Why are some couples opting for smaller wedding ceremonies?

BAUXITE, Ark. — Spring is upon us here in Arkansas, and that also means it is wedding season.

While tying the knot is typically an exciting thing for couples, it can also be very expensive and can even put you in debt if you aren’t careful.

The cost of weddings continues to go up, and according to Zola.com, the average expense is around $36,000.

Because of the rising price tag, some couples have opted for much smaller and more intimate ceremonies. The shift has also left an impact on many businesses in the wedding industry. 

The venue, dress, and ceremony each play a crucial role in helping someone plan their dream wedding, but budgeting for the big day can quickly bring people back to reality.

“I definitely did not realize how expensive weddings could get. I mean, I’ve heard brides talk about it, but I mean, I did not know until I started planning it myself,” explained Destiny Brown, who is a bride-to-be.

Brown described her wedding planning experience as eye-opening. She said it didn’t take long before she and her fiancé realized their original budget wouldn’t cover everything they wanted. 

“It was originally set for like $3,000 to $4000, and we’ve already exceeded that. So now we’ve had to up the budget, but [we’re] still trying to make it as affordable as possible, even with the economy today,” Brown said.

The average cost of a wedding in Arkansas is around $26,000. However, in some states, the cost can even be double what it is in the Natural State.

Industry experts say inflation has been the biggest culprit when it comes to high costs.

To combat that, Brown has made the decision to scale back and has been looking into every option to cut costs.

“I think our total guest list is about 50 people, and we’re having a weekday wedding to keep things more cost-efficient,” she said.

Keeping things cost-efficient also means no reception.

“Food is expensive, catering is expensive. We’re not hiring a wedding planner. We’re planning everything ourselves. I mean cutting costs, literally at every place that we can, while still making it the perfect day for us,” she added.

It’s a process Tiffany Skaggs and Sarah Gilbert are familiar with, and it’s not good for their businesses. 

“When it comes to do I feed my guests, or do I have this extra help. Unfortunately, I get cut,” Sarah Gilbert with SG Events LLC said.

Gilbert plans and coordinates weddings for couples in Central Arkansas, and she explained how she has seen a big shift with people opting for smaller-scale weddings.

“I had two brides cancel on me this year that were for later in the year. In the coordinating planning industry, it is something that gets cut. Probably one of the first things that gets cut,” Gilbert described.

Skaggs has found herself in a similar situation when it comes to bookings at her venue, StoneBrook Meadows. 

“In the past, we didn’t have that many cancellations. This year, I have had more cancellations than probably any other year, and most of them are choosing to elope,” she said.

She knows weddings are expensive, which is why she tries to accommodate couples as much as she can. 

“The hard thing about weddings today is that social media has made brides even more want to have this big, elaborate wedding, but then, with the cost of everything, it’s kind of like those memes that you see, like Instagram versus reality,” Skaggs said.

One of the ways she has been helping couples make a decision is by offering in-house decor.

“We try to include a ton of decor and items that help them have that beautiful wedding that they’ve always dreamed of, without having to buy every little thing,” said Skaggs. “We include all of that in our price, and we just try to provide a really good value for them. And I think a lot of couples really do appreciate that.”

Another money-saving option is to make things yourself. 

“A big thing is the DIY, DIY decor, DIY floral, and I’m all for helping a bride with that,” Gilbert said.

However, the time and stress might not be worth it for some. 

“I do hate to see a bride so stressed out over trying to do everything herself, which is where a planner or coordinator comes into play, and can be totally valuable to you for that extra help,” she added.

While navigating the shifts hasn’t always been easy for Gilbert and Skaggs, they said their jobs are still rewarding. They still hope to make the reality of a wedding day closer to the one in people’s dreams.

“Life’s hard, but when everyone gets to come together and celebrate something good that’s going on, that’s a blessing. And we’re really blessed to be in the business of celebrating love,” Skaggs said.

Another thing to keep in mind if you’re planning a wedding is that tariffs could affect the cost as well.

According to Knot.com, vendors who rely on imported materials are facing cost increases.