What is the average cost of a wedding in 2005?

[PVD99]

I've looked this up...and I've heard that it is between 15-20K? Is this a close estimate? I'm not talking about anything super fancy, either. I guess it all depends on if you're buying everything or if you're going to make the dresses, make the food, have it somewhere cheap...etc. My friend has 130 guests and she only wants to spend 10K, but her mom is making a lot of the floral arrangements as well as the bridemaid dresses.

[TheBeve]

For us guys, $150 bucks on the tux rental! **ducks** :p

[m-girl]

It is 20K nationwide. It is like 100K on the island of Manhattan.

If I ever get married (hold the laughter) I will spend $5K tops. And that is because 1) I am crafty (diy invites) 2) I would wear a white (again hold the laughter) bridemaid's dress & 3) I would only invite close friends & relatives.

[cheshrcarol]

You can spend as little or as much as you want. You just have to be prepared to get what you pay for.

[MetFanL]

My brothers wedding in Westchester will easily cost them upwards of $40K. I think that's pretty average.

[wordsmith]

My bro and SIL's was pretty elaborate and costly. I don't know the amount, because I was on the groom's side, but her parents are well-off, it was very lavish in a tony, affluent community, and I know the reception catering alone was probably well over what my entire affair, hypothetically, would probably cost. But she's their only daughter, it was a go-all-out kinda thing for them.

I don't foresee going that elaborately if I get married. I'm frugal by nature and more comfortable with simplicity.

[Kitty]

My plan is to elope. No way in hell I want to spend (or have anyone else spend) thousands on a wedding.

[wordsmith]

I won't do that, because I def. want my fam to be there. But, low, low, low key is best. I'd rather put the money on a nice trip than a one-shot deal.

[Winter Storm]

There is no way my wedding will cost 5 figures. I'd rather splurge on a long and fantabulous honeymoon.

But I'll worry more about those details when I actually have a date set.

[MetFanL]

You'd be surprised at what $40K DOESN'T get you.

[Kitty]

I would rather use 40k on a trip, on a new car, on a downpayment...

I could think of a million other uses.

[cheshrcarol]

You'd be surprised at what $40K DOESN'T get you.I can believe it, especially for Westchester. Even around here can pay $100-$150/plate, multiply that by 150 people and you've already got around $20k. Add dress, flowers, limo, etc.

My friend getting married in LI got a phenomenal deal on her reception hall for $85/plate, but it's on a Sunday and it was a date that another couple cancelled on (I guess since they book so far in advance it's harder to fill in when people cancel with less than a year to the wedding).

[analogman]

You can spend as much or as little as you want. It's pretty easy to spend five figures though. Professional photographers are pretty expensive. Catering can be expensive depending on the table setting you want and the food you choose. There are numerous items where you can decide to spend a lot or very little.

I personally have better uses for money than a lavish wedding (we paid for our own). If the parents are paying and they are not going to give you the money otherwise, you might as well live it up :p

[shimmer728]

I have zero desire to have an expensive wedding. After the bachelorette party, I wouldn't have any money left over anyway. :cool:

And I hate to say this, but........what if you spend oodles and oodles on your wedding and you end up getting divorced? *ducks for cover* My old roommates used to give me hell for saying that--they said that was a totally negative attitude. Which it is. :)

[winneythepooh7]

There's no way in hell I would spend close to what I make a year in salary before taxes on a wedding. And my family cannot afford it either. I totally hate events where I would have to be the center of attention like this, so I plan to have something like a destination wedding with only family and close friends, or something in my parents backyard. I went to a wedding in Westchester once. I swear, the dessert table was as long as my city block. I can just imagine how much was spent for that affair.

[lilyflower]

I don't see the point of spending that much money on a wedding, I'd rather put $40K down on a nice house. I'm going to elope if I ever get married anyway. I think weddings (and big weddings especially) are kind of dumb.

[cheshrcarol]

And I hate to say this, but........what if you spend oodles and oodles on your wedding and you end up getting divorced? *ducks for cover* My old roommates used to give me hell for saying that--they said that was a totally negative attitude. Which it is. :)Well, if you think wasting the money on an actual wedding is bad, I had a friend who was supposed to get married in September at fancy place here - and the wedding was cancelled 10 days before. I can't even imagine how much money was wasted! At that point she already had the dress, all the fittings, all the stuff booked like caterers, florist, dj. And that close to the wedding I'm sure deposits were long paid for, if not most or all of it. Still boggles my mind.

