential and inspiring figures on campus to Pitt in the community, Pittwire is your official source for what’s happening now.

• Health and Wellness
• Technology and Science
• Arts and Humanities
• Community Impact
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Innovation and Research
• Our City/Our Campus
• Pitt Magazine
• Features & Articles
• Accolades & Honors
• Ones to Watch
• Announcements and Updates
• Life at Pitt
• Arts & Sciences
• Computing & Information
• Dental Medicine
• Engineering
• General Studies
• Health & Rehabilitation
• Honors College
• Public & Intl Affairs
• Public Health
• Social Work
• COVID-19 Response
• Sustainability
• Undergraduate students
• David C. Frederick Honors College

Subscribe to Pittwire Today

5 undergraduates will represent pitt at the 2024 acc meeting of the minds.

Five undergraduate students will represent the University of Pittsburgh at the 2024 ACC Meeting of the Minds, which is being held April 5-7 at the University of Notre Dame.

The annual research conference features diverse avenues of creative inquiry at the 15 Atlantic Coast Conference member schools. This year, the University is represented by:

• Michelle Chung , School of Nursing and David C. Frederick Honors College, presenting “Association Between Area Deprivation Index and Outcomes After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage”
• Connor Diaz , Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and Frederick Honors College, presenting “How the Five Tribes Became ‘Red’: The Failure of Acculturation in the Indian Territory, 1830-1861”
• Priya Gupta , School of Social Work, presenting “From Resource Scarcity to Psychological Toll: Challenges Faced by Mental Health Crisis Workers”
• Neharika Murthy , Dietrich School, presenting “The Impact of CREBRF Overexpression in Hypothalamic AgRP and POMCNeurons on Energy Homeostasis”
• Alivia Pierce , Dietrich School, presenting “Capturing the Black Struggle for Visibility Through the Vietnam War”

Register for Pitt's spring commencement by April 10

Help shape pitt it’s 10-year horizon plan, pitt extends the fall 2024 commitment deadline to may 15.

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. Please click here to see any active alerts .

Coastal Ecosystems Climate Resilience

OVERVIEW INFORMATION

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement Office of Research and Development Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program

COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS CLIMATE RESILIENCE

This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity .

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-G2024-STAR-C1

Assistance Listing Number : 66.509

Solicitation Opening Date: March 13, 2024 Solicitation Closing Date: May 1, 2024 : 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time

Informational Webinar: April 2, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Register Here

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, aims to promote scientific progress towards the understanding of coastal ecosystem resilience by seeking applications proposing research to 1) characterize, quantify, and define indicators or metrics of resilience for various types of coastal ecosystems, especially those ecosystems that have climate mitigation and adaptation and/or blue (ocean-stored) carbon sequestration potential (Lovelock and Duarte, 2019); and 2) develop methods and approaches to advance economic valuation of resilience benefits provided by coastal ecosystems.

Two major goals in EPA’s FY2022-2026 Strategic Plan are (1) increasing resilience and adaptation to climate change impacts and (2) protecting and restoring waterbodies and watersheds (EPA, 2022a). Coastal waterbodies and the aquatic ecosystems they contain are at the forefront of climate change impacts (EPA, 2021a). However, the cumulative impacts of other stressors such as rising, warmer, and more acidic seas, stronger and more frequent storms, droughts, and potential co-occurring changes to pollutant fluxes on coastal ecosystem resilience are poorly understood.

This funding opportunity solicits research needed to advance our understanding of the properties and processes important to climate resilience in estuarine and coastal marine ecosystems to better inform coastal ecosystem management strategies. Resilient coastal ecosystems and the benefits they provide may persist over time in the face of multiple stressors or disturbances. However, the cumulative impacts of multiple stressors may exceed resilience capacity, alter ecosystem structure and function, or result in loss of coastal ecosystems. Elucidation of the mechanistic basis of resilience in coastal ecosystems and development of quantitative indicators or metrics rooted in the mechanisms of resilience will greatly advance the science of coastal ecosystem management. Effective coastal ecosystem management strategies also require advances in economic valuation approaches to estimate the benefits provided by coastal ecosystems, particularly those benefits related to increasing climate change resilience (e.g., avoided costs from flooding and property damage, avoided costs from disruptions to commercial activities such as tourism or fisheries, or benefits provided when considered together with other public infrastructure).

Coastal Ecosystems Climate Resilience Funding Opportunity (pdf) (558.5 KB)

• Research Grants Home
• Funding Opportunities
• Air Research Grants
• Climate Change Research Grants
• Ecosystems Research Grants
• Health Research Grants
• Safer Chemicals Research Grants
• Sustainability Research Grants
• Water Research Grants
• Research Grants Events
• About Research Grants