What a nice downpayment on a home that would be!

Conrad Allen Wow was I off. I said $7,500.00. I must have been thinking about a high school prom.

I guess it is cheaper to skip the wedding and just live in the basement

What does a divorce cost?

I like the perspective shared by Debbie Reynolds.

They would be far ahead if they had a modest ceremony and used the money for a down payment on a home. 

I wasn't too far off in my estimate. Personally, I think $30K is pretty obscene for a party for a few hours... so I'm glad it hasn't gone up in price.

Many of my friends are paying much more than that.  

Interesting.   

 That is a lot of money. I think when I got married it cost about $250.

Conrad Allen - thanks - you saved me $100,000 for my kids wedding....now I'll plan with this budget.

Thanks for the info.  A

What about a second marriage?

Well that's scary. Glad my daughters are both married and both weddings were below average...and absolutely stunning!

I did the common law thing. I don't like all of the stress with planning and holding a wedding. Ceremony of any kind isn't for me. I didn't even want to go to my own high school and college graduation. Parental forces made me go. 

I know venues out here that cost more than that just to reserve!  That's what's nice about a US average, it takes the Malibus and Hawaiis and evens them out with the Fargos and the "Huggins Missouris" of the world (yes, that city exists and yes I almost bought a house on Huggins Road there just for fun).

For some US weddings, that amount probably does not include the price of security.

It's not an amount I would spend ... 

The venue rent and a dress are the biggest hits. The bigger and fancier event, the pricier it gets. 

I could buy a home for that much money, cant imagine blowing it on a party of any type.

That still seems a lot of money to me but I may be frugal.

Conrad,
Most that I attend are 50k or well north of it.

My parents paid that much 30 years ago, I think it is more the dresses cost like 3K

I had no idea.

Low??!! 

Some more some less...having planned a few...and that depends on what is all included...some people include dresses....honeymoons...

Good morning Conrad. I can see that number, but have been to a few that were three and four times that number.

That's about what I estimated. But I know people who have paid much more. 

When a couple has a huge reception with an open bar, the bill can go up very quickly.

Personally I did not spend that much on my wedding and it was very nice. 

hmmm...I don't remember what mine cost 20+ years ago, but it was a big, fun, lovely day!

Wow..I guessed higher than that!

You can be sure mine will be a lot lower than that.

Wow!  I could buy a new gold flute with that!

and statistically over a 51% waste of funds = bad investment. 

I would have thought $50k....

No clue, Conrad Allen Can't even remember how my daughter's wedding cost.  It's only $$$