Social media is many things. It’s useful, entertaining, and the source of many wasted doom-scrolling hours. That said, social media’s relationship with the wedding industry is interesting. It’s a great source of inspiration for many people who hope to become engaged, even more so after that ring is slipped onto their finger. Still, it’s also the culprit of many unrealistic expectations when planning your pending nuptials.
The Biggest Issue – Making Luxury Look Easily Attainable
A huge part of my job is having budgetary conversations with my couples. Many people find talking about money awkward, but it doesn’t have to be! I also think it encourages trust and transparency within the couple-planner relationship, which is hugely beneficial as you move through planning.
I cannot tell you how often I have had a couple show me some inspiration via Instagram that features $10,000+ in florals or wildly expensive installations when working with a smaller budget. This is totally okay! I love seeing any and everything that inspires a couple when they’re envisioning their big day, and a good planner can do a lot of very tasteful things with a small budget.
To speak frankly, influencer culture is making the wedding industry more challenging for couples in more ways than one. It makes them feel like their wedding will be a failure because they can’t afford the custom espresso ice luge on a bar commissioned just for their event or because they can’t afford a string quartet AND a DJ. It also makes the wedding industry insanely competitive due to the high levels of exposure that drive up vendor and service prices to unattainable heights, inundating prospective couples with figures far outside their initial budgets.
There is Room for You and Your Budget
The reality is that most couples are ballin’ on a budget. Hiring a planner with vendor connections, a decor inventory, and a creative eye can help stretch your budget to include everything you want. When I start working with a new couple, my first priority is to have them write down the things that are THE most important to them on their day. Some brides want to go all in on their florals; others couldn’t care less about the flowers and want to go all in on their dream band instead. And if those priorities change? We pivot! Nothing is set in stone until those final payments are due.
Look, I’m not bashing social media. I use it daily, always saving things that inspire me or that one of my current brides would love. I do think that it’s insanely useful. I just think it can be very confusing and misleading when it comes to the wedding industry. A classic wedding without crazy installations and multi-day, multi-location celebrations with a customized itinerary will still be a beautiful, heartfelt event. And hey, if that is what you want to do – please do it! It takes all kinds, and everyone deserves the wedding of their dreams.