Tell me about the cost of your wedding...

[eakers]

What was your wedding like?

About how much did you spend on your wedding?

Were you happy with it?

Do you wish you had spent more or less?


Spending $10,000 seems like its way too much to me and apparently, most weddings cost a lot more than that . Why spend 10k on a mediocore wedding when I could have an amazing vacation or a small car with the same amount of money?!

 

[rh71]

If the damn search would work right, I'd be able to find that thread that listed the top 10 biggest wastes of money thread not too long ago... I posted my wedding cost broken down there.

Was it worth it ? I got a lot of cash gifts so in the end a $27k wedding only cost me $9k. I felt it was definitely worth it.

 

[Jeff7]

I'd have to ask my parents sometime, but I don't think they spent much at all. Even my mom's wedding dress wasn't a big expense - she made it herself. She's always done sewing and various projects involving fabric and the like. It was a fairly small ceremony, with a Justice of the Peace I believe, and only a few relatives and friends.

Weddings need to be expensive only if you try to make them the outlandish kind that rich celebrities show off with on TV.

 

[mugs]

~$20k

$10k reception (location + food)
$500 wedding location
$1k her dress
$3k photographer
$1-2k florist
$1k band for reception
$1-2k - various miscellaneous items - my tux, the wedding rings (not her engagement ring), pastor's honorarium, rehearsal dinner, etc, etc.

We saved a lot of money on the honeymoon because we didn't have to pay for lodging or a rental car, so that was $2000 for a week and a half in Maui

Edit: Her parents paid for pretty much everything

If you want to save a lot of money, obviously don't get an expensive caterer, have a friend with a decent camera take pictures, do the flowers yourself, use an iPod instead of a band, etc, etc)

Edit: Oh, our wedding was awesome. Great day, beautiful location, and we have awesome pictures to remember it with.

 

[DaTT]

I just got married Friday and the total bill was around 14K.

Made it all back in gifts, plus a little extra.

Everything went well and it was a very enjoyable evening....from what I can remember of it anyways

 

[TwinkleToes77]

8k

3k reception (location & food)
$250 for the church
$125 for the stupid class you have to take to get married in the church
$800 dress
$1000 for photos
$600 for DJ
$1000 for centerpieces/flowers
$1-2k other

honeymoon was a gift from my dad so that didnt cost us anything
Open bar was paid for by my father-in-law

 

[sash1]

is eakers getting married?

 

[Kelemvor]

The average wedding these days is more like $20k - $30k depending on what you have? THat price assumes you have everything:
Photographer
Videographer
Sit down meal
200+ guests
fancy room
etc.

I think we were around the $20k mark back in 2001 but my wife is a Wedding Planner so she had very specific thigns she wanted to incoporate into our wedding. And it was great. We have awesome pictures, great memories, everyone who was there had a great time, etc.

But don't go overboard if you don't want to or can't afford it. It's all up to what you want.

You can get by for much less but it always depends on the specifics tastes and wants of the couple. There's nothign bad about onyl spending $5k and there's nothign great abotu sepdngin $200k. It's you wedding and it should include the things you want it to.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
The average wedding these days is more like $20k - $30k depending on what you have?

Yeah, it's $26-27k now. But I *think* that includes the engagement ring and honeymoon.

 

[Aztech]

It's been a while so I don't remember all the costs. I know we regretted not paying more for a photographer though. We got a friend of a friend and the pictures are not that good at all. Recently I saw my cousin's pictures from a pro and they were amazing in comparison. That really made me regret skimping on the photorapher.

Yes, it was all quite expensive and stressful, but I'd do it all again and spend even more. And I'm saying that even though I'm divorced now...

 

[Feldenak]

Our wedding cost around ~$3k....

Brunch instead of dinner, no booze, at-cost photographer (his daughter was a bridesmaid), wedding & reception at same location, etc...

Our honeymoon was more expensive than the wedding.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: eakers
What was your wedding like?

[*]Classy, yet fun. Everyone had a great time and the food was excellent. We served Filet Mignon to everyone except those that did not eat red meat.

About how much did you spend on your wedding?

[*]Grand total came in just over $50k.

Were you happy with it?

[*]Definitely. Money didn't phase me at the time. Additionally, it gave the wife the wedding she has always dreamed about.

Do you wish you had spent more or less?

[*]Of course, I wish it had cost less, but that is because I am a cheap ass.

