Why the [censored] are weddings so [censored] expensive?!

[bigt2k4]

Open Bar???? my closest ten friends and I alone would drink about $500's worth and thats getting it from the liquor store not an actual bar. I guess you gotta make up for drunks like us who would never turn down a free drink even if it was rubbing alcohol and orange juice.

[metrognome7]

Further details:

We're getting married in a park in one of the nicer neighborhoods of St. Louis. Total "ceremony space" rental cost: $100.

It's a Middle Eastern Jewish wedding (her family's Persian/Israeli), so no fancy white dress or tuxes. Total "dress" cost: $500.

My family, through some shrewd investment and my father's recent success in 7-stud, has some been saving to pay for our honeymoon. Total "sex-filled European romp" cost: $0.

Forgive me, given the above figures, if $10k seems like a huge figure. I'm also currently drunk as a lord.

[istewart]

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Marry a girl named Sandeep so you can get a dowry.

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Sandeep is a Party representative's name.

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FYP

[4_2_it]

This is why people elope. You can tour Europe and stay in 4 star resorts for 3 weeks and still come out ahead.

[Dominic]

tell me about it.

My recently cancelled nuptials was going to cost over $15,000 - and that was just for the location, catering and bar. TRhen you add in the photographer, the damn wedding planner, flowers, honeymoon, etc., etc....

And since we cancelled everything, we had to eat $4000 worth of deposits. Fun fun.

Next time, I'm getting married by Elvis at a drive-thru.

[metrognome7]

I'm going to stop complaining now.

Remember, I'm drunk,
Adam

[Banks2334]

10K is nothing. If you're crapping your pants at that amount, perhaps you shouldn't be getting married. My advice is one hand of Blackjack for 10k.

[jb9]

Consider having the reception at a place that is not in the "wedding" business.

Places in the wedding business charge more because, let's face it, they don't get a lot of repeat customers, so they have to soak you while they can (I mean, even if you do get married again, you'll probably pick a different reception location). Also, there is a great deal of social pressure (especially felt by brides-to-be) to have an impressive ceremony and reception which caterers, photographers, etc. are all too happy to take advantage of.

If your reception is small enough, you might be able to find a restaurant that has a private room or will let you rent out the whole place. When you first talk to the restaurant, say "private party" not "wedding" (you can tell them it's a wedding reception after you talk $$$).

This can be much cheaper and then you can always go back to the restaurant for anniversary dinners (unless the dumb restaurant goes out of business before your first anniversary -- not like that ever happened to me or anything [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]).

If it's not too late, you could try to convince her to run off to Hawaii or somewhere else wonderful to be married in a private ceremony.

Don't call it "eloping" and emphasize how romantic and stress free it is -- and you won't be lying, it will be romantic and certainly less stressful than planning a wedding and reception for lots of friends and family.

Congratulations and best wishes.

[metrognome7]

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10K is nothing. If you're crapping your pants at that amount, perhaps you shouldn't be getting married. My advice is one hand of Blackjack for 10k.

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I have to ask, legitimately and without a hint of sarcasm: why should a to-you-a-pittance bar tab prevent me from marrying a woman I love dearly?

If you wish to contribute to the thread, advise me on alternative venues or regale me with stories of your own wedding. If you're going to surreptitiously brag about spending $10k on a gamble, at least waste the bandwidth humorously.

Impatiently,
Adam

[4_2_it]

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Next time, I'm getting married by Elvis at a drive-thru.

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Every year I try to talk my wife in to renewing our vows with The King officiating. She has yet to acquiesce.

OP, eloping is a solid option. You will come out ahead and most likely her family will want to throw you a welcome back party which will basically be a wedding reception without the wedding and won't cost you a dime.