Wedding expenses skyrocket! The resulting amount is jaw-dropping

According to data from the Istanbul Planning Agency (IPA) for 2025, wedding preparations are increasingly straining couples' budgets each year. The agency's report revealed that costs for indoor and outdoor weddings have increased significantly compared to last year.

According to the report, the average cost of a hall wedding will reach 850,095 TL in 2025, while the cost of a countryside wedding will rise to 981,895 TL. These calculations do not include henna night, engagement party, jewelry, or honeymoon expenses.

In 2024, the average cost of a hall wedding was 589,405 TL, while a countryside wedding was 754,405 TL. Thus, the cost of hall weddings increased by 44.2 percent and countryside weddings by 30.2 percent.

The report shows that the increase was most concentrated in the items of accommodation, dowry, and wedding venues. The total cost, including rental housing, deposit, and real estate commission, was 96,424 TL in 2024 and rose to 135,628 TL in 2025, recording a 40.7 percent increase. Dowry expenditures (household appliances, electronics, kitchenware, and textiles) rose from 170,099 TL to 253,892 TL, an increase of 49.3 percent. White goods expenditures increased by 36.1 percent to 142,870 TL, and furniture expenditures rose from 147,875 TL to 185,905 TL, an annual increase of 25.7 percent.

The rise in wedding venue rents was also noteworthy. The average hall rent increased by 88.3 percent, from 70,000 TL to 131,800 TL. Outdoor wedding venue rent, on the other hand, increased by 12.2 percent, from 235,000 TL to 263,600 TL.

Wedding preparations put a strain on the budgets of not only couples but also families, with most of the expenses going towards accommodation, dowry and venue rent.

Source: News Center