AKB: What did your kid’s wedding cost?

[Big_O]

My wedding cost around $7,000 in 1985, which I paid for almost all of it. That equates to about $20K today adjusted for inflation. It helped that my parents belonged to a CC so the venue was free.

We gave both our daughters $25K for their weddings (2016 and 2019). They could use the money at their discretion.

Daughter #1’s wedding was done in the Park City, UT area. About 150 people attended. Grooms parents picked up a small portion of the tab. Venue was free as the groom’s parents friends were billionaires (yes that is correct) and their property in Wolf Creek Ranch, a development similar to Yellowstone Club, was used. Normally it cost $10K to rent the venue, but you had to know people. A well known Olympic team skier‘s brother got married there a couple of weeks later, but they paid full price.

Daughter #2 got married at a semi-private CC in Naples, FL (where she lived at the time). The cost to rent the facility was wrapped up into the total price including the food and bar price. About 110 people attended. The entire budget except for a few dollars was used up.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

I’d love to see the billionaires car collection

 

[PSU Mike]

Our nephew is in the “entertainment” end of the wedding business in the D.C./Frederick, Md. area.
What he pulls in $$ wise in a weekend is obscene. He has the big setup with DJ equipment, P.A., light show, Photo Booth, and they even have a few bands in the loop as needed.

I’m in the “entertainment” end of bachelorette …

aw, nevermind.

 

[PSU Mike]

I’d love to see the billionaires car collection

Pretty much every Yugo ever produced, I assume.

 

[Big_O]

I’d love to see the billionaires car collection

The only cars I saw were a couple of American SUV’s, like Chevy and GMC. But these people also have like 4 other homes. But since I got to know them during the time of the wedding, they were very frugal down to earth people who didn’t seem like they were into exotic cars. But you never know. They were more into the outdoors and were experienced backpackers.

Of course they had a stable of ATV’s, mainly Razors, for use in the compound’s extensive trail system of over 100 miles. The men in the wedding party, myself included, got to use those for a few hours the morning of the wedding ceremony. It was an absolute blast, some of the best fun I have ever had.

 

[Fac]

I've told my children. Weddings are just plain stupid and don't expect me to contribute. You can go to a JOP and get piece of paper for just about nothing.

Kid one get married in our church 4 years ago. The venue that sits over 200 people and has a reception hall. It was free. Go figure. For that, I paid for his honeymoon. Kid 2 got married two weeks ago. Outdoor venue down by Butler. I was told the wedding cost around 10K, and if it was they got a pretty good bang for the buck (around 200 guests), but the inlaws paid for it, and I think my son was going easy with the cost because he knows how stupid I think the things are. The inlaws demanded the wedding, kids where planning on eloping, and going to Scotland. That I would have kicked in some money.

I paid for a reception dinner. It cost me around $500. Daughter in law loved it. Have a friend that owns a coffee house in Butler. Gave us a private room with a small caterer for 30 people. Friend made out like a bandit. We paid for one drink for all the wedding party, that cost us $157. A lot of other guest that arrived a day early came in to the coffee house, and the thing was packed with paying customers all night.

BTW, I got married in the same church as my son 32 years ago. 26 people including the wedding party. My wife has told me the most expense thing in the wedding were the flowers she bought. Only about 10 of the people at the wedding have told me it was the nicest wedding they've ever been to. The meal kicked arse. Old church women could cook back in the day.

Succop Nature Park. If so, very nice. Went to a wedding there last year.

We paid $30k for my daughter's wedding here in New Orleans 3 years ago. 150 people or so.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

The wedding this fall in LA is $90k or so I heard DAMN

 

[DaytonRickster]

I think my wedding cost about $50. My living room, with our parents and a judge I worked for. Don’t regret a thing.