Not to mention all the money everyone else was out - like bridesmaids dresses and plane tickets since most people were out of town.

[shimmer728]

Well, if you think wasting the money on an actual wedding is bad, I had a friend who was supposed to get married in September at fancy place here - and the wedding was cancelled 10 days before. I can't even imagine how much money was wasted! At that point she already had the dress, all the fittings, all the stuff booked like caterers, florist, dj. And that close to the wedding I'm sure deposits were long paid for, if not most or all of it. Still boggles my mind.

Oh no! Why was it canceled?

[cheshrcarol]

It's kind of a mystery. She's a friend of mine, but not super close because she moved to Colorado a couple years ago. She sent out a mass e-mail saying the wedding was cancelled but emotionally and logistically they just couldn't talk to all 150 guests individually. I didn't want to add to her bombardment and send my regrets, and since then I've been too afraid to ask, and we haven't talked.

[wordsmith]

Well, if you think wasting the money on an actual wedding is bad, I had a friend who was supposed to get married in September at fancy place here - and the wedding was cancelled 10 days before. I can't even imagine how much money was wasted! At that point she already had the dress, all the fittings, all the stuff booked like caterers, florist, dj. And that close to the wedding I'm sure deposits were long paid for, if not most or all of it. Still boggles my mind.

Not to mention all the money everyone else was out - like bridesmaids dresses and plane tickets since most people were out of town.

My cousin and his then-fiancee did this...the weekend before the wedding.

[cheshrcarol]

Personally, I would like all the trappings of big wedding, but I don't need 200 guests there are anything. But I do have a good-sized family and I would really want all of them there. There's probably 40-50 family members alone on my side we'd have to invite to not offend anyone. Also, I'm pretty sure I'll be the first in my generation to get married (all my cousins are 10+ years younger), and I know my mom would really like to do it up because I'm the only daughter. Plus, they'll be paying for it, it's not like I have any money, I don't even have a job, lol.

[wordsmith]

I totally hate events where I would have to be the center of attention like this,

Hah, I'm TOTALLY fine with being the center of attention ;) ...my only thing is that I'm generally opposed to excessive money being spent, all around. A simple, meaningful wedding tailored very personally to me and my SO would be cool. It doesn't need to be expensive at all, though.

[analogman]

It's kind of a mystery. She's a friend of mine, but not super close because she moved to Colorado a couple years ago. She sent out a mass e-mail saying the wedding was cancelled but emotionally and logistically they just couldn't talk to all 150 guests individually. I didn't want to add to her bombardment and send my regrets, and since then I've been too afraid to ask, and we haven't talked.

At that point, I would have had the reception anyway. There is going to be food and music and drinks, who cares if there is no ceremony? Besides, canceling 10 days before the event means they probably had to pay most if not all of the cost anyway.

[analogman]

I have zero desire to have an expensive wedding. After the bachelorette party, I wouldn't have any money left over anyway. :cool:


I think you are supposed to be able to enjoy the festivities for free. Everyone else chip in for your fun :cool:

[shimmer728]

I think you are supposed to be able to enjoy the festivities for free. Everyone else chip in for your fun :cool:

Good point!

Damn, I have spent a lot of time dreaming about my bachelorette party. My sister and I have seriously been talking about it for years.

[cheshrcarol]

You should just go out and have a fake one :twisted: . My friends and I really wanted to do that after our first bachelorette party.

[wordsmith]

My sister has done that. She and all of her college girlfriends take turns being "the bachelorette."

She's also the queen of "Buy me a drink, it's my birthday." EVERY night she goes out.

[shimmer728]

She's also the queen of "Buy me a drink, it's my birthday." EVERY night she goes out.

I have totally done this!

[wordsmith]

But to the same guy, night after night???

Fortunately, he doesn't know the difference...he's dumb and drunk (and goes by Duke, no less).

[shimmer728]

But to the same guy, night after night???

Fortunately, he doesn't know the difference...he's dumb and drunk (and goes by Duke, no less).

LOL, no! :D

[MollyMe]

Calculations of weddings sometimes included the ring and honeymoon.
I've been to two weddings this year and one was twice the other (5K vs 10K). I think the cheaper one was nicer.