[CharlotteDarcy]

Hi,
I need your opinion on wedding cost since the majority of us will go through this one day.
Please be honest and express your concern about budget.

-Charlotte

[foreverursVi]

I think that if you're going to have a wedding nowadays...esp. an asian one....it'd be relatively pricey depending on the amount of people. But the cool thing is that it comes back to help you pay it off.

And with regards as to who pays for it, don't most people go dutch nowadays? I don't think its exactly fair to make one party pay for everything. When I get married, I don't expect my parents to pay for it. I'll pay my share (i.e. dress) myself.

[Pogichinoy]

25k-50k : weddings are relatively cheap in Australia
I chose who ever has the most bling, but I believe both parties should chip in. At least its a change from the traditional, bridge pays for wedding.

[HSuke]

Holy. And I thought $10K was the max for the typical family.

Do weddings really get that expensive nowdays? (In prospective, most of my relative's weddings were < $100. But that was back in China)

[bunnywink]

I'm in Ontario, Canada, and getting married in 2011 (planning way ahead!)

I've booked my reception hall already for 130-200 people. The deposit (to keep the date I want) was $1200. The price is $85 per person for a European menu dinner and open bar (plus champagne toast and wine with dinner). I think this is a good price, even though it's still pricey. Kids under 14 are half-price (not including the price of the open bar). Already, the reception alone is going to be around $15k with taxes and gratuity (yes, you must pay for both).

I am still looking for a good photographer... But the ones I have looked at range from $2k-$4k for a standard 12 hour coverage package with DVDs of the raw images. Don't forget that you will have to feed your photographer(s), so include them in the reception costs!

Prices for both the reception and the photographer will rise year after year though, so as soon as you are engaged, I would suggest booking the reception and photographer as soon as possible since the prices will be frozen when you sign the contracts.

There are still soooooooo many things to consider. Bridal party gifts, wedding favours, center pieces (luckily the reception hall is providing mine), the cake, the floral arrangements, the dresses, the suits... Eventually, it will al add up to over $25k for sure, but it really depends on how BIG your wedding is and what kind of reception you would like since that is the big bulk of the wedding cost.

[Temoin la Nuit]

The wedding is pretty much for the gal.. it's what they dreamt about since they were kids.

Whenever I do get married, the cost would depend on how the gal feels.. but for myself, I don't want a couple to have to spend a large amount on money on something that has no return or permanence. Same reason I don't like spending money on luxury hotel rooms or resort vacations.

[emma007]

I think that paying an arm and leg for a wedding is one of the most stupid things a person can do. It is one day of your life, and I would be much happier with not going into debt over a wedding, than spending thousands of dollars for a fancy one. When I get married it is going to be simple simple simple simple! I will get married at a church, hold the reception there, and I have no plans on inviting every person that I have ever met in my life. It will be close friends and family only. And it will be paid for in full with cash.

My sister is getting married in August. I think she said her budget is 8000. However, she also has student loans, credit card payments, car payment, and then her other monthly expenses and she is a teacher, so she doesn’t make that much money. She had to borrow money from me to get her dress. I have decided to stay out of the issue though, because the one time I brought it up she blew up at me, so I am just cheerfully going alone with her plans.

I can understand why so many marriages fail. If I got married and ended up with 20000 in debt for the wedding, I would not be Mrs. Happy.

[I_broke_a_nail!]

It's strange.

IMO- Chinese weddings tend to be very cheap.
First off, most Chinese couples marry through City Hall and just sign the papers to be legally married.
Then, secondly, the most important part for a married couple is the banquet/reception/dinner.
Another words, the dinner IS the wedding b/c that's the time where all of your family and friends are there.

Chinese people tend to have certain, designated reception halls that they could look at. (in NYC, I would say there's about 7 really popular ones) and it really depends on your taste (i.e.: location/parking availability, internal decor, SIZE, food). Most, if not all, of these reception halls tend to put a package for you -- meaning the wedding cake, food, room, and DJ are all included.

Dresses, flowers, invitations, pictures, videos, MC -- they're all picked/paid separately and I feel like a big chunk comes from this part.

----

I went to a Caucasian-Chinese wedding with a mixed couple.
Both the bride and groom pretty rich so I should've known that their wedding would've been top notch.
They spent $100,000+ on their wedding and holy moly, it was VERY VERY nice. It was organized (Chinese banquet ceremonies tend to be kind of... well, all over the place) It was done in the SOHO areas of NYC, which by itself is REALLY expensive.

There was an appetizer session, the actual wedding in a church nearby (BIG), and the final Chinese banquet at the end -- making the wedding half Chinese and half Caucasian style.

**NOTE**: $100,000 + was a lot for this couple, regardless of their wealth. But you know what, they actually earned it back PLUS profit -- meaning, the families and friends that gave red envelopes and "wedding" money REALLY splurged. So they actually made $10,000 over the wedding cost. Weddings are almost like a business, even for the couple.

So honestly, I think if you really want to splurge on a nice wedding and want to make the money back, let's just hope your families and friends are very generous.

