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U.S. wedding costs soar
Washington Times ^ | 6-15-06 | AP

Posted on 06/15/2006 11:59:09 AM PDT by JZelle

The cost of weddings in the United States has soared to a point some of today's younger generation may be turning away from the ritual. Courtney Martin, whose article on marriages appears in the Christian Science Monitor, seems to be one. She says a typical wedding in 1990 cost $15,208, compared to $4,376 in 1980. Martin, who has no immediate plan to wed her friend of seven years, says that wedding today will set a couple back $22,360, or enough for private college tuition for their future child if that sum is invested at 10 percent return. "Truth be told, we (she and her boyfriend) avoid the topic of walking down the aisle because it is so inextricably tied up with gross, conspicuous consumption," she writes. "We have watched friends get sucked into the tidal wave that is the emotionally manipulative wedding industry -- now totaling $50 billion in sales a year." Saying the marriage ritual has turned into "a circus of decadence," Martin says, "Not only is the egregious spending offensive in a world where too many have too little, but the meaning of the ritual is all but lost amid the designer dresses and lobster dinners."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: decadence; extravagance; wedding; weddingbubble; weredoomed
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To: Red Badger

But what if he's zigzagging? Shooting in the middle could be an iffy proposition.


121 posted on 06/15/2006 2:22:56 PM PDT by GSlob
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To: JZelle

We spent about $1500 dollars on our wedding +400 for the rehersal dinner from my dad. We had a Wonderful time. Of course we had it at our Church which was free. :)

Wouldn't mind having one at DisneyWorld though...its only $12,000.


122 posted on 06/15/2006 2:25:25 PM PDT by Conan the Librarian (The Best in Life is to crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and the Dewey Decimal System)
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To: Conan the Librarian

PS...it was only 8 years ago...not like inflation has been that bad.


123 posted on 06/15/2006 2:26:08 PM PDT by Conan the Librarian (The Best in Life is to crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and the Dewey Decimal System)
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To: Froufrou
"What was the witness in jail for, do you know?"

I have no idea, I didn't ask lol.

124 posted on 06/15/2006 2:42:12 PM PDT by KoRn
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To: JZelle
"Truth be told, we (she and her boyfriend) avoid the topic of walking down the aisle because it is so inextricably tied up with gross, conspicuous consumption," she writes.

Baloney...some of the most charming weddings I have attended have been low key, warm, homey, and didn't cost the world. A little imagination, charm, and personal taste can create a great wedding experience not only for the guests but the wedding party too. Don't necessarily equate mass with class.

125 posted on 06/15/2006 2:59:20 PM PDT by Conservative4Ever (Buy Danish!)
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To: JZelle
"Truth be told, we (she and her boyfriend) avoid the topic of walking down the aisle because it is so inextricably tied up with gross, conspicuous consumption," she writes.

Baloney...some of the most charming weddings I have attended have been low key, warm, homey, and didn't cost the world. A little imagination, charm, and personal taste can create a great wedding experience not only for the guests but the wedding party too. Don't necessarily equate mass with class.

126 posted on 06/15/2006 2:59:35 PM PDT by Conservative4Ever (Buy Danish!)
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To: MineralMan
Ridiculous. I like the garden wedding at the bride's parents' home. Close friends and relatives, followed by a potluck.

I completely agree. The 5-digit $ wedding may be suitable when you have money to burn, but I hardly think that's a hole most newly weds want to dig. They could just as easily put the money into their home or heck, why not the honeymoon? Whatever. It's just silly, unless you can either carry the cost without further financial concern or you are committed unto death to invite 200 people to your wedding.

127 posted on 06/15/2006 3:04:02 PM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: mtbopfuyn

Mr. C4E and I will be married 10 years this August. We drove one morning to the local wedding chapel and were married at 10:30. No family, (second for both of us)went to lunch at the local Holiday Inn and back home. Called friends and family. I went grocery shopping later that day and was calling hubbie asking what flavor he wanted for our wedding cake. The young girl behind the counter squealed when she heard my conversation. I made her day...we had carrot cake. Our wedding costs...marriage license, lunch, carrot cake..oh and we got a complimentary pen at the wedding chapel..still have that too. :)


128 posted on 06/15/2006 3:15:23 PM PDT by Conservative4Ever (Demwits are having a hissy fit.....it is a good day.)
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To: mtbopfuyn

Really? Then I'm glad I got buttercream icing! Our cakes were wonderful - his in particular was GOOD, chocolate with strawberries cut over the top and chocolate syrup poured over the whole thing.


