A wedding is a significant event that marks a significant milestone in two people’s lives, with the primary function of the ceremony being to provide the bride and groom with the opportunity to make promises to each other. Both sexes tie the knot due to a combination of love and sexuality. A wedding survey of nearly 10,000 married couples found that many couples believe that the more money spent on a one-day event will be a success and leave guests feeling satisfied.
Weddings are meant to be a moment to celebrate love, one of the most important days of people’s lives as they bring their friends and families together. Many couples choose to publicly display their marriage vows and legal union during the wedding ceremony. However, many couples believe that the more money they spend on this one-day event will be a success and leave guests feeling satisfied.
There are six practical and personal reasons to wed away:
1. Most people marry for love. Emotional reasons are the most obvious cause for walking down the aisle. According to the Pew Research Center, 88% of the general public reports that love is the main reason they chose to tie the knot.
2. Wedding invitations are usually presented in a long red envelope, similar to the traditional hongbao.
3. Weddings are a celebration of a financial merging of two people. The only real reason marriage as a concept still exists is because of financial pressure.
4. The importance of a wedding is more about the memories you store about it and what that symbolizes for you and your partner moving forward.
5. The current millennial age range (26 to 41) might be one of the reasons wedding spending is such a burden.
📹 Why we should care about weddings | Jen Siomacco | TEDxRVA
Jen Siomacco is the co-owner and Creative Director for Catalyst Wedding Co., a publication increasing the representation of …
Is wedding necessary in life?
Many people consider marriage an important aspect of life for several reasons.
Emotional and psychological well-being: Marriage gives you emotional support, company, and a sense of belonging. A loving, committed relationship can improve your mental and emotional health. It can also improve your financial stability. Marriage can provide financial stability and security. Partners share financial responsibilities and support each other financially. Raising children: Marriage is often seen as the right way to raise children. Parents share responsibilities and provide a stable and loving environment for children to grow up in. Marriage provides physical and emotional intimacy, which is important for a fulfilling and healthy relationship. Building a strong support system: Marriage can provide a strong support system of family and friends. Social and cultural expectations. Marriage is often seen as a social and cultural norm for adults. It can be an important part of one’s identity and sense of self. Legal rights and benefits: Marriage often comes with legal rights and benefits. These include shared property, inheritance, and hospital visitation rights. Building a legacy: Marriage is an opportunity to build a family and a history that can be passed down for generations. Personal growth and development: Marriage can help couples grow and develop. They learn to work through challenges together, compromise, and communicate. ; Shared experiences and memories: Marriage lets couples share experiences and memories, which can make them closer and create a shared history. ; Commitment and responsibility: Marriage is a commitment to another person. It can provide a sense of responsibility and purpose. Legal recognition: Marriage is a legal union that gives both partners legal rights and protection, such as inheritance rights and spousal support in case of divorce. Studies show that married people are healthier and live longer than singles. Building a strong community: Marriage can help you build a strong community of family and friends who can support you throughout life. Remember that marriage is not for everyone. Think about your values, goals, and personal circumstances before getting married. A successful marriage requires effort, commitment, and willingness to work through challenges. Please visit our website. Mark contributions as unhelpful if you find them irrelevant. This feedback is private.
Is marriage necessary in life?
Many people consider marriage an important aspect of life for several reasons.
