Weddings

I was listening to a radio show that was talking about weddings.  Which got me thinking about weddings that I was associated with.  The average wedding costs $24066 and in the area that we got married it is between $17,463 and $29,105 now.

Our wedding reception was at my in-laws house and our wedding clothes were my high school graduation suit and my LW "good" suit, we drove home from the church in our little Pontiac Tempest. So I don't actually know the cost, but it must have been on the order of $1000 or so.

My daughter's wedding cost us less than $3000.  My daughter is very considerate!

Here is the present breakdown for a IL wedding :

Attire: $2,079 to $3,408
Bride accessories: $264 to $433    - what accessories my LW was beautiful
Groom accessories: $139 to $228
Groom suit/tux: $191 to $313
Hair/makeup service: $139 to $228
Headpiece/veil: $248 to $406
Wedding dress: $1,098 to $1,800

Ceremony: $2,395 to $3,928
Ceremony accessories: $155 to $254
Ceremony decorations: $461 to $756
Ceremony location: $539 to $884
Officiate/pastor/priest: $193 to $317
Rehearsal dinner: $1,047 to $1,717

Entertainment: $2,669 to $4,377
Ceremony/reception band: $1,573 to $2,580   - we talked with our friends
Ceremony/reception DJ: $601 to $985     - the record player might have been on
Ceremony/reception musicians: $495 to $812

Flowers: $1,677 to $2,750
Boutonnieres/corsages: $146 to $240
Bride bouquet: $125 to $205
Bridesmaid bouquets: $200 to $328
Ceremony flowers: $358 to $587
Flower girl flowers: $40 to $66
Reception flowers: $808 to $1,325

Gifts and Favors: $842 to $1,383
Gifts for attendant: $390 to $640     - who was the attendant?
Gifts for each other: $314 to $516
Gifts for parents: $138 to $227

Invitations and Stationery: $794 to $1,304
Bridal shower invitations: $83 to $136
Guestbook: $40 to $66
Invitations & reply cards: $352 to $578
Personal stationery: $111 to $182
Save the date cards: $136 to $223
Thank you cards: $72 to $119

Jewelry: $5,103 to $8,369
Engagement ring: $3,797 to $6,228
Her ring: $766 to $1,256    - I refuse to tell how much!
His ring: $540 to $885       - I don't like rings

Honeymoon/Planning: $4,156 to $6,817
Honeymoon: $3,058 to $5,015          - went to an inn that I had worked one summer got a discount
Bridal consultant/planner: $1,098 to $1,802   - that's what mothers are for!

Photographer/Videographer: $2,896 to $4,749
Photographer: $1,677 to $2,750      - for us my LW brothers
Videographer: $1,219 to $1,999     -no such thing

Reception: $12,898 to $21,153
Reception beverages/bartender: $1,828 to $2,997   -can't help yourself?
Bride/groom hotel: $230 to $377
Cake: $442 to $725
Cake knife set: $35 to $58
Cake topper: $34 to $55
Reception decorations/centerpieces: $883 to $1,448
Favors: $295 to $483    - since when do flavors cost?
Reception food service: $6,222 to $10,205    - potluck sort of thing, very good food
Reception location: $2,023 to $3,319
Reception rentals: $906 to $1,486

Transportation: $799 to $1,310
Car rental: $249 to $409    - only the gas from the church to the house
Limo rental: $550 to $901

Our marriage has lasted so far over 42 years.  My daughter over 15 years.  It really doesn't matter what you spend, just make sure you find the right person (which we and our kids have done).


Maryon Pearson: Behind every great man there is a surprised woman.


Zsa Zsa Gabor: A man in love is incomplete until he is married.  Then he's finished.


Rita Rudner: I love being married.  It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. 


Beverly Nichols: Marriage--a book of which the first chapter is written in poetry and the remaining chapters written in prose.



Marriage requires a person to prepare 4 types of "Rings": Engagement Ring Wedding Ring, Suffering, Enduring


You have to kiss a lot of toads before you find a handsome prince.


Marriage is like a hot bath. Once you get used to it, it's not so hot.


He early on let her know who is the boss. He looked her right in the eye and clearly said, "You're the boss."


Marriage is the only war in which you sleep with the enemy.


The woman cries before the wedding; the man afterward.


MARRIAGE, n. The state or condition of a community consisting of a master, a mistress and two slaves, making in all, two. DD