Planning and even attending weddings has jumped in cost as social media pressures Americans to put on more extravagant affairs amid rising price hikes, a 12-time bridesmaid told Fox News.
“You see that so-and-so is going on all these trips and going to all these weddings … but you don’t see their finances and so you feel like you have to keep up,” Mackenzie Jones, of Arkansas, told Fox News. “You don’t realize that she’s not making the best financial decisions and now to keep up with her, you’re not making the best financial decisions.”
WATCH: A 12-TIME BRIDE SOUNDS OFF ON OVER-THE-TOP WEDDING COSTS
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COVID-19 lockdowns and downsizing caused wedding costs to plummet in 2020 but they rebounded above 2019 levels last year, hitting $30,000 on average, according to The Knot, a wedding planning website. For guests, 40% have gone into debt to attend weddings, jumping to 62% if they were also in the bridal party, an April LendingTree survey found.
The U.S. wedding services industry is booming as the average wedding costs jumped again between 2022 and 2023. Even some wedding guests are going into debt to attend the events. (iStock)
“It was really lucky,” she said. “I had a really low rent at the time. Now where I’m living and the expenses that I have, I could not afford that at all.”
Jones estimated spending around $1,000 for each wedding where she was a bridesmaid. She said those prices were low compared to current wedding costs.
“The bar to be a bridesmaid in their weddings were so low,” Jones said. “It was like buy the dress and show up on the day and that’s all you need to do.”
Jones said social media has pressured people into wanting more luxurious weddings, bachelorette trips and other wedding-related events. She also said high demand after the COVID-19 pandemic has driven up the overall costs.
“I think social media is a huge part of it because I was thinking that even with my own wedding, there were several things where I was like ‘why do I feel like I have to do this?'” Jones said.
WEDDING CHAOS TEARS SIBLINGS APART AS ONE SISTER INSISTS THE OTHER PAY HER EXPENSES
The wedding industry grew 10% in 2022 to a $71 billion, according to market research firm IBISWorld. But Jones believes couples will increasingly elope or hold smaller ceremonies.
“I feel like the trend is kind of getting to a smaller wedding because at some point it can’t get bigger,” she said.
To watch Jones’ full interview, click here.