 

[Geekbabe]

under $1,500

dress,hair piece shoes etc around $450

wedding day hair/makeup-$150

tux rentals- $100

flowers - $100- arranged the flowers myself

favors -$50

reception-$300- included sit dinner chinese dinner for 20 people


location-married by a JP in the gazebo of a local park overlooking the water - $50 for the JP

Cake- 2 tiers baked by wholesale bakery- $33.50

wine,beer assorted drinks- around $250 or so

photo's ? one set that survived

honeymoon -none-married on Sat back at my desk on mon

 

[acemcmac]

I'll be fvcking damned if more than 5-10k is going to be spent on any wedding on my behalf :|

I can think of a thousand events in my life that I'd consider to be more important than a wedding involving me. Weddings have evolved into self important, egotistical, meniacal dick measuring contests of which I'd want no part of.

Don't even get me started on baby showers, wedding showers, housewarming parties, etc.

 

[Lola]

everyone knows what we did... flew to hawaii, got married, had an amazing posh party for us and 20 family members... was wonderful.
Came back home (MI) and had a big reception with the rest of the family.

We paid for everything in hawaii (including our plane tix, etc) and it came to about ~$20k... but, it was worth everything, it was paid off in a few months and we would never do it any different. It was better than we could have ever imagined. We had a house already and we paid little by little in advance too.

When we got back to MI, my dad, mom and gramma and two great aunts footed the bill for our reception. That was about $35k for around 200 people. Open bar, amazing florals, etc. It was wonderful. I am blessed they paid for it and were happy to do so.

Those that say we are crazy... fine, but we are happy, it is our choice. Those that did it for less, good for you. I did a lot of it myself (because i wanted it done right and perfect and it was)

so.... we spent a lot, but we will never forget it and also, you cannot take it with you.

If you wanna see how both occasions looked: Our Gallery

 

[erub]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
I'll be fvcking damned if more than 5-10k is going to be spent on any wedding on my behalf :|

I can think of a thousand events in my life that I'd consider to be more important than a wedding involving me. Weddings have evolved into self important, egotistical, meniacal dick measuring contests of which I'd want no part of.

Don't even get me started on baby showers, wedding showers, housewarming parties, etc.

Quite simply, you are wrong, read this article about nonreligious arguments for getting married

most importantly, read this:

Fourth, to better appreciate just how important marriage is to the vast majority of people in your life, consider this: There is no event, no occasion, no moment in your life when so many of the people who matter to you will convene in one place as they will at your wedding. Not the birth of any of your children, not any milestone birthday you may celebrate, not your child's bar-mitzvah or confirmation. The only other time so many of those you care about and who care about you will gather in one place is at your funeral. But by then, unless you die young, nearly all those you love who are older than you will have already died.

So this is it. Your wedding will be the greatest gathering of loved ones in your life. There is a reason. It is the biggest moment of your life. No such event will ever happen if you do not have a wedding.

article

 

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: erub

Originally posted by: acemcmac
I'll be fvcking damned if more than 5-10k is going to be spent on any wedding on my behalf :|

I can think of a thousand events in my life that I'd consider to be more important than a wedding involving me. Weddings have evolved into self important, egotistical, meniacal dick measuring contests of which I'd want no part of.

Don't even get me started on baby showers, wedding showers, housewarming parties, etc.

Quite simply, you are wrong, read this article about nonreligious arguments for getting married

most importantly, read this:

Fourth, to better appreciate just how important marriage is to the vast majority of people in your life, consider this: There is no event, no occasion, no moment in your life when so many of the people who matter to you will convene in one place as they will at your wedding. Not the birth of any of your children, not any milestone birthday you may celebrate, not your child's bar-mitzvah or confirmation. The only other time so many of those you care about and who care about you will gather in one place is at your funeral. But by then, unless you die young, nearly all those you love who are older than you will have already died.

So this is it. Your wedding will be the greatest gathering of loved ones in your life. There is a reason. It is the biggest moment of your life. No such event will ever happen if you do not have a wedding.

article

Who are you to say I need to have every person on earth who cares abotu me with me to have the greatest moment of my life? Who are you to say I'd need to throw down a BMW to have the greatest moment of my life?

