How do they pay for these things is what I can't figure...
We had nothing, and got married in our backyard ( confession- we were playing house). The dress was a prom dress, off the rack. Mr. RB was in a rented tux. Future in-laws made a ham and other food, and my sister did the flowers.
I think the whole thing cost $250.00.
I guess it sufficed as we're still married 25 yrs later.
These days, couples are not moving from their parent's home into marriage or starting out with nothing... These are blushing 35 year old brides who have been on their own and in a career for years... They don't need sheets and towels to set up a home, they have one already....
I think the size of the bill reflects that, as much as anything else, though the wedding planner magazines and television shows have a lot to do with giving people more ideas for how to spend more money than ever would have occurred to them on their own.