Having just got married I know what it's like to be frugal about your wedding.
We went to Las Vegas on Southwest airlines for $184 Round trip x 3 (From Baltimore) (We paid for my matron of honor to go), stayed at the Stratosphere Hotel for Five nights x $49 per night x 3 rooms. $55 for the license, and $896 for a wedding package (which included, minister, photographer/videographer and limo driver and tips) at the Valley of Fire state park.
So total for the Wedding was roughly $2600, I paid $350 for my dress including alterations, and my husband paid $75 for his tux. We then came back and on our 1 year anniversary had our reception.
$250 Hall rental at the American Legion where we are members $600 Food for 100 people buffett $150 For the first round of drinks $300 DJ $100 Decor $ 20 For the invitations which I did myself and paid 1/2 price for at Michaels $ 12 For the Thank you cards $ 30 For the cake from Sam's Club (they do make Tiered Cakes!) $1362 - All in all married with a nice party for $3962.
On the other hand I have seen my friends have massive 200 people weddings with plated receptions at Willow Valley for $25K.
dimples
I attended the wedding of a couple I know who went 10k in debt to get married. All feelings that marriage is a bad bet aside, I thought that was ridiculous. I don't know how much they had saved before that, just that what ever amount they did have, they no longer do along with another 10k they don't have. 25k would be much better invested in a mortgage down payment, although a mortgage is a lot harder to get and unlike marriage, a lot harder to get out of.
