The “wedding industrial complex” refers to the network of businesses capitalizing on society’s desire for picture-perfect weddings. Think: wedding-specific dress designers, venues, planners, bands and DJs, photographers, jewelers, and caterers—the list goes on.
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The tradition later spread through Greece and Rome, evolving with precious gems during the Medieval period. Diamonds became central after De Beers’ 1947 “A Diamond Is Forever” campaign, boosting sales by 50% in three years.
This Vogue article takes you inside the details of Queen Victoria’s nuptials, from the dress to the bridesmaids drama. To learn all about the wedding that changed the wedding industry forever, read the article.
Want to know how much your wedding will cost? Simply enter your wedding date, location, and a few more details about your wedding plans, and this tool will spit out an estimate for how much it will all cost, with details on how each estimate was figured, from a wedding dress or tux to ordering the cake. If you’re planning a wedding soon (or just dreaming about planning one), explore this wedding cost generator.
In this podcast interview with Xochitl Gonzalez, a former luxury wedding planner who wrote the viral “The Fake Poor Bride” article in 2023, you’ll learn a lot about how the wedding industrial complex has evolved over the past few years and how modern additions, such as the rise of wedding styling services for "wedding weeks," have driven costs up.
For instance, donating your wedding flowers to a homeless shelter or other nonprofit organization may make them tax-deductible. Some other expenses that may be tax-deductible in specific instances include historical venues, wedding gowns, and more. Find out more about which wedding expenses could be tax-deductible via this article.
In 1947, an ad agency copywriter wrote the De Beer’s diamond company slogan, “a diamond is forever”—and diamond engagement rings became basically required for brides-to-be. This video tells the story of exactly how the ad campaign happened, and why it was so impactful.
Wedding costs vary significantly depending on location. Utah is the least expensive, at $17K on average per wedding. If you’re curious to see where your state falls, check out this map for a visualization of each state’s average wedding price.
However, the history of engagement rings stretches all the way back to the year 850, when the pope said that a ring symbolized a man’s intent to marry. At the time, gold was the most popular choice for engagement rings. See a full timeline of the engagement ring’s history.
At the start of this video, a venue gives two people drastically different prices for what seems like essentially the same service: a family gathering and a wedding. These price differentials feel so ubiquitous across the wedding industry—and experts attribute it to quality of services for weddings versus other, more casual events. Learn more by watching this video.
When it comes to federal income taxes, not every couple benefits from getting married. This calculator lets you see how much two specific people might pay if they were to get married based on their individual income levels and more. Specifically, the calculator compares the taxes a married couple would pay if they filed a joint return with what they would pay if they were unmarried and each filed as single.
The United States is home to more than 33 million businesses, the vast majority of which are small businesses, with millions being created (and others closing shop) every year. These businesses often rely on loans, provide the goods and services that keep the economy flowing, and sometimes even grow large enough to enter public markets or provide private investment opportunities. Explore key topics central to business and finance, from the role of the Federal Reserve to how initial public offerings work, how millions of American students finance higher education, and more.