Emotional and psychological well-being: Marriage gives you emotional support, company, and a sense of belonging. A loving, committed relationship can improve your mental and emotional health. It can also improve your financial stability. Marriage can provide financial stability and security. Partners share financial responsibilities and support each other financially. Raising children: Marriage is often seen as the right way to raise children. Parents share responsibilities and provide a stable and loving environment for children to grow up in. Marriage provides physical and emotional intimacy, which is important for a fulfilling and healthy relationship. Building a strong support system: Marriage can provide a strong support system of family and friends. Social and cultural expectations. Marriage is often seen as a social and cultural norm for adults. It can be an important part of one’s identity and sense of self. Legal rights and benefits: Marriage often comes with legal rights and benefits. These include shared property, inheritance, and hospital visitation rights. Building a legacy: Marriage is an opportunity to build a family and a history that can be passed down for generations. Personal growth and development: Marriage can help couples grow and develop. They learn to work through challenges together, compromise, and communicate. ; Shared experiences and memories: Marriage lets couples share experiences and memories, which can make them closer and create a shared history. ; Commitment and responsibility: Marriage is a commitment to another person. It can provide a sense of responsibility and purpose. Legal recognition: Marriage is a legal union that gives both partners legal rights and protection, such as inheritance rights and spousal support in case of divorce. Studies show that married people are healthier and live longer than singles. Building a strong community: Marriage can help you build a strong community of family and friends who can support you throughout life. Remember that marriage is not for everyone. Think about your values, goals, and personal circumstances before getting married. A successful marriage requires effort, commitment, and willingness to work through challenges. Please visit our website. Mark contributions as unhelpful if you find them irrelevant. This feedback is private.
Why did God invent marriage?
God created marriage to show the world His love. When Christians understand God’s view of marriage, they have stronger marriages, families, and communities. They grow together and honor God. If you are married or dating, you have probably wondered about God’s purpose for marriage. Maybe you’ve been married for years and have seen ups and downs. Or you are engaged and want to honor God in your marriage. What does God want from marriage? God’s purpose for marriage is bigger than your circumstances today. It’s bigger than you know. It’s designed to leave a legacy for the next generation.
Learn three reasons God created marriage.
At what age do millennials marry?
When do millennials get married? Millennials get married at 29.8 years for men and 28.0 years for women. What percentage of millennials get married compared to previous generations? Millennials are often thought of as a generation that is delaying marriage, but the statistics tell a different story. There’s lots of data on millennial marriage trends, from the median age for first marriages to cohabitation and prenuptial agreements. In this blog post, we’ll look at 20 statistics about millennials and marriage to understand how they view relationships. In 2018, the median age for a first marriage in the United States was 30 for men and 28 for women. This shows how marriage is changing in the United States. Millennials are waiting longer to get married than previous generations. Men wait two years longer and women wait four years longer than their parents. This change in the age of first marriage affects how Millennials approach marriage. It’s important to consider when discussing Millennial marriage statistics.
Why getting married is worth it?
- Love: For many people, the primary reason for marrying is love. They have fallen in love with someone and want to spend the rest of their lives with that person.
- Companionship and security: Marriage can provide a sense of companionship and support. When two people marry, they become a team and can support each other through lifes ups and downs. Thus, marriage can provide a sense of security, both emotional and financial. It can offer stability and a sense of belonging.
- Children: Many people choose to marry because they want to have children and raise a family. Marriage can provide a stable environment for raising children.
- Social norms: In many cultures, marriage is seen as a societal norm and a way to establish oneself as an adult. Some people may marry for this reason, even if they are not in love with their partner.
- Religion: For some people, marriage is an important religious rite and a way to fulfill their spiritual beliefs.
Why Not Marry?. While marriage can be a wonderful and fulfilling experience for many people, it is not right for everyone. There are several reasons why marriage might not be a good idea for some individuals:
Personal freedom: Marriage requires a significant commitment of time, energy, and resources. It can also involve giving up some personal freedom and autonomy. For some people, the sacrifices required by marriage may outweigh the benefits.; Compatibility: For a marriage to be successful, it is important for the two individuals to be compatible. If two people have very different values, goals, or interests, it can be difficult for them to build a strong and lasting relationship.; Relationship problems: Every relationship has its challenges, and marriage is no exception. If a couple is already having problems in their relationship, such as communication issues or trust issues, getting married may not solve those problems and could even make them worse.; Societal expectations: Sometimes people feel pressure to get married from their family, friends, or society. If they don’t want to get married, this pressure can be stressful. Financial considerations: Weddings and moving into a new home can be expensive. Some people think marriage is too expensive, especially if they are happy with their finances.
