‘Eloping Sounds Really Good Right Now’: Public School Teacher Asks About Wedding Venue in Upstate New York. Then She Finds Out The Minimum Spend

A woman’s quest for a wedding venue forced her to realize the cost of tying the knot has increased. The location’s “minimum spend” left her shocked.

In a viral TikTok video that racked up over 555,000 views and thousands of comments, user Ms. Powers (@teachingat22) shared the venue price tag that literally made her jaw drop.

“Thank God we started already looking at wedding venues,” the woman said. “Because there are some slim pickings out here.”

According to the woman, a venue she looked into, about 40 minutes away from her “hometown in upstate New York,” had a six-figure “minimum spend.”

“Minimum spend guarantee: $243,540,” the woman disclosed.

She clarified that the venue does provide food and beverages.

However, the price still shocked her.

“I think that costs more than my parents’ house,” she said.

Has The Price Of Weddings Increased?

The amount couples spend on weddings has steadily increased over the years.

According to new Bank of America data, wedding-related spending increased this year by 8.5% from a year ago.

CBS News attributed much of the rise to prices being driven higher by Trump’s tariff policies and inflation.

It also noted that broader inflation trends point to a 4.2% overall increase in May.

In 2025, the average cost of a wedding was $36,000, which was an increase of $3,000 compared to the prior year.

How Much Do Wedding Venues Cost On Average

Ms. Powers reported a venue she inquired about had a minimum spend of six figures. Per data collected by The Knot Real Weddings Study, the average cost of a venue was $12,900 in 2026. It noted that different venue types fetch different prices.

For example, a rustic barn would have a $3,000 price tag compared to venues in metropolitan areas. Venues like ballrooms and/or private estates in these areas could cost between $20,000 and $30,000.

The cost of the venue is the most expensive element of a wedding budget. These numbers also do not reflect additional costs, like minimum spends. All-inclusive venues that offer catering and drinks typically cost more.

Different days of the week also carry different price tags. Saturdays are the most popular and typically cost more than other days of the week.

Brides often take to social media to air out complaints about costs associated with weddings. For example, one bride was shocked after spending thousands for wedding photos. She felt like she did not get her money’s worth.

After Ryan Reynolds got married at Boone Hall, a former South Carolina plantation, it sparked conversation about the exorbitant cost of plantation weddings and apathy towards slavery.

@teachingat22 Eloping sounds really good right now? #fyp #weddingplanning #wedding #nyc ♬ original sound – Ms. Powers

People Offer Alternative Options

In the video’s comments section, many suggested eloping as a means to avoid high wedding costs.

“We had $10,000 saved up. Nowhere near enough for a full wedding considering no venue was less than $7,000. So we eloped at the courthouse for $50 and then went on two trips with the remaining $9,950 and those trips were EPIC. Best decision ever,” user kelleh2kelleh commented.

“We eloped in Scotland and had our honeymoon there as well. Just the two of us. It was the most magical experience of our lives,” user makenzie.lee said.

Others expressed outrage over the reported venue’s cost.

“Is Jesus Christ himself coming down to minister?” user jami lynn asked.

“If you get to live in the venue permanently after it’s a pretty good deal, otherwise I’d pass,” user
Lyssiemento joked.

The Mary Sue reached out to the creator TikTok direct message for comment.

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