My wife and I were married by a JOP followed by simple reception in my Dad's house. My wife and I have been happily married for 48 yrs. Both our children were married in church. We had nice receptions at a country club. Both weddings were about $4K. They have both been married over 19 yrs and them and their spouses have given us six grandchildren (3 from each marriage). The blessings of the Lord!! Psalm 103: 1, 2

 

[manatree]

Don’t do a destination wedding, ffs.

My parents had a destination wedding back in 1967. Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania in the living room of my dad’s uncle who was a Justice of the Peace. Wedding photos were three Polaroids. Both parents wore their high school graduation outfits which were three and four years old. Don’t know the final costs, but they’re coming up on 58 years (@LionJim check my math) this July.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Keeping lion Jim busy is so fun.

 

[Mile High Lion]

Don’t do a destination wedding, ffs.

Destination weddings may not be a bad idea. I have a friend whose daughter got married. They've been living in the same town a long time so they know a lot of people and it's a tradition in their church to invite every member of the church to the wedding. He was looking at a guest list of over 350 people. So what they did was plan a destination wedding in Hawaii. They sent out invitations to everyone, come to our daughter's wedding in Hawaii. It will be great! Of course you have to get there and come up with your own accommodations. He cut the guest list by about 90%. Even a lot of his relatives didn't go because they don't like each other all that much. His cheap brothers and sister may be willing drive 20 minutes for a free meal but not if they have to fly to Hawaii. I was invited and I didn't go. He didn't save 90% but even after airfare and hotel he saved thousands.

 

[WestSideLion]

My sister got married in Central PA last year. The wedding was 250-300 people and quite nice. I heard $150k as the figure.

 

[Thus Spake Mainer]

Are we throwing in the divorce costs as well?

 

[psuro]

My sister got married in Central PA last year. The wedding was 250-300 people and quite nice. I heard $150k as the figure.

Holy cow! Did she rent out Beaver Stadium for that?

 

[Fac]

My stepson planned a destination wedding cruise to Mexico where they were to be married. My wife and I didn't care for the bride to be. A wanna be actress with big DREAMS with other peoples money. A couple of weeks before the date of the cruise the wedding was called off by my stepson.
Finally, senses moved up from the lower brain to the one in the head.
However, we had a cruise to take. Me, wife, daughter and her fiancée, sister and husband from Pittsburg still went on the cruise. Go or lose your money. Stepson didn't go. The bride to be and her family all went. It made for some awkward moments on the the ship. Basically, a cruise from hell and it was a lower level cruise line.

He's married now to a wonderful person with 3 kids.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Holy cow! Did she rent out Beaver Stadium for that?

I was thinking same

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

My stepson planned a destination wedding cruise to Mexico where they were to be married. My wife and I didn't care for the bride to be. A wanna be actress with big DREAMS with other peoples money. A couple of weeks before the date of the cruise the wedding was called off by my stepson.
Finally, senses moved up from the lower brain to the one in the head.
However, we had a cruise to take. Me, wife, daughter and her fiancée, sister and husband from Pittsburg still went on the cruise. Go or lose your money. Stepson didn't go. The bride to be and her family all went. It made for some awkward moments on the the ship. Basically, a cruise from hell and it was a lower level cruise line.

He's married now to a wonderful person with 3 kids.

Hilarious you had to share the cruise with the actress. Please tell me she made it or got fat.

 

[WestSideLion]

Holy cow! Did she rent out Beaver Stadium for that?

No idea. I was surprised too. That may have included her dress and many peripherals. My wedding cost 1/6 of that many years ago.

 

[LionJim]

Keeping lion Jim busy is so fun.

That’s what she said.

 

[WestSideLion]

I was thinking same

It was very nice. They had a firm that planned and coordinated everything. I suspect that includes the rehearsal dinner for like 50 (yes, 50) people and a family party at a local brewery the night before the wedding.

 

[DaytonRickster]

My sister got married in Central PA last year. The wedding was 250-300 people and quite nice. I heard $150k as the figure.

Whoa!

