The Real Reason Wedding Vendors Don’t Publish Prices

Ever wonder why wedding vendors don’t publish their prices? You know, so you can tell if you can afford them without having to call?

You aimlessly start your search in google and wedding sites

As someone who doesn’t know how to budget for anything in my own life, I understand that comparing by price seems the most natural thing in the world. But sometimes I just don’t know enough about what things actually cost.

For instance, when I wanted to get my bathtub reglazed, I wanted to spend $200. After price shopping and making lots of calls, I found there were people who would do it for that price, but didn’t stand by their work. So yes, I could get it at the price I wanted, but not the customer service level I needed in case there were any problems. I had to up my budget or just not get it done.

Give up and just start calling

After searching on Weddingwire, the Knot and Zola you can’t tell how much the vendors in your area actually cost. They have wedding budget calculators, but that isn’t specific for your guest count or region. You have literally no idea what to budget for the service, nor what the vendors actually charge. You visit their website and it just doesn’t help. No pricing is listed.

The bride “re-education” begins

Some vendors don’t list their pricing at all, hoping you’ll call and they can “educate” you as to the pricing for the service you need. Their hope is that your money tree will magically provide enough money for the service they are selling.

In the end, I think it’s a waste of everyone’s time. If you have a budget of $500 for wedding video and their packages start at $3000, it wastes your time and theirs. Especially if they don’t disclose pricing til the end of the loooong call “educating” you about why wedding video needs to cost $3000. To me, it makes sense for everyone to at least list starting prices. You can’t just make more money appear in your budget.

Pricing done right

In our case, WeddingMix offers more affordable wedding video options and DIY photobooth options than many vendors, so we really concentrate on showcasing samples, clear pricing, and reviews so people can feel confident in our service. That way, even if a couple has $200, they can still get a wedding video.