Wedding Question

[LivingAlmostLarge]

What did you spend on your wedding? And what if it was a long time ago (more than 10 years), how much would it be in today's dollars? I ask because something really strange happened.

A couple I knew in high school had an absolutely fabulous wedding. My mom knows the groom's mom, and the wedding was close to $100k. Yeah so anyway you know how long it takes to plan wedding. The parents paid for it, their loaded so no worries. Well one month after the wedding they are getting divorced. Turns out while she was turning into bridezilla, he was having and affair with someone else. She found out and left him.

Guess paying so much attention to the wedding can be detrimental to the relationship. I was a little stunned to say the least. Anyway I spent $15k on mine and honeymoon included I think. It was on our 1 year anniversary and it was nice, paid cash.

[Ima saver]

Well, I spent about $100. we had a party after the wedding, which was held in my house. Several people brought snacks and we provided the liquor for all. The party continued on after we left for our honeymoon. We will have our 30th anniversary in a few months, so it was obviously worth the $100. It was lots of fun!

[tinapbeana]

marriage license $25

[boefixepa]

This is my worst fear about getting married. I can not STAND drama and I want none of it with my wedding. We are looking at spending between 8-10K on the wedding total. With what are parents are giving us, we can easily cover the difference in cash. I paid more to have a planner so I don't have to deal with the stress. My whole goal is to have as stress free a wedding as possible. The rings (over and above the price mentioned above) will probably come to uder 2K. The honeymoon will inexpensive for sure. I know that's alot more than many people where will spent or have spent. We wanted a nice reception and I fell we are being reasonable without going overboard. He's a social bunny, so he he has lots of friends, and I have lots of family. So we are looking at a dinner of about 100 and a reception of about 500. All things considered I'm pleased with the arrangement.

It took us both a while to come to terms with the amount though. It's hard to compar a one day event to the cost of a car........

We are both pretty fugal people by nature and the idea is mind boggling to us.

[Ima saver]

We went to one in 2001 that cost the parents between 50-75K, plus they bought them a house. They got divorced after 2 years. Maybe I should have a big anniversary party and spend some money!! But we have no family and don't know that many people.

[fairy74]

My first wedding a little under 7K, was held in the backyard of my godparents, I was thrifty on some stuff but overpaid on invitations, flowers and a really ugly dress. Divorced 8 years later.

Wedding to DH in 2003, was about $1,500 total. 7 people attended in Lake Tahoe, chapel was included with the dinner, bought a nice, simple dress (fancy but not in the bridal department), made my own flower arrangements, had BIL take photos (they turned out great), got simple rings.

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by tinapbeana

marriage license $25

Haha, we were like that too. All told, we probably didn't spend more than $100 or so for the license, car gas, a motel stay, and food at a buffet restraunt.

[tinapbeana]

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

Haha, we were like that too. All told, we probably didn't spend more than $100 or so for the license, car gas, a motel stay, and food at a buffet restraunt.

dare i say, we both might have gotten what we paid for?

[creditcardfree]

Mine was about $3k with dress, reception for 150 people, and bar service. My sister got married a month later, so my inlaws paid half of the cost of the reception. Very nice gesture. I tried to cut out things that just didn't matter to us...of course, now I can't tell you what those even were!! That was almost 11 years ago. We had a blast at our reception, so I think it was worth it and I think my parents and husband would agree.

[Amanda W]

We spent about $7500 last May. Hubby and I got married on the beach in Jamaica with his parents there. I would have been perfectly happy to go to the courthouse, but not him.

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by tinapbeana

dare i say, we both might have gotten what we paid for?

Apparently so!

[vsjhoc]

Originally Posted by boefixepa

This is my worst fear about getting married. I can not STAND drama and I want none of it with my wedding. We are looking at spending between 8-10K on the wedding total. With what are parents are giving us, we can easily cover the difference in cash. I paid more to have a planner so I don't have to deal with the stress. My whole goal is to have as stress free a wedding as possible. The rings (over and above the price mentioned above) will probably come to uder 2K. The honeymoon will inexpensive for sure. I know that's alot more than many people where will spent or have spent. We wanted a nice reception and I fell we are being reasonable without going overboard. He's a social bunny, so he he has lots of friends, and I have lots of family. So we are looking at a dinner of about 100 and a reception of about 500. All things considered I'm pleased with the arrangement.