[~ BunnyliciouS ~]

my wedding, cost $15k-$20k.
Not sure the exact total, it's 2 years ago, and my hubby took care everything, he's a groom and a wedding planner ^^"

My job was just picked the MUA, and to look pretty the whole time LOL ^^"

My wedding dress was got it on sale at David's Bridal, for $300. Reception dress for around $170s
The invitation, my sister designed and printed them, that saved at least $600-$700
The guest wedding favor, my other sister made a keyhain out of handmade hand-blown glass. That saved another $100-$200.
It was very popular among the guests. =)
I got a nice florist that gave us a good deal. It's her personal business so she didn't charge as much as other companies.
My white roses bouquet was as big as a basketball, it cost me just around $125, forgot the exact total, it's under $150.
Total for flowers, I think it was under $2000 (bridemaids, grooms, for church decorations, etc). Then she re-used the church decors for the reception.
Everything looked so awesome. <3

Food for guests was the most expensive one. 100 people at a Chinese restaurant, 10 different kind of food per 5 tables, total $5000+
Church was the 2nd most expensive.
and then the photographer and videographer. Got each for under $4K, for 10-11 hrs of event.

My parents pitched in $5000
His parents paid for the food
The rest, covered by the money gifts for the guests. It's quite break even in the end. =)

[Delster]

I'd spend $20-25K on a wedding, I think it's a little ridiculous to go over that unless you have the means to comfortably do so. I'd much rather spend that extra money on a down payment for a house or something

As for who pays for it, I said whoever has the most money, but I think it should be mostly a half/half split between the bride and groom (unless there's a diff in financial status and the they're both willing). Parents I think should only pay if they really want to but remember, if you're using their money, they might want/insist to get a word in or have things their way

[gisbiz]

weddings are amazingly beautiful and memorable.

but in my opinion, it's entirely over-rated?

(even if i had the $$, i still could careless)

if i'm gonna start my future with someone,

i don't wanna be held in debt.

better yet, work my butt off just to pay

for an event that only lasted, ONE day?!?

for me, the thought of that sounds ridiculous.


i'd say, hitch and go to vegas!

[Lie]

weddings are amazingly beautiful and memorable.
but in my opinion, it's entirely over-rated?
(even if i had the $$, i still could careless)
if i'm gonna start my future with someone,
i don't wanna be held in debt.
better yet, work my butt off just to pay
for an event that only lasted, ONE day?!?
for me, the thought of that sounds ridiculous.
i'd say, hitch and go to vegas!

Agree with you completely!

[screamxlove]

weddings are amazingly beautiful and memorable.
but in my opinion, it's entirely over-rated?
(even if i had the $$, i still could careless)
if i'm gonna start my future with someone,
i don't wanna be held in debt.
better yet, work my butt off just to pay
for an event that only lasted, ONE day?!?
for me, the thought of that sounds ridiculous.
i'd say, hitch and go to vegas!

IAWTC >.>;


I've never really thought about weddings. I mean, a lot of my friends have thought about it, even down to the littlest of details, while I just... don't.
My main concern is about the man I'm getting married to and the future we'd have together, LOL @_@;

[zeram]

I had a family member who decided close to the wedding that they really didn't want and wouldn't be comfortable with an elaborate large wedding so they got married in city hall, used the money they had saved to put a down payment on a house and held the wedding reception/dinner in the new house (catered). We had a great time at the reception/housewarming party all rolled into one

[Sebc]

I don't want to spend alot of money on my wedding. I want it to
be simple and beautiful. I would like to help out with the costs too. I
am not going to make his parents or my parents pay for it all.
I said less than 25K and most bling.

[My Sweet September]

Wedding's ARE expensive, but they don't have to be...if you're innovative. I am cutting back cost by having my wedding ceremony and reception both outside on a beach - it's free! I am THINKING about maybe renting a huge yacht or some type of boat for my reception to be held at....but that is only if budget allows.

For me, it's more about everyone having a great time than showing off bling. I want them to be impressed, but I think because I am doing a LOT of the stuff on my own, I can impress on a budget =P

My fiance and I are paying for most of the wedding. My parents are providing 2000K for us, and....I'm not sure about his parents? They haven't offered anything, but the official planning hasn't even begun yet - it will when we set a date, haha. But I am not relying on anyone's money.

[i<3ramen]

most of the asian ones that ive been to werent too expensive. i think the majority of the expenses were just on food and renting a banquet room to hold the reception, cost wise maybe like 3k-8k. but my cousin is actually getting married in the summer and i think he said his total cost of his wedding is going to be around like 25k cause hes renting land from some hotel or something (its an outside wedding), hes gotta get catering, decorations, supplies, etc.

[suzushii]

Am I so weird to not care about having a wedding?

Seriously, maybe a small party gathering in my own house with close family and friends, and city hall thing? That would be enough for me. I think I'd spend 5000$ tops.

[questions987]

When I was engaged my wedding was pretty pricey but that was all for my mother than anyone else.

My dress was 6K

The alcohol was 10K (my parents owned a liquor store so we got a mass discount)

The location fee was like 10-15K

food was 30K-40k (300 guest)

Flowers were 12K

Centerpieces were like 2K

Bridesmaid gowns added up to 7K

Photos were 5K, my friend was a dj so I didn't pay for that

and we rented a photo booth for like 3K.

Luckily we got most of the money back. I think my parents lost like 15K on the whole thing when we called it off 3 months before the wedding. We had a couple of deaths in the family and I was really sick so most of the places took pity on us and let it go with minimal cx fees.

I still remember planning the thing and begging my ex to elope - I really didn't want a big wedding but I'm the youngest of 4 girls and my mom didn't really get her big weddings with my sisters so it came down to me. The one sister that didn't elope got a divorce 4 years later so my mom was "saving face".

[Prot]

Am I so weird to not care about having a wedding?

Seriously, maybe a small party gathering in my own house with close family and friends, and city hall thing? That would be enough for me. I think I'd spend 5000$ tops.

Na I agree with you, I much rather have a small gathering than some extremely extravagant gathering of people I don't care about. But of course, wedding is a two person thing!