‘Red flags’: The expensive problem with reality TV weddings

Tying the knot is becoming more expensive every year, but what happens when your dream wedding venue is featured on national reality TV?

Tying the knot is becoming more expensive every year, but experts say many couples are putting unnecessary pressure on themselves in a bid to keep up with weddings seen on reality TV.

According to Easy Weddings, the average cost to hire a wedding venue in Sydney is $16,000, but Aussies are spending more and more on their big day, influenced by smash shows such as Married At First Sight.

There was a wide range of venues featured on this year’s season of MAFS, ranging from the swanky Town Hall to cozy and intimate venues tucked in NSW’s Southern Highlands.

While the venues themselves were picturesque, they were further decorated with elaborate floral arrangements, with live music ensembles and deluxe food options adding an extra wow factor for guests.

Marriage celebrant Bec Page, who helped Sierah and Billy get “married” in this year’s season, said the reality show was driving couples to go all out with their weddings, and setting unrealistic expectations for their own big days.

“MAFS isn’t making weddings more expensive, it’s making couples dream bigger (and maybe spend bigger),” she said.

If anything, MAFS wasn’t responsible for “driving up wedding costs”. Instead, “it’s driving up expectations” for couples.

Having a wedding as extravagant as Corina and Paul’s would cost the regular Aussie a pretty penny. Picture: Nine

Ms Page told NewsWire an appearance on a reality TV show would play little role in a wedding venue’s costs.

“Jacking up your prices because you were on MAFS isn’t business - it’s cashing in on 15 minutes of fame,” she told NewsWire.

“If a venue suddenly hikes its rates just because it was on MAFS, that’s opportunistic at best, unethical at worst, and would be a red flag straight up for couples planning a wedding.”

“When a celebrity has a large following, popular songs and regular TV appearances, their performance fee rises - in some cases dramatically,” Vogue Entertainment founder Jeremy LaBrooy told NewsWire.

“In the past 10 years, with the increase in reality TV and celebrities, brides are requesting celebrity appearances at their weddings, however almost all have no idea that it costs way more than a regular wedding band.”

The wedding of Sierah and Billy was in the picturesque South Coast at Greyleigh, where the pair were married by Bec Page. Picture: Nine

Thankfully, only a handful of featured venues have increased their prices for 2025, though it is not suggested they jacked up their prices after making an appearance on the controversial show.

Tumbling Waters, located near Berry with stunning sea views and lush greenery, was the setting for turbulent couple Jacqui and Ryan, who tied the knot in this season of MAFS.

In 2023, the minimum cost to host a wedding ceremony and reception at Tumbling Waters was $3,950 plus the food and drink package price per person.

However, in 2025, that minimum has increased to $5,450 plus the package price, but if you want to get married on a Friday or the weekend, it will set you back $6,450 - plus the package price per person.

Turbulent couple Jacqui and Ryan tied the knot at Tumbling Waters. Picture: Nine

Ms Page told NewsWire many venues featured on the TV show were thrilled they secured a spot on the hit series but they weren’t interested in jacking up their prices afterwards.

In fact, increasing prices could be seen as a deterrent, rather than an incentive.

“They’ve made it clear - it’s a cool thing to say your venue was featured, but it’s not really a sales tactic,” she told NewsWire.

“One venue told me they had an increase in enquiries but not bookings and that if anything, some couples actually find it a turn-off.

“No one wants to feel like they’re paying a ‘reality TV tax’ just to book a wedding.”

An example of this is Terrara House in NSW’s South Coast, which served as the backdrop of colourful couple Morena and Tony, and is one of the most luxurious and expensive on the list.

According to a price guide from peak season 2023, it would cost a minimum of $45,000 for up to 100 guests to celebrate your nuptials at this historic mansion.

Their price guide has remained the same for the 2025 period.

Terrara House, where Morena and Tony got married, was one of the most expensive venues on the list. Picture: Nine

Another venue featured this season was Gunners Barracks, located in Mosman, Sydney, and is considered a popular choice for weddings, including beloved TV couple Rhi and Jeff.

A couple getting married in August 2021, considered “off-peak” season, would be set back $160 per person to host a wedding at this venue.

However, according to the 2025 price guide, that estimate has increased to $233 per person, meaning a wedding of approximately 60 guests would set you back approximately $14,000.

Finally, arguably the smallest venue of them all was Linnaeus House in Berry, which was the backdrop of the wedding of tumultuous and short-lived couple Katie and Tim.

Despite the venue being a stunning spot for the televised nuptials, it is not actually a wedding venue.

The destination is only available for use as an elopement or accommodation for other weddings, a spokesperson told NewsWire.