AIBU to think weddings are an overpriced RIP-off?

[Bluffingwithmymuffin]

I am currently planning my wedding in SE England but am increasingly frustrated at how much venues and caterers charge. I have a total budget of £15k but it seems to get swallowed up in an instant even for non-fancy venues. One eco-barn venue which stank of cow poo was charging £12k!!

AIBU to think the wedding industry is an uncompetitive arip-off industry?

I never knew rage until we started to look into getting married. At the one and only wedding fair we went to I ended up in a massive argument with the florist at the last stall who thought it was reasonable to charge £99 for 3 red roses in a glass vase. I honestly hope nobody was daft enough to pay that. It's an absolute disgrace how inflated prices get when you mention a wedding. I understand the insurance might be more for certain things and, of course, people may be happy to spend a bit more on a wedding than a different party but for many things the price tag is in no relation to the actual product or service anymore!
It's been a decade and I can still recall that feeling of anger and unfairness.
We absolutely refused to be forced into paying any more just because we wanted to be married.
Our wedding was awesome (if slightly unusual).
I do feel sorry for anyone organising a traditional wedding though because there clearly isn't much choice in the matter. You either cough up the money they charge or go without and some things are obviously harder to go without than others.