Wedding inflation: how postwar display and social media push costs up

Vox’s Explain It to Me explains how weddings evolved from simple community celebrations to display-driven events after World War II, a shift amplified by Vogue’s wedding photo essays and a rapid social-media trend cycle that magnifies prices. Costs vary widely by location and vendor, with New York weddings often around $100,000 and Midwestern weddings closer to $30,000–$40,000, though budget can be managed by focusing on what matters most and keeping things authentic rather than chasing every trend.