129 posted on 06/15/2006 3:16:59 PM PDT by Xenalyte (Can you count, suckas? I say the future is ours . . . if you can count.)
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To: 1FASTGLOCK45
Its insane how much people spend on weddings.

Tell me about it. I live on the East Coast. It's all about keeping up with the Joneses.

130 posted on 06/15/2006 3:22:54 PM PDT by ContraryMary (New Jersey -- Superfund cleanup capital of the U.S.A.)
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To: Callahan
Ours was a buffet dinner too. A nice one, but still a buffet. Really more like nice buffet hors d'oeuvres actually. :)

I know what you mean about the ring. I see ladies with giant stones (mine is a tasteful smaller ring) and think to myself, there is your new TV/part of a car/downpayment on a house. Oh well! To each his own, I say. If you want to spend $10 on a wedding, go for it! If you want to (and have the means to) spend $100,000 on a wedding, go for that too! :)

131 posted on 06/15/2006 3:32:17 PM PDT by Kaylee Frye
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To: Grammy
Yeah, we got a steal - somewhere around $250. Also, it was a small cake - just 3 layers with the top-most being the smallest they make (not sure what size that is), since we had only about 75 guests!

My baker was awesome, though. She took a paint sample for the color (matched up to my dress) and I drew her a pattern based on the pattern in my dress (and sent photographs). She matched it perfectly! :)

132 posted on 06/15/2006 3:34:51 PM PDT by Kaylee Frye
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To: Kaylee Frye

'We opted for a 3-hour open bar and a nice buffet at Embassy Suites. Just that cost about $8,000 for 75 people.'

You got jammed here, but if you liked the result who cares as it was your $$$.


133 posted on 06/15/2006 3:41:35 PM PDT by xone
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To: xone

Problem was we wanted so badly to do it at the Embassy Suites. Location location location. It was very easily accessible for our out-of-towners, had a beautiful atrium, and was in one place, so no need to drag people around between the wedding and the reception. Unfortunately, house rules is that no food/drink can be brought in except for the cake. But whatever, we loved it and my parents were willing to pay!


134 posted on 06/15/2006 3:45:36 PM PDT by Kaylee Frye
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To: JZelle

You're right about the birthday parties...they've gotten outta control!

I'm not surprised at the wedding cost. A friend of mine was joking around and sent me the link for weddings at Disney. They have a minimum expenditure of $25k on some of their sites! And that's the reception.

When I told a recently married friend this (shocked), she replied - "that's not bad at all!" Which led to the realization that she and her parents paid WAY too much for her wedding. The band was fun, but everything else (including the ceremony) was so-so.

Also, when I told her that I intended to have no more than 150 people INVITED she said, "I guess you won't be inviting your father's business associates". ????? I have since found out that many parents use the occasion to "network" and invite 200 people they may impress!


135 posted on 06/15/2006 3:48:46 PM PDT by Hoodlum91 (I've been rocked.)
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To: Hoodlum91
Two words:

LAS VEGAS

(just kidding babe...)

136 posted on 06/15/2006 6:47:45 PM PDT by RockinRight (She rocks my world, and I rock her world.)
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To: Xenalyte

That is cool. I just love that sort of thing. I was amazed at all the choices in Vegas in terms of theme weddings.


137 posted on 06/15/2006 7:34:43 PM PDT by morans14
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To: Xenalyte

Fondant is what I like to work in best. If I knew how to post a picture I would!


138 posted on 06/15/2006 9:08:39 PM PDT by Grammy
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To: mtbopfuyn
Wow, you got steal! Even by several years ago that is really a great deal. My cakes take about a week to do. The lady with the big glasses you are thinking about is Sylvia Weinstock. I also took a class from Nick Lodge, who did one of Princess Diana's wedding cakes.
139 posted on 06/15/2006 9:13:49 PM PDT by Grammy
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To: Kaylee Frye

Sounds like a great cake.


140 posted on 06/15/2006 9:14:55 PM PDT by Grammy
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