 

[Ludd]

Our nephew is in the “entertainment” end of the wedding business in the D.C./Frederick, Md. area.
What he pulls in $$ wise in a weekend is obscene. He has the big setup with DJ equipment, P.A., light show, Photo Booth, and they even have a few bands in the loop as needed.

My son is a part time wedding videographer….he pulls in pretty good money as well. What DJ’s charge these days is ridiculous. My buddy used to DJ weddings back in the day and he had to buy his own CD’s….nowadays they just access any song they want online yet they charge an unbelievable amount.

 

[Ludd]

and how many guests? Schit is getting real over here.

About $50K with 200 people.

 

[DaytonRickster]

My parents had a destination wedding back in 1967. Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania in the living room of my dad’s uncle who was a Justice of the Peace. Wedding photos were three Polaroids. Both parents wore their high school graduation outfits which were three and four years old. Don’t know the final costs, but they’re coming up on 58 years (@LionJim check my math) this July.

Excellent!!!

 

[psuro]

That’s what she said.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

So, what’s a DJ charge for a 3 hour reception?

 

[Ludd]

So, what’s a DJ charge for a 3 hour reception?

$5000-$6000.

 

[Woodpecker]

Philadelphia Sports Wedding Venues

 

[Fac]

Hilarious you had to share the cruise with the actress. Please tell me she made it or got fat.

Don't know but doubtful she "made" it.

 

[Richie1983]

One month ago. 170 people. Reception at a country club was $34K. All other cost like dress, photographer, DJ, buses and rehearsal dinner made grand total $50K.

 

[Nittering Nabob]

You mean weddings aren't at the firehall or American legion any longer?

With pot luck contributions from the attendees.

 

[psuro]

The wedding this fall in LA is $90k or so I heard DAMN

Not during the Penn State UCLA game I hope. Your kid might miss seeing his dad at the wedding.

 

[FHSPSU67]

We got married in my wife's church (75 people) followed by a covered dish reception in the single car garage. Meanwhile I and a couple buddies watched the USC VS ND game. 47th anniversary coming up in October.
[note] Penn State was idle

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Not during the Penn State UCLA game I hope. Your kid might miss seeing his dad at the wedding.

Nope a blue hen (home)

 

[bdgan]

and how many guests? Schit is getting real over here.

I gave my kids the same amount of money and let them figure it out. I don't know the exact number because I didn't pay any for anything directly. The other family paid for some things and the bride and groom also paid for some.

My estimates are all in including things like the bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, and a bus between the hotel and wedding venue. One had roughly 125 guests and probably cost $75k all in. The other had closer to 70 guests was closer to $25k. No rehearsal dinner, no breakfast the next morning, and a modest venue.

 

[CFLion]

My daughter's wedding, three years ago, Newtown Square, PA, 125 people was ~$40K.

 

[Bison13]

No kids weddings for a while but wife and I kept it small, wedding at BNB in Lancaster area, parents, siblings and their families and wife added her two best friends, so counting us and the minister and her husband it was 16 adults and 5 kids. Catered dinner with my mom making a few items herself and BNB played a music list my wife picked out.

Agree with the comment earlier regarding inviting all these people that you will maybe only talk to/see a few more times over the years and cant believe there are people who go crazy on their second and even third weddings as well.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

We will def dangle the house money carrot. I’m hoping they keep it small and intimate.

 

[psuro]

A cousin's daughter got married in Mexico City, near the American Embassy, in 2022.

120 guests - Total cost was $8K. The bride (Surgeon) and groom (Wall Street Lawyer) paid for everything including flying and providing rooms for their parents.

This is why you get your kids into higher education - so they can get a great high paying job - and then they can pay for their own damn weddings.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

A cousin's daughter got married in Mexico City, near the American Embassy, in 2022.

120 guests - Total cost was $8K. The bride (Surgeon) and groom (Wall Street Lawyer) paid for everything including flying and providing rooms for their parents.

This is why you get your kids into higher education - so they can get a great high paying job - and then they can pay for their own damn weddings.

Both kids are making bank so I agree