re: Married OTers: How much did your wedding cost and did you stay out of debt?

Father-in-law is loaded. Wanted to do it on a budget though and spent $15k for a wedding we loved.

It is a racket. I can attest to being part of it. I play instrumental music and perform wedding ceremonies occasionally. I was charging $150 to play a ceremony. A friend of mine who does the same thing said I was way undercharging. He charges $500. Now I charge $500.

And I've had brides tell me that I'm cheap.

It's insane.

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t is a racket. I can attest to being part of it. I play instrumental music and perform wedding ceremonies occasionally. I was charging $150 to play a ceremony. A friend of mine who does the same thing said I was way undercharging. He charges $500. Now I charge $500.

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I don't get it

almost everyone knows at least one person that plays an instrument

We just asked a family friend that plays the violin for the ceremony, and then my BIL played/sang during the reception.

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She thinks she would have been able to rent that same dress?

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she probably could have rented a better one for 1/3 the price

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my father in law offered us 10K if we did not do the wedding. so i assume somewhere in the neighborhood.

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My dad offered the same. We did the wedding though.

OP, the most expensive things are kind of surprising. It's amazing how much an invitation can cost if it's square (costs more to mail), lots of paper layers or something (heavier), etc. One of the easiest things to watch.

Cakes get really expensive if you want them fancy - like a stadium cake that or other special deal so many people do. Otherwise you can usually find someone to make a cake per serving.

Yep I brewed a lot of beer and friends donated kegs of homebrew. That saved a lot.

In 1992, ours was $26,000 not including rings, rehearsal dinner. No debt...my dad paid for the wedding...inlaws paid for the rehearsal.

I'd rather not say how much was spent but to my knowledge, no one went into debt.

My parents paid for the church, reception, food, drinks, bridesmaids brunch, cakes, band, invitations. Inlaws paid for flowers, hotels, buses, limos, rehearsal dinner, honeymoon. Mriluv and I paid for the dress, rings, shoes, misc stuff.

Married 5 years ago. Wedding at Acadian Village Chapel and reception for 150 at Petroleum Club. Everything cost $10k including flowers, wedding party gifts, etc. This does not include cost of honeymoon. THat was another $4k.

Wife and I paid for majority of it because we are both in our 30s at the time. Did not go into debt because we are not financial morons.

All said and done about $65k.

No debt. Parents and family paid for it.