If you’ve heard the phrase, “She said yes to the dress!”, chances are you’re a bride to-be, or you’re pretty involved in the wedding plans.

Or you just love to tune in to see the made-for-TV drama that comes from watching people (we don’t know) spend anywhere from around $4,500 (as an average) to as much as $70,000 for the dress. And mind you, that doesn’t include the alterations or the dresses for the bridesmaids! Maybe that explains why the Father of the Bride gets so excited leading up to the big day!

Of course, if you’re OK with finding a perfectly beautiful wedding dress (without the need to be on the show), the average cost in 2025 is between $1,500 to $2,500 and there are some ways to help you save some more on your dream dress.

Maybe that’s one of the reasons why the month of February is known as “National Weddings Month”.

It also explains why cybercriminals have gotten into the business of weddings to try and run scams that include everything from being a fake vendor (posing for almost anything – i.e., florist, cake designer, photographer or even the wedding planner) and offering up counterfeit dresses or weddings rings to trying to steal your gifts at the reception!

Fortunately, for most of us, we have members of our family and some close friends to help us to make sure that the wedding goes smoothly. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) and BitDefender.com offers some helpful tips on what you can do to protect yourself, including:

• Research and Reviews. Research vendors thoroughly before you commit to any service provider’s offer and check reviews on multiple platforms.
• Get Everything in Writing. Legitimate vendors will give you a contract detailing services, costs, and cancellation policies. Be sure to read it carefully to ensure that everything you’ve agreed to is included.
• Meet Vendors in Person. Meet the vendors you plan on hiring for your big day in person. Meeting people face-to-face allows you to check more closely for trustworthiness, ask questions, and check the degree of professionalism.
• Use Secure Payment Methods. Use credit cards for deposits and payments whenever possible so you can dispute fraudulent charges or services.
• Be Mindful of Your Social Media Presence. Couples planning their wedding day are highly vulnerable online, especially if they begin sharing sensitive information. Public announcements related to your leaving home, or even the country, for a honeymoon can put you at risk for a home invasion or theft.
• Report Scams. If you’ve come across any shady businesses or scammers, report them to the FTC, BBB, or police in your region. Here in Indiana, you can also visit the Report a Cyber Incident page on the Indiana Cyber Hub website with the steps you can take if you believe you’re a victim of identity theft.

With all of that in mind, weddings are a huge business, as evidenced by the fact that the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is projected to exceed $30,000 in 2025. As those costs (continue to) rise, roughly 30 percent of couples expect to invest in wedding insurance to protect against unforeseen events. And as the use of technology grows, so, too, are couples opting to use drones for photography and live streaming services.

To be sure, saying “I do” is beginning to take on the magnitude of what we would see with a pay-per-view event, as some couples have even taken to “inviting” guests to their wedding – by charging them for the experience (as much as $450 for a ticket) to join in their special day.

Be safe out there, as we hope saying “yes to the dress” is just one of things you’ll find truly memorable on your special day.