The Pullman Hotel in Auckland charged between $12,400 and $14,000 for a wedding but quoted $9780 for a family reunion.
Marketing manager Alana Bevan said a wedding package included an executive suite and valet parking, an assigned wedding co-ordinator and extra venue set up in the ballroom.
When calling popular venue Mudbrick on Waiheke Island for a family reunion, the unnamed staff member taking the call was suspicious and went to lengths to ensure the special occasion was "definitely not a wedding".
"Some people try and book for a dinner and then it turns out to be a wedding," she said.
An emailed quote from Wedding and Events Manager Nicole Turner said: "My colleague mentioned that you had rung yesterday and that to her it had sounded like this event may be to celebrate a wedding."
A minimum spend of $18,000 would be required at both functions.
When it came to securing a photographer, prices also varied - if they agreed to take the job.
Mike Hill Photography in Waihi Beach and Emma Hughes Photography on Waiheke Island both turned down the family reunion.
"It would be over a period where I could be doing a wedding which would be a more lucrative job for me to do than to do a family reunion," said Emma Hughes.
A wedding shoot would take 40 hours of her time and cost around $5000, but a family reunion would likely only take a couple of hours.
Mr Hill, who had stopped working weekends, said he had reduced his prices from up to $5500 to $2900 because he thought photographers were charging too much.
He said professional wedding photographers were "encouraged to charge as much as they possibly can" and he felt some packages were exorbitant.
Jessica Higueras of Jessica Photography in Auckland said the two jobs were like comparing "apples with bananas".
A quote for $500 to $690 was for a portrait session at the family reunion lasting up to one and a half hours, whereas the wedding quote, starting at $3000, was for five hours of coverage.
She said a wedding took more time, extra staff, intensive planning and more high resolution image handling, whereas a family reunion would last a mere couple of hours.
A $50 difference between make-up for a special occasion and a wedding at Belles and Brides in Hamilton was because wedding parties took longer and received "touch-up packs" to maintain their cosmetics throughout the day, said owner Levarna Steffert.
Hawkes Bay make-up artist Vania Bailey charged $90 per face regardless of what the special event is.
"I did [charge more for weddings] at one point but then I thought it makes no sense because everyone's basically getting the same service and you want the same treatment."
Auckland Weddings director Zahn Trotter said prices varied because the events were more stressful and required more attention to detail.
Auckland wedding planner Lisa Hill of Beautiful Events did not believe the wedding industry inflated prices.
"It's the old joke ... I think it's a myth. You'd lose your credibility if you were doing stuff like that."
Using the 'W' word sends prices skyward, says newlywed
"I think if you mention 'wedding', the price triples," says Suzie Hawkey, a 31-year-old graphic designer who married Michael in March.
"I definitely think there is a premium [price] because it's a wedding."
The Auckland couple tied the knot at McHughs, a venue on Cheltenham Beach in Auckland, and tried their best to keep costs as low as possible.
"It ended up being a lot more than I thought it would, but in the grand scheme of things I think we spent a lot less than what I think other people have."
The couple spent about $10,000 on their big day, keeping costs down by finding bargains and their guest list to 40.
Mrs Hawkey purchased a wedding dress for a 10th of what others would pay and Mr Hawkey, 36, snapped up a suit at the Salvation Army.
Using a venue worked out cheaper than hiring components individually, she said.
They considered hiring a marquee and different venues "but the marquee was going to be $3000 by itself, and then to have caterers and wait-staff on top of that was going to blow us right out of our budget."
However, there were still unbudgeted costs such as fresh flowers and $600 for fairy lights.
Marriage celebrant Pinky Agnew said there was a growing trend toward asking guests to pay for their meal or alcohol by cash-strapped couples saddled with student loans and big mortgages, but who don't want to miss out on their dream wedding.
"They will often on their invitations have a bank account number either to pay in for the meal or in lieu of a gift - contribute to a honeymoon or artwork."
Wishing wells, which traditionally offered guests the choice between giving money or a gift, are a thing of the past said Ms Agnew, who has been a celebrant for 18 years.
"Now it's all internet banking so let's just cut to the chase and have the bank account details."