Is it OK if I never get married?
That’s fine. You can live a full life without getting married. Not everyone is happy in marriage.
Is it necessary to have a wedding?
People don’t get married because: You can get married without a wedding. Your friends and family may expect a big ceremony. Many people focus on the tradition of walking down the aisle in a dress that costs a lot of money while many people watch. Some people enjoy a big wedding, but there are good reasons to consider a simple city hall marriage ceremony.
These ceremonies are for couples without strong religious beliefs. Some people don’t like getting married in a church.
Why do weddings exist?
Have you thought about how marriage started? The history of marriage is not as happy as you might think. Marriage was originally seen as a business deal, not a romantic relationship. Ancient societies needed to ensure the survival of the species, to regulate property rights, and to protect bloodlines. Marriage was the institution that met these needs. For example, in ancient Hebrew, a man had to marry his brother’s widow. We’ll share the full history of marriage, from its start to its current form. How long has marriage existed? The word “marriage” comes from Middle English and was first seen in 1250-1300 CE. The ancient institution probably existed before this time. The main goal of marriage was to unite families. Parents arranged marriages for their children to benefit both sides. Most couples married for economic reasons.
Why do humans have weddings?
Weddings celebrate love and commitment. A lot of thought and effort goes into traditional ceremonies. From bachelorette parties to the decor of the venue, every day of matrimony is a prestigious affair.
What is the purpose of marriage?
There are three reasons for marriage. God made marriage for three main reasons: companionship, having kids, and redemption. These purposes are still important today. Let’s look at each one. Companionship. Marriage is for companionship. In Genesis 2:18, God said it wasn’t good for man to be alone. God made marriage so that man and woman could be close. This relationship is based on love, trust, and communication. It shows us how we should relate to the Lord.
📹 Adam Ruins Everything – Why Weddings Are A Total Rip-Off
Despite your family’s wishes, weddings are pointless and expensive displays of wealth. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/truTVSubscribe …
the whole “wedding vs birthday party pricing” argument really frustrates me. as a wedding photographer, my pricing is the same regardless of the event, and i hate that this pricing strategy has really made couples sour and secretive. it’s an awful foot to start on, and i hope vendors who charge differently stop soon.
This was so spot on! I worked at a Bridal Shop the year I got married and I couldn’t believe what people were willing to spend on one day. We spent less than $400 on our wedding in 2006. We’ve been together for 17 years and married for 13 years. I love the static that says people who spend less are together longer because we are one of them!
Your wedding can be whatever you want it to be. It doesn’t need to be expensive. I’ve known people who have gotten married for as little as $200. If you wanted to, you could just go to the courthouse and not do a party. Or you could have a potluck or just go to a restaurant with a few close friends and family members. My wedding and honeymoon combined was about $5,000. My husband and I didn’t care about all the pomp and stuff. Just wanted to get together with friends and family, eat some yummy food, and wear clothes that made us feel good. My husband has even worn his wedding day outfit on multiple occasions since. The day is about you and your spouse. Do what makes you happy.
Okay I was actually raised in a bakery, and I’ve noticed there’s a minimal or even nonexistent uptake in a lot of the small bakeries I’ve seen for weddings. For instance, my mothers bakery had a small increase in price, but she delivered for weddings, and wedding cakes are some of the most stressful things to make. You’re paying for the ridiculous amount of stress the baker is going through to make that cake perfect(and extra services). Just buy from the small businesses y’all
You CAN get married very inexpensively but not scrimp on beauty or style! My entire wedding cost about $1,500 including ceremony, reception, food, champagne, party favors, my dress, and my husband’s clothes. You just have to work hard, plan thoughtfully, DIY where possible, and remember that more more more! doesn’t mean happy happier happiest!