It took us both a while to come to terms with the amount though. It's hard to compar a one day event to the cost of a car........

We are both pretty fugal people by nature and the idea is mind boggling to us.

Sounds great, are we all invited?

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Right, but I wonder doesn't inflation count somewhat? So a bride who paid $1500 in 1990 is what in 2006?

[boefixepa]

Sure Vhjoc, you just have to pay your own travel expenses to get here. (Utah)

[threebeansalad]

~12K in 2004 for reception, paid for by my parents. I bought my own dress and DH and I bought invitations. My folks are very traditional and would have it no other way (including forgoing a formal wedding and giving us the $$ instead-- I never asked, but I know they wouldn't be keen on it). DH and I had a blast... definitely one of the best days of my life.

[Ima saver]

Mine was the best day of my life too. I wore a fancy dress that I already had. My inlaws brought some food, my girlfriend got a small wedding cake, we had a bar and a bartender. Music on the jukebox for dancing. The liquor was all we paid for and the bartender only cost $25. That was back in 1977, so it would probably cost about $200 now. My friends all took pictures that I treasure.
Some guy on our honeymoon thought we made a cute couple so he followed us around on the cruise taking pictures of us. He sent us all the copies.
I learned to eat left handed on my honeymoon so we could hold hands while eating.

[vsjhoc]

Originally Posted by boefixepa

Sure Vhjoc, you just have to pay your own travel expenses to get here. (Utah)

OK, I'll start my Boefixepa's Wedding Attendance Fund today!

[Gruntina]

I confessed!!!!

I am planning a wedding this May. It’s going to be much more expensive than I ever imagine it was going to be. I confess its going to be a nice expensive wedding.

The main reason for renting out the restaurant and facilities (will have exclusive use of the restaurant and garden and beach area) is that they have an onsite wedding coordinator along with baker for the wedding cake. It includes use of things, services, clean up services, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, Their music center and overhead speakers, reception and its filled with waterfalls, caboose just to get into the restaurant, the environment inside and out is very ornate and has an old world and sea theme. (Its planted on the side of the hill like tree houses) all this will cost about $5,000.00 including the sit down meals, music, drinks and the likes.

All of my family (and I do mean all) lives in either Canada or Montana. They will be flying to California to be at my wedding. Because of this, I feel they do deserve a nice mean and nice place to be at. It would be nice to have the restaurant and coordinator do everything with the set up and work and clean-up as I don’t have anyone to assign to help me with that. The ceremony and reception being at the same site makes it easy for the entire out of town guest not having to drive. We can all enjoy the fun without having to worry about details.

I been looking at dresses lately and believe I found one for less than $80 dollars. The invitation is being made by a friend and she will send them out as her gift. We do plan on getting a photographer because its more likely is a one time only for my fiancé family and mine family to meet all at the same time.

With the photographer, facilities and food at the reception, officiate, my dress and his tux, my sister as matron of honor will use her favorite dress... flowers are from our yard. And our wedding rings will be more or less around $7000.00. Yikes but then again we are paying for everything with cash and will not be deeper in debts. My sister has offered several times to help toward the wedding cost. I will take up on that offer.

My mom has been having heart failure a few times at the end of last year and keeping an eye on her this year so far. I learned from so many deaths happening in my family in the past years... Life is just too short. I do not see this as MINE wedding but as a family affair and I am also treating it as a family reunion and would love for them to enjoy the weekend as a vacation.

[vsjhoc]

Originally Posted by Gruntina

I confessed!!!!

I am planning a wedding this May.

And now I'll start my Gruntina's Wedding Attendance Fund. (Can't any of you brides live on the East Coast?)

Congrats to you!

[Broken Arrow]

Congrats, Grutina!

(Take pictures and share it with us. )