 

[Manuwell]

8 bottles of spanish sparkling wine = +/- $80.00
Some homemade appetizers = +/- $75.00
Dress + Hairdresser + teh wife stuff = $450.00 - $500.00
Mariage license + Wedding ($ for church service) + Marriage certificate= +/- $150.00

Total= $800.00

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
under $1,500

dress,hair piece shoes etc around $450

wedding day hair/makeup-$150

tux rentals- $100

flowers - $100- arranged the flowers myself

favors -$50

reception-$300- included sit dinner chinese dinner for 20 people


location-married by a JP in the gazebo of a local park overlooking the water - $50 for the JP

Cake- 2 tiers baked by wholesale bakery- $33.50

wine,beer assorted drinks- around $250 or so

photo's ? one set that survived

honeymoon -none-married on Sat back at my desk on mon

That's exactly what all weddings should be. Way too many people try and show off and have these over-the-top weddings. At the end of the night the outcome is the same. You just spent $18,500 less than most people.

BTW, I did the same thing. Wife had total control over the wedding and I think in all we spent maybe $3k. $1500 was just on the photographer and wedding album/pictures for around the house.

We did have a honeymoon, but the cost was split between our parents.

 

[shadow9d9]

We spent $6 and got $9k in gifts... brunch/reception at the beach, night party at my father's place.. friends down here in FL for the weekend.

 

[shadow9d9]

Originally posted by: erub

Originally posted by: acemcmac
I'll be fvcking damned if more than 5-10k is going to be spent on any wedding on my behalf :|

I can think of a thousand events in my life that I'd consider to be more important than a wedding involving me. Weddings have evolved into self important, egotistical, meniacal dick measuring contests of which I'd want no part of.

Don't even get me started on baby showers, wedding showers, housewarming parties, etc.

Quite simply, you are wrong, read this article about nonreligious arguments for getting married

most importantly, read this:

Fourth, to better appreciate just how important marriage is to the vast majority of people in your life, consider this: There is no event, no occasion, no moment in your life when so many of the people who matter to you will convene in one place as they will at your wedding. Not the birth of any of your children, not any milestone birthday you may celebrate, not your child's bar-mitzvah or confirmation. The only other time so many of those you care about and who care about you will gather in one place is at your funeral. But by then, unless you die young, nearly all those you love who are older than you will have already died.

So this is it. Your wedding will be the greatest gathering of loved ones in your life. There is a reason. It is the biggest moment of your life. No such event will ever happen if you do not have a wedding.

article

That is all fluff. Having fun with friends and family is what it is about. You don't need money to have that. Having the family and friends around for an entire weekend with 2 parties cost us $6k... plus, it was the most fun my friends and I have ever had at any 5 hour traditional wedding... which are KNOWN for being complete and utter BORES.

Btw, does that article factor in how many people get divorced each year?

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
I'll be fvcking damned if more than 5-10k is going to be spent on any wedding on my behalf :|

I can think of a thousand events in my life that I'd consider to be more important than a wedding involving me. Weddings have evolved into self important, egotistical, meniacal dick measuring contests of which I'd want no part of.

Don't even get me started on baby showers, wedding showers, housewarming parties, etc.

You do realize that this IS America. In fact, to paraphrase:

"[Americans] have evolved into self important, egotistical, meniacal dick which I'd want no part of."

 

[KarenMarie]

I have no idea what VeggieFrog's wedding is gonna cost.

I just gave her $10k to make her down payments.

It will be a small affair, 50-60 ppl.

but, whatever it is, it is.

 

[Rogodin2]

We did ours for $2000 5 years ago (now divorced).

Live quartet from my college was only $200. Wedding dress was the beautiful one my grandmother wore in 1941, and the flowers, tux, church, and norwegian cooks (my aunts) were inexpensive


Rogo

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
under $1,500

dress,hair piece shoes etc around $450

wedding day hair/makeup-$150

tux rentals- $100

flowers - $100- arranged the flowers myself

favors -$50

reception-$300- included sit dinner chinese dinner for 20 people


location-married by a JP in the gazebo of a local park overlooking the water - $50 for the JP

Cake- 2 tiers baked by wholesale bakery- $33.50

wine,beer assorted drinks- around $250 or so

photo's ? one set that survived

honeymoon -none-married on Sat back at my desk on mon

That's exactly what all weddings should be. Way too many people try and show off and have these over-the-top weddings. At the end of the night the outcome is the same. You just spent $18,500 less than most people.

BTW, I did the same thing. Wife had total control over the wedding and I think in all we spent maybe $3k. $1500 was just on the photographer and wedding album/pictures for around the house.

We did have a honeymoon, but the cost was split between our parents.

If we could have afforded it we would have spent more, the biggest disappointment was in not getting professional pictures and relying on friends. I also think a honeymoon would have been nice. However, I did the best I could to have a decent day with the budget we had to work with.