I have always felt that traditional weddings are boring and pointless! I was engaged for a moment and planning the wedding was awful. I just wanted to have a party at a local outdoor brewery and rent a couple boats for the week. Then it turned into having to invite his cousins who he hadn’t spoken to in 20 years, coordinating which of his parents would come and if they were allowed to bring their SOs who they cheated on each other with, making sure my mom didn’t feel left out because she says she was treated so badly at my brother’s wedding, having to send thank you cards to people who insisted on buying us crap when I expressly asked for no gifts, having to deal with a bunch of dumb one-time use decorations, etc. I wanted to just stay how we were. Too much stress! It wasn’t about the two of us at all. We ended our engagement and broke up before it happened. Still friends! So glad I never had to go through a divorce. Phew.
I used to sweep hair in a salon during the summer when I was in high school. My bosses were all around good, friendly, mostly honest people.They labelled their prices and said straight up that hair and make up for weddings cost way extra. They did it because they knew they could and they pulled in a lot of revenue, but couldn’t bring themselves to concealing the ordinary prices from people. The weird thing is, I remember a lot of people paying for it anyway. They just figured that if it was labelled for a wedding, they were doing it wrong if they didn’t spend extra money.
My friend was a wedding articlegrapher and has been to so many weddings. They’re all so similar they’ve blurred into one. I helped her out at a wedding expo once and it was crazy how many different expensive ideas there were for trying to make it individual. Personalised coasters for guests and coffee table books of the photos, etc etc etc
The last wedding I went to was in a state park (very scenic and no access charge). The only things the bride and groom purchased were the marriage license and a set of rings that did not have any jewels. Instead of bringing presents, the guests brought food for a pitch-in lunch. Children were welcome and after lunch we all played fun games. It was the only wedding I really enjoyed attending.
One phrase that alerts my BS sensor: “This is the way things have always been.” 1. If you go back far enough I’m willing to bet you’ll find a time when the tradition hasn’t always been around. 2. So what if the tradition has been around for a long time? Times change. If the tradition no longer makes sense why keep it?
The fact that weddings have been hijacked by this kind of greed and extravagance saddens me so much. My husband and I kept it simple (by industry standards), I hit up clearance sales for fake flowers, Easter candy, we had an outdoor reception at a local park so I didn’t have to worry about decorating a space (just the table tops- simple). Total was about $4-5 thousand (I didn’t know all the saving tricks of the trade), but everyone had a good time, we focused on the purpose of a marriage, and we are doing just fine nearly 10 years later.
My wedding cost me in total 2500 dollars and that includes the dress and the place we had the wedding. (and yes I had a real wedding dress that I found second hand. Had I bought it new it would have cost me almost 2000 dollars. I got it for 90 bucks.) But yeah the most expensive things we paid for were my husbands wedding ring (which is not gold..its tungsten with a silver design because he works with his hands alot and we want to the ring not to get bent and warped)My ring and wedding band cost less than his one ring and my engagement ring was not a diamond but an amethyst(hubby objected because it was not expensive enough and I smiled and said”if I am going to shell out 2 months salary it is not going to be on a piece of metal and a rock.” Also…I am not a big fan of diamonds.) and the hall.(which we also used to hold the wedding and reception in. And my parents paid for that as our wedding present but I am including it in the 2500.)The flowers we actually got fake flowers from the dollar store and a few people asked me how the hell I found black roses in October because they thought the flowers were real.(We got married on Halloween and my wedding colors were black silver and purple) I was not going to go into debt because someone says I should blow a huge amount of money. My wedding was not expensive but I still remember it and it was a very happy day for me.
Surprisingly perusal this makes me feel better because when me and my husband got married we didn’t have any money for a nice fancy wedding so we got married at the courthouse and because of that courthouse wedding some of my family members don’t know that I’m married because I am ashamed of how we had our wedding. My family is just like the ones in this episode where u have to have so many extravagant things to show love but me and my husband have a better relationship than anyone I know
As a photographer, I would like to share why wedding photographers are more expensive. A wedding is such an important event, and it’s really crucial that we don’t miss any shots because we can’t re-do them. Because of that, we charge more for reliability and the promise of being able to get all the shots without missing anything.
