@JohnDB how did you budget for a wedding or did your parents pay for it? Just wondering.
We budgeted...her parents had some things they wanted to pay for. (Her dress and flowers)
All of the food was made by local family. Including the rehearsal dinner.
We printed out invitations with a kit from a combination of invitations we found at a store and kinkos.
I made the four tier Bride's cake. (Recovering Chef)
We all payed for our tuxedos.
Kept the bridesmaids few who bought their own dresses.
Grandparents paid the preacher and the church.
Friend sang...I can't remember who payed for the music...if it was canned or pianist. Solo was canned. Not sure who payed the sound guy.
It was a wonderful country wedding.
We paid for the honeymoon.
Matzos and welch's sparkling did communion.
Oh...
The rehearsal dinner was at the church...and I had one request. I wanted something fun for the kids so I bought a BUNCH of water balloons and squirtguns. Had future sister-in-law fill them up during the rehearsal and had four five gallon buckets full of them. I bought all of those supplies.
MIL had a fit at us having a water balloon fight at the church but the preacher and the kids loved it. The kids kinda doubted that an adult would think of them during a wedding. They get drug to these things like so much excess baggage and made to sit still and behave... totally bored.
But that's not me. Not my wife either.
Wifey made table decorations from junk at craft store and dollar store. Fishbowls filled with rocks and flowers. Purple and yellow.
It was expensive for it all...but completely doable. Had about 200 there. Barely got away with a little picnic basket and the cake topper.
(Preacher had four slices)
We went to her cousins wedding a couple of years later...whew! That one had to cost a mint. The catering bill plus the venue had to be very very expensive...prolly at least $20K for it all. (MIL, me, my wife, and FIL liked our wedding better)
All total for ours, including what others spent, was probably around $4,000.00
We wanted a cheerful, light, and fun event. Our vows were written by us and expressed how we were joining ministries to create a new ministry that would be better able to serve God together.
We let the preacher preach at them a little too.
We wouldn't have changed a thing.
A wedding is you as a couple to come out swinging by means of a bully pulpit to tell the world who you are and what you want to be in your community. Other than the cheesey "oh how much we love each other" we made ours about God and others... because that's who we are.
They still talk about our wedding and the water balloon fight. The church burned down a few years back...they rebuilt. But it ain't the same.