My fiancé Sarah and I will tie the knot next month and don’t get me wrong---love the girl but hate the process. Our wedding, like most couples, is getting out of control and it’s all thanks to the wedding industry that has been guiding us down the aisle to say “Till debt do us part.”
I’m sure there are thriftier ways to throw a wedding, but we haven’t come across any yet. I’ve actually debated on asking local businesses to sponsor this thing.
“We are gathered here today, thanks to Club 48, to celebrate the love between Michael and Sarah.”
“This first kiss is brought to you by Kay Jewelers. Every kiss begins with Kay. You may kiss the bride, Mike.”
I’m actually half joking about this. Sarah has actually done a great job keeping us on track. It’s just amazing to me that when you throw the word wedding out there how much more expensive things can become.
Here are three examples:
Venue:
The venue is the biggest cost of your wedding and has a multi-prong approach to dig deeper into your pockets. The price increases dramatically during the wedding season from June-August and continues to fluctuate pending on the day you get married. Saturdays are the most expensive, followed by Fridays then Sundays.
Scenario- Have a Bar Mitzvah for 125 people ---- $45 per plate.
Scenario- Have a wedding for 125 people---- $90 + /per plate
Quick thought- You could probably get a great deal if you’re down for a Tuesday night wedding bash!
Attire:
This typically is the bridesmaids’ biggest complaint. I don’t blame them. It’s a huge cost to be part of a wedding and purchase a dress you most likely will never wear again. Same goes for the wedding dress.
This price gouging is now carrying over to the groom and his groomsmen. Could you believe it was cheaper to buy a suit then rent a tuxedo from a store?
Two hundred dollars for one day? Are you serious? ---- Shoes are extra by the way.
Transportation
Transportation is another huge pain in rump. Most places don’t let you pay by the hour. They want to give you the convenience of paying for seven hours so the driver is at your disposal. Unless something unforeseen happens at the ceremony, who needs the wheels until the reception is over?
Scenario- Limo pick-up and drop off for prom---- Absolutely
Scenario- Limo pick-up and drop off for a wedding---- three hour minimum.
Then you also have flowers, photographers, the rehearsal dinner, wedding planners, DJs, party favors, invitations, etc. It’s a never-ending process that bleeds out your wallet and future down payment on a house.
Is it worth it? Absolutely, Sarah is worth every penny.
We’ll have the rest of our lives to pay it off ---that is until we start our own wedding planning business.
Future clients act now; we’ve got a great rate.