The wedding tax: Why are weddings so expensive?

What's billed as the happiest day of your life is also one of your most expensive ones. According to Zola, a leading wedding planning platform, the average cost of a wedding in 2024 is $33,000, up from $29,000 in 2023.

That steep price has led some couples to bemoan what they call the "wedding tax" — how catering, photographers and other services seem to have a higher price tag if they're for a wedding than for some other celebration.

Yes and no. Services reserved for a wedding generally cost more than they would for another event. But, experts say, that's because couples expect the highest level of care for their big day.

"Definitely, there is a gap in cost because of the amount of time you’re spending to work on a wedding versus the time spent on a retirement party or corporate event," said Emily Butler, co-owner of Karson Butler Events in San Luis Obispo, California.

Weddings might be planned a year or more in advance, Butler added, so planners and vendors have to spend time "communicating, designing and planning the smallest of details to get all the perfect touches just right."

The high emotional stakes also mean many couples are paying for a level of service they wouldn't otherwise demand.

"This event involves two families bringing together traditions, cultures and expectations," says Elizabeth McKellar, the founder of wedding design company Nouveau Romantics. "Certain dynamics get magnified and it brings up a lot of emotions and feelings."

Instead of hiring a photographer to snap a few dozen pictures and email them to you, for example, you're paying for several hours of photography, plus edits and more.

McKellar compares the wedding day experience to going to a Michelin-star restaurant versus going to a chain restaurant: Sure, a caterer or bakery can cost hundreds of dollars more than getting a sheet cake at the market, but you expect to collaborate and receive a superior, personalized product.

"I've definitely noticed more and more noise surrounding the so-called 'wedding tax,' " Butler said. "Every few years this topic resurfaces. All event services are not created equal and, therefore, they're not priced the same."

Separated from its emotional significance, a wedding is another large expense, so paying for it with your savings means starting married life without a big debt.

Zero-percent intro APR card

Another option is to put some expenses on a credit card that offers a 0% intro APR period. Some couples use this strategy to earn reward points they can put toward their honeymoon or new home expenses. This should buy you time to pay off your wedding in full, but it's important to practice healthy financial habits. Don't use this as an excuse to go overboard with spending.

The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card has a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 18 billing cycles from account opening (18.24% - 29.24% variable APR afterward).

The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card has a 0% intro APR period for the first 21 months from account opening for purchases and qualifying balance transfers. (After that it's 17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% variable APR; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, with a transfer minimum of $5.).

Wedding loan

Personal loans can also help pay for wedding expenses you can't cover with your savings and usually carry lower interest rates than a credit card. We picked LightStream as one of our favorite lenders since it doesn't charge late fees, origination fees or early payoff penalties and borrowers can apply for up to $100,000.

One of the most important ways to save on wedding costs is to create a line budget that accounts for every expense, from the reception hall to flowers to groomsmen's gifts. Go over the budget with your partner to decide where you can trim and where you both want to spend more lavishly.

McKeller urges couples to be ruthless about cutting, especially if you're on a tight budget.

Flexibility can help lower the prices, too, according to Butler. A wedding venue may be a lot cheaper in February than in the middle of June.

At CNBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and experience. For this story, we interviewed Emily Butler, the Chief Creative Officer at Karson Butler Events, featured on The TODAY Show and outlets like Glamour and the Washington Post and more.

We also interviewed Elizabeth McKellar, founder of L.A.-based The Nouveau Romantics, a wedding planning service featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Harper's Bazaar and Brides magazine.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card and personal loan products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

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* Information about the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.