[Cheongchun Report] "I want to buy a white dress"... Rising 'Self Wedding Photoshoots' Amid Soaring Wedding Costs Burdening Engaged Couples

Average Marriage Cost Excluding Newlywed Home Preparation 62.98 Million KRW
Main Reason for Not Marrying... 'Lack of Funds' Response

The rapidly soaring costs of wedding preparations are deepening the worries of engaged couples. Typically, the period from April to June is known as the "wedding peak season" due to high demand for weddings. However, with wedding expenses rising quickly, a new term "weddingflation" (wedding + inflation) has emerged. Feeling the financial burden of wedding costs, engaged couples are making efforts to reduce expenses, such as attempting self-wedding photography.

'Weddingflation' Causes Young People to Hesitate About Marriage

[Image source=Pixabay]

According to a survey conducted by the matchmaking company Gayeon in March targeting 1,000 married men and women (within 5 years of marriage), the average wedding preparation cost excluding the purchase of a newlywed home was 62.98 million KRW. The so-called "Studio-Dress-Makeup" package cost 4.79 million KRW, and the wedding hall expenses amounted to 9.9 million KRW. When including the cost of securing a newlywed home, the total wedding preparation cost approaches approximately 300 million KRW. Due to high inflation, costs for Studio-Dress-Makeup and wedding rings have increased compared to the past, causing wedding expenses to skyrocket.

As wedding costs have surged, the number of young people hesitating to marry has also increased. According to "Social Trends in Korea 2023" published by Statistics Korea, the main reason across all age groups for not marrying was cited as "lack of marriage funds" (33.7%), including costs for household goods and housing. This far exceeds other reasons such as "no necessity" (17.3%), "burden of childbirth and child-rearing" (11.0%), "unstable employment status" (10.2%), and "not meeting a marriage partner" (9.7%).

"Let's Reduce Wedding Costs"... Rising Demand for Self-Wedding Photography

Among engaged couples feeling burdened by wedding expenses, the culture of self-wedding photography is spreading. Instead of taking photos in a studio, couples dress in the wedding attire that suits them best and freely take photos outdoors. Online communities where engaged couples share information are filled with reviews of self-wedding photography. One netizen said, "I ordered a white dress and veil from a site like AliExpress, and the veil only cost 2,000 KRW," adding, "I plan to buy flowers at Namdaemun Flower Market. It feels awkward if someone else takes the photos, so I’m taking pictures myself to make memories, and it’s fun."

The self-wedding trend has also caused a sharp increase in sales of "ceremony wear." Ceremony wear refers to clothing worn to commemorate special occasions such as weddings, first birthdays, and anniversaries. According to data analyzed by W Concept from March 11 to April 10, sales of ceremony wear including dresses, blouses, and jackets increased by 40% compared to the previous year. During the same period, keyword searches for ceremony wear on the app also surged by 72%.

US MZ Generation Also Focuses on Wedding Dresses for Just '50 Dollars'

'Weddingflation' is not limited to Korea. In the United States, wedding preparation costs have also risen. On the 2nd, US media outlets including USA Today cited a survey by the wedding information company The Knot, reporting that the average wedding cost in the US last year was $35,000 (approximately 48 million KRW), an increase of $5,000 (about 6.85 million KRW) from the previous year.

Faced with skyrocketing wedding preparation costs, young Americans are entering wedding venues wearing inexpensive wedding dresses. Typically, high-end wedding dresses cost over $2,000 (about 2.74 million KRW). However, young people are paying attention to fast fashion companies that mass-produce and sell wedding dresses at low prices. Fast fashion brands like Forever 21 and SHEIN have introduced wedding dresses priced under approximately $50 (about 68,000 KRW).

Allison Lees, a strategist at fashion market analysis firm Worth Global Style Network (WGSN), told CNN, "The cost of living crisis has affected Generation Z, and they feel anxious about their financial situation," adding, "Fast fashion, which has significantly increased its market share in recent years, is capitalizing on the demand for more affordable wedding attire."