AKB: What did your kid’s wedding cost?

[ApexLion]

So my aunt gets married back in the day. She is only 8 years older than me. Yes, odd, but blessed were my grandparents. Anyway, she gets married in the Harrisburg area. Invites 125 people, most of which are from our side because we have a 500+ family tree during reunions. Lovely wedding at St. Mags (the old St. Margaret Mary in Pennbrook). Attendance is pretty much 100 which is a crowd in that church.

The reception is held over at Union Deposit in one of the hotels. 300 show up at the reception. Half of Minersville, Mt. Carmel, Pottsville etc. it seems shows up at the reception. The hotel had to set up tables in the lobby.

I told my wife's parents this story and they were horrified.

 

[TheBigUglies]

Question: Should you have to pay for your daughter's wedding if you got them thru college without having to take on any student loans? Also, I love the idea of a destination wedding(the one in Italy) for a very small group of close family and friends.

 

[SleepyLion]

Question: Should you have to pay for your daughter's wedding if you got them thru college without having to take on any student loans? Also, I love the idea of a destination wedding(the one in Italy) for a very small group of close family and friends.

You don't have to pay for anything. It is your money.
I think it was Shaq that told his kids, I'm rich. You are not.

 

[PhillyBillyReprise]

My son’s wedding reception was at a Marriott. We charged the whole thing on a Marrriott card. The bride’s parents gave us money and we contributed some. The couple’s honeymoon in California wine country was on points. Also there were enough points for 8 nights at Marriotts in Germany.

As an aside, in the late 50’s and early 60’s, I grew up in a town of about 10,000. On Saturdays my older cousin and his friend would put on their suits and get a copy of the local paper. They would find out where the wedding receptions were. They became “Wedding Crashers”. They would eat and drink for free. They were never questioned. His theory was the bride’s parents thought they were the groom’s guests and vice versa.

 

[HarrisburgDave]

My son was married to a wonderful young woman (funny one must clarify that) in March. With 185 guests the reception, rehearsal, and bar tab per person came out to over $200. This was in a nice place in Bucks County, but by no means the Waldorf. I remember that when we were married it was around $100 per guest, and we had a wedding with all the extras (the Villanova Trumpets were $500).

 

[psu0408]

I'm glad I'm aging out of the regular wedding attendance thing. The first few weddings are fun b/c it's a bit of a novelty. After a while, it's just a guilt inducing headache. Destination bachelor parties where you're expected to attend and chip in to cover the groom's golf trips, fishing trips, bottle service, hotel and airfare and fancy dinners. More of the same with the destination weddings. Unless it's someone really close to you, double your wedding gift and decline the invite, and you'll save thousands in the process.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

I'm glad I'm aging out of the regular wedding attendance thing. The first few weddings are fun b/c it's a bit of a novelty. After a while, it's just a guilt inducing headache. Destination bachelor parties where you're expected to attend and chip in to cover the groom's golf trips, fishing trips, bottle service, hotel and airfare and fancy dinners. More of the same with the destination weddings. Unless it's someone really close to you, double your wedding gift and decline the invite, and you'll save thousands in the process.

My two sons have been to so many weddings, the last one in Spain. 2 joined 1 and gf after this one and ran around Europe for a week. 1 and gf were over there about a month. The stuff you can do before you have kids lol

 

[Bwifan]

Most people I know have been told to plan 75-100K per child's wedding by financial advisors... I just went to a great wedding here in Jupiter, FL on a Thursday night that was on the waterfront. They did it on a Thursday night for less than 40K. That wedding on a Fri/Sat/Sun would have been double or more. It's crazy what weddings are costing these days. I prefer that my kids have a small wedding then let's rent out a venue and throw a big party for extended family and friends. Makes a lot more financial sense to me. Especially when divorce rates are what 70% these days. To spend 85K on a wedding and 2 years later they are divorced... no thanks.

 

[dshellpsu]

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

Our son and daughter-in-law had a COVID wedding. Total of 12 people. Total cost including reception less that $1000. We got lucky. Oh...and this was the bride and groom's choice...not ours.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

like hitting the lottery