Why have weddings actually become so much more expensive?
The question of cost is part of almost every wedding planning process:
What does a wedding actually cost today – and how can the available budget be used wisely?
I had the chance to talk about this topic with the German public broadcaster NDR. The interview was broadcast live on the radio and is now also available in the ARD Audiothek (in German).
As a professional wedding planner, I have been accompanying couples on the way to their wedding for many years. Several TV formats have already followed me at work. It is important to me to give an honest and realistic insight into the wedding industry – far removed from flat-rate budget figures or unrealistic promises.
What does a wedding really cost?
There is no universal answer to this question. Every wedding is different, because every couple brings different ideas, priorities and circumstances.
The number of guests, the venue, the catering, the furnishings, the florals, the music and many other decisions influence the overall budget. At the same time, the size of the budget alone says nothing about how personal or special a wedding will be.
In my work I see again and again that clear prioritisation is crucial. For one couple an extraordinary dinner is the focus, for another a special venue, an emotional symbolic ceremony or an exuberant party with all their favourite people.
For me, professional wedding planning therefore doesn’t mean putting together as many services as possible. It’s about finding out what really matters to the couple and investing the budget exactly there.
Good wedding planning creates space – for anticipation, emotion and genuine moments together.
From planning practice
Honest insights into wedding planning
The conversation with NDR covered wedding budgets, current developments in the industry and the question of where couples can save without having to give up the things that matter most to them.
When it comes to costs in particular, many couples lack realistic orientation at the start of their planning. Inspiration from social media often shows beautiful results but rarely makes transparent which services, vendors and budgets are actually behind them.
That’s why it’s important to me to talk openly about numbers, priorities and possible compromises. Good planning creates clarity and helps couples make conscious decisions – without losing the anticipation along the way.
Listen to the interview in the ARD Audiothek
The interview is part of the episode “Heiraten? Das kostet’s!” (“Getting married? That’s what it costs!”) of the NDR Info podcast “Zehn Minuten Wirtschaft”.
You can listen to the full episode (in German) here:
Many thanks to the NDR Info team for the pleasant conversation and the opportunity to share my experience from professional wedding planning. On rockwedding.de I share further insights, inspiration and practical tips for a personal, realistic and well-organised wedding.
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