Koreans in the United States used to spend $15,000 a wedding. That was nearly 10 years ago. But today a rapid increase in Korean spending and the rising costs of goods and services has lead Korean couples to spend an average of $38,000 on a wedding.

The Korea Daily News conducted a survey among popular banquet halls, wedding dress stores, gift and jewelry stores to find out how much a Korean wedding costs these days. Couples spend an average of $15,000 on the marriage ceremony and guests (this includes food and party favors). Gifts for the newlyweds amount to over $14,000. Bridal outfits cost about $2,000. $5,000 is spent on average for large purchases like furniture. Honeymoons cost $2,000.

Some wealthy Koreans rent out churches or cathedrals for their wedding ceremony, adding to the costs.

Restaurant or catering fees, bridal outfits, are paid for by both the bride and the grooms’ families. According to a gift shop owner, Korean men spend more than $10,000 for gifts for their brides on items like rings and necklaces. Brides spend an average of $4,000 on their grooms—buying watches, rings and necktie pins.

Chin-hee Park, a newlywed, said, “in America, I don’t feel the burden to buy a house upon getting married—unlike in Korea. However, here following the customs is so expensive—the wedding banquet, the large ceremony, etc.” In her case, the wedding cost $40,000.

Yon-joo Lee, the manager of Best Wedding Plaza in Flushing said, “This season, an average of five couples a day visit my shop. Sadly, during their wedding preparations couples fight about the costs. Sometimes they choose not to get married—all because of the costs of marriage.”

Marriage counselors say that a marriage is the union of two individual lives whereas the wedding is only a secondary and materialistic occasion.