Colorado Springs wedding venues busier and with bigger price tags in 2022

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A record number of couples are saying "I do" this year, but the post-pandemic rush comes with big price tags.

According to a nationwide survey, about 2.6 million couples will walk down the aisle in 2022. It's the busiest wedding season in nearly 4 decades.

"It’s busy every single day of the week. It’s not just Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays. Couples are open to Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, a lot of early sunrise weddings, brunch receptions, so couples are really getting creative," said Christi Gazaway, the Senior Weddings Catering Sales Manager at Garden of the Gods Resort and Club.

It's estimated that the cost of a wedding this year is up 10 to 15 percent.

"I would maybe even say a little bit more in Colorado Springs just because we have so many outdoor venues, which continues to make us very popular for weddings," said Gazaway.

Inflation is hitting every aspect of the wedding industry, but for the most part, the burden is falling on the venues this year. Pinery at the Hill says they're taking a hit to their bottom line because of pre-booked packages from previous years.

"Floral costs are going through the roof, and we have an in-house florist and her getting wholesale her costs are going up. Same with getting food, it’s not only like price of food but production and supply. So, some things aren’t in supply any more or we’re having a hard time getting them," said Michelle Benson the General Manage at Pinery at the Hill.

"Being here in the Springs this is a destination wedding spot so airline tickets, finding hotel rooms, every part of it is definitely affected by that as well," said Gazaway.

Venues say the size of weddings is back up to 150 or more, but most are all booked up on weekends through this year.

They're already expecting 2023 to be just as busy, and those couples will take most of the hit from the inflation costs.