Vox did a great article on this. I’m sure they cover this in the full episode, but at least part of the reason why vendors charge more for weddings is they anticipate there’ll be more emotional labor involved; as in, the clients will probably be more demanding since it’s a wedding. So basically you’re getting up charged because of all the jerks who hassle wedding vendors.
It’s a personal Choice, and some brides and grooms want the extras. My wedding cost less than 4,000 and it was a beautiful simple church wedding. Just choose what’s more important to you and what fits your budget. As for me, booking the church was more important and getting a good deal on a nice dress, ! A gentleman I’ve known since I was a little girl offered to borrow a car and drive me from the hotel to church and to the venue. Just the fact that he wanted to do that for us was a gift in its own. That’s when people are truly happy for you and want to help. I accepted my sisters assistance in the planning and it was her taste in everything we got and did, which was fine with me because I love her taste! Going on more than 18 years of marriage.
A wedding is a day focused exclusively on YOU AND YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER! Do whatever the heck you want 😂 and also the “wedding tax” is a real thing. But sometimes it’s there for a reason. My friend booked her wedding cake and flowers saying I was for a “family reunion” and they turned out horribly! That’s because flowers need to be put out a different times, have to be set up individually, etc., for a wedding which a florist doest put into other events. Much like the cake where the artist spends more time and thought into the decoration, timing, and transportation of a wedding cake compared to a birthday cake. The tax is real, but just be careful trying to avoid it! It can bite you in the butt down the line.
My wedding was simple af, we rented a simple revenue already decorated and my friend was already a photographer and i RENTED my outfit, plus guests came and they were already full we just offered cake and soda. Some of my friends do weddings in their backyards and still enjoyed themselves. After all the wedding lasted for a few hours
Photographer here, admittedly we do charge over the odds for weddings etc but i’ll try and shine some light as to why. 1. Risk, Its someones big day and needs to be perfect, there are no re-runs. Depending on state laws and countries, a photographer can be sued for the WHOLE cost of a wedding if the pictures aren’t up to standard. (This is why you get insurance and legally binding wavers which costs) 2. Printing, to print custom photo books etc, takes allot of planning, research and costs a bomb. These arn’t just done in one day, alongside editing hours a wedding shoot can take upto a week before they are up for printing, so you’re paying for someone for a week, not just a day. Now it would be interesting to see whether photo printing companies are over charging us. 3. Price to performance, The illusion of costs more = better. You under charge and people won’t use you, there is such a thing as “Too cheap” But yeah allot of wedding pro’s do charge stupid amounts, but you’re buying the years of experience and finesse to go along with it.
Re. Wedding tax. In part this is because expectations are much higher. As an ex-florist, I would put more time into wedding arrangements, making sure they would photograph well from every angle, had multiple consults with the bride etc.. I wasn’t charging more because it was a wedding, I was charging more because it was literally more work.
My wedding had all the appearances of a “traditional” wedding but I got it done for under $3k. The venue included catering, the officiant, and let me use my MP3 player for music. I got my dress online for $100, an exact copy of a dress that was $1000 in a boutique. I made my own bouquet, corsages & boutonnieres out of rolled satin ribbon. And we got the cake from Walmart for $20.
I had my own event planning business for about 7 years and I saw all types of weddings and Quinces during that time. I always tried to save them money because the venue I partnered with was a little pricey. However, some people want the extras and they can’t afford them and others want them just because they can. My best advise, what’s really important to you? Make a list and work on that in paper. 2nd. What I think is more important. Church, or court, Venue, photography music. .. Spend money in decor, flowers, limo and other stuff if you can afford it, if not, go simple. They will only remember what you post in FB! 🙋🏻♀️ True story!
