Is My Wedding Budget Too Much?
Hi brides! My fiance and I are working on a budget of $40,000.00 for our wedding. My parents are saying that it is too much money to spend on just a wedding (they are financing it.) Well, I beg to differ. We are expecting over 250 guests for our 5-star hotel seated dinner & open bar reception. And I think $40k is a decent minimum. Plus, I`ll have to worry about church fees, limo rentals, hotels for guests, etc....My parents have already paid for my other sisters` weddings and each costed around $30-35K, so I don`t think I`m going completely overboard with the budget. I mean, my parents also want to host a nice wedding, and if they want nice, then they`ll have to put out.
Posted by Linda; updated 09/14/04
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Your Lucky!!!! I envy you. I have to pay for my own wedding and on a very small budget. Don`t you think you should cut some of the slack off your parents you and your fiance should help out a little cut some corners. Your wedding does not have to big nor expensive to be beautiful. Let face it the only two people who really need to be there are you and your honey. So whatever comes of your wedding just remember your parents can always say no.
Posted by Candida; updated 09/14/04
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I think you`re writing to gloat. Bad things happen to people with your attitude sweetie.....You`re obvioulsly not looking for any sort of an opinion because your gave us your own before we could give you ours. You think it`s a "minimum" - whatever. You should be a little less cold hearted. Your 3 sisters whose weddings were all around $30,000, your parent`s paid for, and had to come up with that in a year. They had to get that money from somewhere. That`s $90,000 they had to come up with! And now your wedding is $40,000, and you`re surprised?!?! You`re just a cold-hearted b*tch. Spoiled brat.
Posted by Andrea; updated 09/14/04
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I am having to pay for my own wedding. You should be glad that you have that type of help instead of complaining. You can have a nice wedding cheaper. Just think if you were paying for the wedding yourself, you would find ways to make the most out of your money.
Posted by Carmon; updated 09/15/04
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JoAnne, I just wanted to comend you on such well rounded advice. It was insightful, thoughtful, and extremely intelligent. I just wanted to add the fact that parents try so very hard to give their children what they want and often do not think of themselves when making these decisions. And, unfortunately, some children know that if they ask, they will not be turned down. Sometimes, we need to remember everything that they have done for us in our entire lifetime, and be appreciative. I know that my own mother is helping me in every way that she can for my wedding, BUT my fiance and I are contributing everything that we can as well.
Posted by Beth; updated 09/18/04
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I agree with Jo-Anne and Andrea. I don’t mean to be rude but you seem like a spoilt brat! Many brides on this site can barely rub two pennies together, but you come here not once but twice to gloat about your parents wealth.
I am fortunate that my family is contributing towards my wedding, but I am so grateful for every cent I get. I have sympathy for your FH cos he’s marrying someone who comes across as immature, self-centered and unrealistic. For your sake, I hope you grow up, before you are forced to do so. I hope (yet doubt) you will be as generous if your parents ever needed your help.
PS: Maybe the reason they are unwilling to spend so much is cos of your attitude?
Posted by Mrs Bride; updated 09/20/04
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There are many statistics showing the average cost of a wedding in the US is around 20,000 and that includes rings and honeymoons. So using that as an average, then yes, you are quite evidently above that.
Your parents are under no obligation to pay for even a part of the wedding, much less the entire event. I think if you had to pay for some of this yourself, you`d see how hard it can be to part with some hard earned money.
To me, a wedding signals that you are growing and leaving home and starting a new life. Surely as a mature adult, you can see your parents view?! If not, then perhaps you are not really quite ready for marriage.
Posted by Meri; updated 09/21/04
