With the cost of a Windy City wedding skyrocketing to an average of $56,000 in 2023, some Chicago couples are bucking the big spend and finding creative, cost-effective ways to tie the knot. Stacey McSwine and her fiance chose a beloved neighborhood French restaurant for their ceremony, keeping their total cost under $10,000, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The staggering figure placed Chicago as the second priciest city for nuptials, next to New York's hefty $63,000 average, however, lovebirds like McSwine are shrugging off the pressure to splurge and instead focusing on the union itself Susan Cordogan, owner of the Chicago wedding planning agency Big City Bride, mentioned, “Overall, things are costing more for people getting married, there’s definitely been a change since the pandemic,” but she also noted the possibility to bring your booze to receptions, which can slice a significant sum from the budget, as told to Chicago Sun-Times.

Bristol Echeverria, owner of Chicago-based Sustainable Soirees advocates for setting aside a 10% contingency budget for unexpected costs, she said, and also to be forward-thinking with guest lists, to possibly issue a second round of invites if needed, a strategic approach aimed at keeping the celebration within financial comfort zones.

Despite high costs that come with the tag of 'Chicago weddings,' couples are proving weddings can still be special without a hefty price tag, they're just considering off-beat venues, hosting on less busy weekends, and turning to do-it-yourself decorations, strategies that are keeping that great American wedding dream alive and more personal than ever, as per BNN Breaking.