$25K for 220 people in a Bethesda ballroom. 10 years later and people still tell me how much fun they had at our wedding!

Anonymous wrote:2k, 50 people, Seattle (basically just good and a case of bubbly).

Food!

2k, 50 people, Seattle (basically just good and a case of bubbly).

2014, 30k, 100 people

$1000, Hawaii (doesn't include the honeymoon cost, just the ceremony, "clothes" and a videographer). No guests.

2009, 110 guests, Airlie House in Warrenton, VA

Approx. 25k, which covered housing for the weekend for about 10 ppl we paid for, afternoon ceremony, cocktail hour/plated dinner w/ open bar, brunch the next morning.

We paid it all ourselves, didn't go into debt to do it, have never spent so much on anything other than a car or a house before and we don't regret it at all.

1983 100 guests less than 2K included room in hotel with nice buffet and beer, drinks, cake, flowers, church wedding, band at reception. Small town in Wisconsin.

I paid for my dress and we paid for the rings (probably about $600 total). Had a great photographer (probably around $200). Six attendants plus flower girl and ring bearer.

It was a great wedding and we'll be married until we die. We didn't have much money so we our honeymoon was camping and biking, swimming, etc. in the UP of Michigan.

2015, DC, 50-some guests, all told including tips, accessories, attire, and odds and ends, probably $35k.

$6k in 1994 at the Bleu Rock Inn, 130 people,

$60,000, 2009 wedding at a luxury hotel downtown Chicago. It was way too much money- what the heck was I thinking- don't make my mistake- save your $$!

1996 - 150 people - 25-30K

1990 while in grad school. Prob 3500 to 4000. We had a picnic at the graduate student bar and played volley ball.

2002. 28k wedding (160 guests), 14k rehearsal dinner (140 guests roughly). Does not include bridesmaids lunch or breakfast the day after which DH's family picked up. Parents on both sides contributed a total of about 27k. Awesome honeymoon too, which we paid for all of.

Loved the whole darn thing, still quite happily married.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy Cow! I can't believe people are spending these amounts on a wedding. Glad I have 2 boys.

1997 - $15k, 200 guests

What does having boys have to do with it? My kids are young but we will set aside the same amount of cash for each of their weddings - if they eloped or don't marry or someone else wants to pay they can have the money as cash.

Traditionally and currently the bride's parents take on the lion's share of expenses - up to 60% of costs. Why? Its a historical custom related to dowry and proving your daughter is worthy of joining the son's family. Now? It's just stupid. But it is what it is.

I know of families were the bride's parents helped with the wedding - to the tune of five figures and the groom's parents helped with the housing - to the tune of five figures. Evens out if done right.

Big weddings are pretty tacky. If you aren't very rich, I assume you are money foolish.