Comments on: Is it insane to spend so much money on a wedding?

By: iloveweddings

iloveweddings — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:05:24 +0000

Hi. I totally agree. There is a book called, “The Price One Perfect Day.” It talks about the wedding industry and how they have geared brides to say….”I have to have this, and I have to have that.” Personally, I have not read the book, but I know from research that in the U.S. alone, the bridal industry is raking in billions and billions each year! Can you imagine worldwide what the figure is?

I also recently read that by the year 2012, the average U.S. wedding will be around $35,000. That is staggering.

I hope you have a beautiful day!!!

By: Jess

Jess — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:48:58 +0000

I know 20000 seems like a lot of money, but it goes DAMN quick, at least for a standard wedding, assuming you’re not cutting corners to make it less expensive.

Let’s say you’re having 100 people. which is not a too too large wedding, as you are supposed to invite everyone you are related to and then some to your wedding.

Deposit for the hall: at least $500 (running total: 500)
at 40/plate (which is actually on the lower end of midrange): 4,000 (rt: 4500)
Cake: $300 (yeah. really. I’m paying 100 for a cake for 50 people and that was the cheepest wedding cake I could find) (rt: 4800)
Perperson costs: $1400 (including invites, thank you cards, favors etc) (rt: 6200)
Flowers: depending on how much your’e doing, but for NOT decorating with flowers about 200 (rt: 6400)
Limo: $300 including tip (rt: 6700)
Getting pretty: $300 (facial, makeup, hair, men’s haricut, nails etc, inc tip) (rt: 7000)
Dress: including all the other crap you need for it (bra, jewlery stockings etc) 1000 (rt: 8000)
Rings: 1500 (rt: 9500)
DJ/ MC: 1000 not kidding. (rt: 10,500)
Photographer: 500 (rt: 11,000)
Various fees: (JP, organist, etc) 500 (rt: 11,500)

So…. 11,500 and I’m probably missing some stuff.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 08:15:42 +0000

It’s ridiculous, yes.

By: mums_the_word

mums_the_word — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:18:48 +0000

well… sadly… in the area i live in, the average cost of a wedding with a guest list of about 150-200 is 25,000…. and i’m not exactly rolling in money here, and my family ALONE is about 90 people… so needless to say i am SCREWED.

i’m hoping my wedding won’t cost me anything more than 25,000. i’m saving up every cent i can, so is my HTB and we plan on putting money into high-interest accounts and CDs to make the most of it.

save up as much as you can. good luck.

By: loki_only1

loki_only1 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:07:58 +0000

Depending on the part of the country you live in, thats on the low end. (In others its high, so you’re about medien)

I agree, its absolutely INSANE how much people shell out for a single day, but its a big day, and the memories and blah blah blah.

As long its not putting you in a financal bind, and you feel you’ve done everything in your power to cut cost and still get everything you want. Have the wedding of your dreams, no regrets!

By: corinne1029

corinne1029 — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:46:08 +0000

Yes, it’s insane, but $20,000 is about average. I’m aiming for mine to fall under $10,000. If you’ve got the money to spend, I say go for it. Even if you do have another wedding later, it’s not likely to be as big or elaborate as your first one.

By the way, if you’re looking to cut your budget, invite fewer people. It’s the easiest way to cut your costs.

By: melouofs

melouofs — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:34:29 +0000

The average American wedding does cost $25-30,000! That’s just how it is! I know it’s a ton of money, but….ours will be a little more than that, but we figure we’ll never have another, and we both waited so long to get married (we’re 38) and we can afford to have the kind of wedding we want, so why not? You can always earn more money–you can’t have another wedding day.

By: Lydia

Lydia — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:39:06 +0000

No, not if you two can afford it, and are planning a lovely day! Ours was 25k for hosting a very traditional wedding for 200 guests, nothing fancy-dancy, either. It’s just what it costs. We saved through our engagement, and just handled the cost.
But don’t go for ‘perfect’ – you’ll never get there.

By: fumetsu

fumetsu — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:58:29 +0000

That money would be put to better use on a Killer honeymoon and then a down payment on a house. If I’m going to go into that much dept I’d like to spend it on something that might retain some resale value. I would compare spending that much money on a wedding to Flushing it down a toilet.

By: sparkleythings_4you

sparkleythings_4you — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:04:05 +0000

It sounds like you are already set up with houses etc, and as you have been saving up then why not spend that money if you can afford it? I know we would have done exactly that if we had our own house already and had that cash saved up (not that I regret having a small wedding) so I’d say go for it!