The parish church was already loaded wih poinsettias (it was 6 days after Christmas) and the reception was in the home of my good friend, who had a bunch of adopted children (adults) who did all the cooking, and some of the guests brought dishes too. (I'll never forget my friend Elise with the apple-pear cake.)
New Years Ceili dance down the street (free)...
My sweet Don-o and me....
Oh, it was good!
I believe I recall “boatbums” saying they had a nice wedding on their boat. Ours are supposed to be in church, of course, but there’s no reason you can’t have a nice setaround on your boat afterward. (My husband wants a boat, but I’d rather have a laundromat ...)
I expect Federal Agent Anoreth will get married in the pastor’s office one of these days - assuming it’s in the church building - and then everyone can drink on the boat. Why blow money on a dress when you already paid for a dress uniform you hardly ever use?
Oh, and the challenge is on!
The Bride just read the OP, and shook her head in disbelief at the price tags. But she LOVED the comments!
Okay, as it stands now, the wedding venue itself is a sunset beach ceremony. That's where most of the cash is going, for the setting, the photos, the vows, and such.
The reception is compliments of the VFW Post of which we're both members. The Post DJ will do free music. As I said, catering is still in the works.
I'd like to add you four to my Wedding Ping List, if you wouldn't mind?
I had three bridesmaids; my two younger sisters and hubby's younger sister, and their dresses were the same style as mine, though in a different color. Hubby's father was his Best Man, and he had two groomsmen. He and they wore either a suit or a sport coat and slacks. My older sister made my wedding cake which was beautiful AND quite tasty. We had cookies and punch at the Church Hall afterwards, then family and friends went to Mama's house for food prepared by my Aunts and Cousins.
SirKit and I paid for everything to do with the wedding itself, and the food was provided by the Aunts. My dress cost $36, and I made it myself. My wedding bouquet was 36 lovely cream rosebuds, and it was $36. All the other bouquets, boutonnieres, and Mama's corsage were another $36. We also bought two flower arrangements for the Church. Two sisters who were good friends of ours sang for our wedding Mass, and SirKit's sister's husband did the photos, for which my Mama paid $40.
We honeymooned on the MS Gulf Coast, but only had two days, because SirKit had to get back to classes and I had to get back to work. I don't remember exactly, but all the costs associated with our wedding, including the rehearsal dinner, reception, honeymoon; what we paid for, and what my parents and his paid for, was probably no more than $800.
Too many young women today feel the pressure to 'keep up with the Joneses', when planning for their weddings. And now with people delaying marriage until their 30s, they feel the pressure even more to do something 'different'. Why else go to the expense of 'destination' weddings? And good grief, what an expense for those who are invited!