Til debt do us part: The coming collapse of the American wedding industry 

Weeks ago, I had the honor of my life: marrying my best friend, Stephen. The day was absolutely perfect. A beautiful spring afternoon beneath the trees and twinkling string lights, followed by an evening of dancing, Greek food and chocolate cake. I could not have hoped for anything better.  

Though my parents graciously funded the affair, sparing me from seeing the final bill, I know that feeding and hosting 250 people is not cheap, especially the moment the word “wedding” gets attached to anything. Through months of planning, I watched the quotes roll in, the negotiations unfold, and the industry reveal itself for what it is: a masterclass in capitalizing on emotion.

I don’t entirely blame the vendors. When you are entrusted with someone’s so-called “greatest day of their life,” that responsibility entails a premium. And with every couple apparently willing to pay it, the market just keeps climbing.  

But what is undeniable is that the traditional wedding has become a luxury purchase — one that is quickly pricing out the average couple.  

A generation ago, a wedding was something a community built together. Neighbors brought food, cousins helped with flowers, and the church hall was free. Today, friends and family have been replaced by specialists, each of whom bill for their expertise. The result is a product that has priced out its own meaning.

It is an unsustainable model that COVID made even worse. Stimulus money and supply chain mismanagement drove costs up across the board by flooding the economy with easy money. It gave wedding vendors every reason to raise prices, specialize further, and bet on demand that was never here to stay.  

In recent years, elopement has emerged as the most visible response to this out-of-reach wedding cost. In 2021, elopement inquiries to wedding planners rose 72 percent; 41 percent of Gen Z couples now plan to skip the aisle altogether. With median........

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