The tradition of western weddings has grown into an entire complex culture in and of itself. The list of “essentials” for western weddings has grown to include far more than what was previously essential (bride, groom, legal documents). Essentials for a western wedding now include the gown, shopping for styles, the veil, shoes, gowns for bride’s maids, as well as flowers, invitations, responses, registration at shopping centers or online, plus bridal shower invitations, rehearsal invitations, and documentation of the event from beginning to end. Then there’s the scouting, selection and reservation of the locations for all of it including dinners and receptions for every stage of the planned event. It is no wonder that in this day and age, with additional considerations for cultural traditions and expectations of a growing variety of cultures inter-marrying, that the wedding planner is a growing profession.


The wedding planner will start with a guest list, then a budget analysis, a check list, list of all the details from A to Z, listing and cooperation with service providers, arrange for showing of stationery items, food sampling, discussion of seating arrangements, viewing of flowers, selection of colors and fabrics for the gowns and western dresses, suggestions and selections on accessories, as well as locations, and let’s not forget, the gifts for each and every attendant in the service as well as the guests, mailing and responding to invitations, arrangement for gift registries, and the thank you notes, plus the honeymoon reservation and arrangements, transportation for the bridge, groom, and guests to the wedding and reception as well as to everyone’s homes. Then there’s the reception music, the wedding music, the rehearsal music, cocktail hour music, accessories for all of those surrounding and peripheral events, as well as attention to the details of special needs for guests, attendants and family. Then there’s gifts for the bridal party, the wedding vows themselves, as well as all the legal documentation that must be in order.

And then of course there’s considerations of the seasons. Is it a spring wedding? Autumn? Summer? Winter? Seasonal considerations are huge, not to mention the consideration of a theme and decorations.

As people are getting married at older ages, they also are developing more sophisticated taste in what they want out of their wedding. The average price tag of a wedding has soared nearly one hundred percent in the last twenty years, and Mr and Mrs Right are now footing their own wedding bills in increasing numbers, and choosing to spend a great deal more money to have the wedding of their dreams. Weddings are now a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States, with the average wedding reaching up to thirty thousand dollars for the singular event. Weddings that reach over one hundred thousand dollars are increasingly common, with multi million dollar weddings becoming the norm for the well heeled and celebrity set. Western weddings are some of the most expensive in the world with comparisons of averages. Western weddings have become a status symbol that ranks as high as an automobile or the ring itself. If a couple does not wish to elope, then expectations from family and guests is increasingly growing to include such necessities as would require an entire staff of professionals, and a very good professional wedding planner to carry out.

While the necessities of western weddings previously consisted of the bride, groom, and a modest reception, with focus on the vows and an intimate gathering, today the necessities are far more far reaching, bringing with the event a far higher price tag.