If you’re planning on getting married anytime soon, you likely already know that your celebration is going to come with a big bill. It’s often not until you get into the nitty gritty of planning the event, however, that you realize that you might be paying even more than you thought.
“There are two guarantees in life,” says Lauren Kay, executive editor of the The Knot. “Weddings are expensive. And like a home renovation or any other big project, you’re going to end up spending more than you thought you were going to.”
Indeed, 74% of newlywed couples say they went over budget to fund their big day, according to a recent survey from Zola, including 20% who say they overspent by at least $10,000.
It’s easy to see why people feel pressure to overspend, what with social media algorithms constantly serving up images of picture-perfect weddings.
“It’s important to remember that it’s all just a highlight reel. You may be seeing an amazing bouquet, but not realizing that they scaled back someplace else,” says Kay. “Try not to get caught up in that.”
