Brides Buying More Wedding Outfits – Experts Explain
Okay, here’s a breakdown of the main points from the provided text, focusing on the reasons why wedding costs (specifically dress costs) are increasing:
Key Reasons for Rising Wedding & Dress Costs:
Social Pressure & Expectations: Brides feel pressure from family and social media to have “over the top” weddings and wear new, often expensive, outfits. There’s a desire to live up to perceived standards and showcase extravagance.
“It’s My Turn” Mentality: Brides who have been in many other weddings feel a sense of entitlement to have a large, elaborate wedding of their own.
Destination Wedding trend: The rise in destination weddings (and even local weddings treated like destination weddings due to travel guests) leads to longer celebrations with multiple events (welcome parties, brunches, etc.), increasing overall costs.
Parental Involvement & Funding (Especially in Certain Cultures): In some cultures (like the Indian wedding described), parents traditionally pay for the entire wedding and expect a large, elaborate event. This can lead to brides having many outfits purchased for them.
Desire for Newness/Uniqueness: Brides want to wear something their friends and family haven’t seen before,leading to a preference for brand new outfits.
Difficulty of Re-Wearing: Even when brides try to buy dresses they can re-wear, it’s frequently enough challenging as most social events they attend are other weddings where wearing white is inappropriate.
Specific Cost Examples Mentioned:
Average Wedding Cost (2020): $29,000 (according to the Knot)
Reformation Dress: $350
Picchika Lehenga Set: $700
Number of Outfits: One bride wore 11 outfits to accommodate different traditions.
Trends to Counter Costs:
Non-White Dresses: Some brides are choosing dresses in colors they can re-wear. Dyeing Dresses: Others are dyeing their white dresses after the wedding to make them more versatile.
In essence, the article points to a combination of social, cultural, and economic factors driving up wedding expenses, with the dress being a significant part of that increase.