The cost of saying “I do”: How the economy is reshaping New Zealand weddings

Saturday, 6 June 2026

Carla Court is a wedding photographer and the co-founder of wedding planning site Slay My Day.

OPINION: For a long time, weddings were seen as the one event where people would stretch the budget, push the limits and say yes to everything because it was “the most important day of your life.”

But like every other industry right now, the wedding world is feeling the impact of the economy and couples are approaching weddings very differently than they were even a few years ago.

As someone who works closely with couples every day, the biggest shift I’m seeing isn’t that weddings have become less important. It’s that people are becoming far more intentional about how they spend.

Weddings are now being planned alongside rising mortgages, rent, childcare costs, travel expenses and the general pressure of the cost of living. For many couples, a wedding is happening at the same time as trying to buy a home, build savings or start a family.

That naturally changes decision-making.

What’s interesting is that couples are still investing in weddings, they’re just questioning where the money actually adds value.

We’re seeing a real move away from “more for the sake of more” and toward spending that feels meaningful, memorable and worthwhile.

One of the clearest examples of this is guest lists.

For many couples, guest numbers are now one of the first places they look when managing budgets. And financially, it makes sense. Every additional guest affects catering, drinks, seating, tables, transport, venue size, stationery and often styling costs too.

People are becoming more comfortable asking themselves: “Do we genuinely want this person there?”

That’s a big cultural shift.

There was a time when weddings often came with huge expectation lists, extended family, distant friends, work colleagues and obligations. Now couples are feeling more empowered to create celebrations that feel true to them rather than trying to please everyone else.

Smaller weddings and intimate celebrations are becoming far more accepted, and importantly, they’re no longer viewed as a lesser option.

In many cases, they actually create a better experience.

Couples are focusing more on quality over quantity, fewer people, but better food, better entertainment, more connection and more memorable experiences for the guests who are there.

What’s also changed is where couples are choosing to spend.

The money hasn’t disappeared entirely; it’s often just being redistributed.

Photography and videography remain incredibly important because couples see them as lasting value. Food and guest experience continue to be major priorities. Entertainment is another area where people still want impact because it shapes the atmosphere and energy of the entire day.

At the same time, we’re seeing more careful consideration around styling upgrades, optional extras and add-ons that previously might have been automatic decisions.

Couples are asking more questions before booking vendors. They’re comparing pricing more closely. They’re researching longer and wanting flexibility around packages and options.

Across the industry, vendors are absolutely noticing this shift.

There are more enquiries that take longer to convert. More discussions around budgets. More price sensitivity. More requests to tailor packages rather than committing to standard offerings immediately.

But it’s also important to acknowledge something else: the wedding industry is coming down from an unusually intense period after Covid.

Following the lockdown years, there was an enormous wave of postponed and catch-up weddings. Vendors experienced record demand and incredibly busy seasons that, in hindsight, probably weren’t sustainable long-term.

That period created a very high benchmark for the industry.

What we’re seeing now is partly economic pressure, but also a return to more natural booking patterns after several extraordinary years.

Another growing trend is smarter spending through hiring and pre-loved options.

Couples are increasingly open to hiring décor, buying second-hand wedding dresses, reselling items after the event and making decisions that feel both financially practical and environmentally conscious. Sustainability and affordability are starting to overlap in really interesting ways.

Ultimately, I don’t believe weddings are becoming less valued. If anything, couples are becoming clearer on what matters most.

The shift happening right now is from “more” to “more meaningful”.