I remember how my dad taught us the lesson of a practical wedding. All that matters is for you to be true to your lover. Get the legal papers covered at the court. Invite a few close friends. Wear formal clothes (nothing extravagant). Slap on ring that’s reasonable within your budget. Afterwards go to a restaurant(just the two of you) or something. And head on home. All of this is simple, cheap, and quick. And if the partner is more ‘passionate’ about it being more expensive, then something is wrong.
Including the wedding venue, the officiant, the license fees, photographer and a steak dinner for friends and family my wedding cost about drumroll Less then a thousand dollars, give or take. My wedding dress was a 5$ thrift store find and it made my husband’s jaw drop and eyes twinkle anyway when he saw me in it for the first time. Best. Wedding. Ever.
I agree with most of this, except the wedding tax. There’s a lot of extra risk and hassle involved. I.e. if you screw up a cake for a birthday, not the end of the world. You can go to a grocery store and pick up a second cake. If you as a photographer screw up a couple of photos at a corporate party, not the end of the world. But god help you if you screw up important wedding shots (i.e. ring exchange or the big kiss) – you’ll be fighting the bride and groom in court to get paid for your shoot for the next 6 months.
There is nothing I could have done to ruin my wedding day. Commercialism already did that. The emphasis on materialistic appeal and outdated cliches people cling to are the very things that made my wedding the least memorable day of my life. When I think of a wedding, I think of a celebration where people can express themselves genuinely. What did I get? A wife obsessed with having things in “perfect” order. She was constantly stressed over simple details trying to make sure everything went according to plan. This obsession ultimately made the process frustrating for both of us and I blame everything on the industry. \r If not for the constant promotion of decor and bridal gowns, weddings would have a genuine purpose. Instead, the beauty of two people making a lifelong commitment has been overshadowed by a industries desperation for wealth. They promote how a wedding is “supposed” to look and drive up the prices on gowns that would be considered hideous on any other occasion. They call it the brides day to shame any groom from suggesting a casual approach knowing that hyping tradition will increase sales. Although such terms had a genuine meaning at one point, the industry has taken them out of context to advance their profit. \r I would have prefered a casual wedding. I hated the stress my wife was put under and the expectations people tried to hold me to. I was expected to like her dress more than I love her. I was expected to tell people I was happy when the drama was driving me up a wall.
I’m an artist and I did what I call a social media painting. I told everyone to tell me their most happiest moments in life and I would paint it into one canvas. I got hundreds of memories from visiting an island to helping grandma in the garden. After I finished something strange struck me, no one mentioned their wedding.
The family guilt is a real factor and the only thing that took our budget-but-pretty wedding beyond the planned $2k limit. I sewed my own dress for $200 in materials. Decorations were $200 and mostly DIY with friends. Chapel was $150 for the day. Hotel suite for the night before with my bridesmaids was $400. Photographer was $800 for the full day (a friend gave us his discounted rate). One friend officiated while the other did live music. Other friends helped out as coordinators and we got a lot of support for what we had planned. Originally we were going to have a pot luck style dinner on a friend’s property with a pond and pavillion or at an affordable rental location ($300 for the evening). But none of the family members were okay with that and our guest list was doubled by all the extended family they wanted to invite along. So we had a ‘traditional’ reception that cost upward of $6k, putting the whole wedding day at 4x it’s original budget.
I told my mom that if I ever got married I would not have a big wedding, I would just have a small family only ceremony at City Hall. No big white fancy dress, no huge cake, no expensive party. She flat out told me that that wasn’t an option. Because apparently your wedding is not for you it’s for your family. Meaning that if you decide to get married, you have to invite your entire family and all of their friends. You have to have a large cake, you have to have a big expensive dress, you have to have a church wedding because if you don’t you’re being selfish, because your wedding is not about you. So I’m compromising with her and will just never get married
The cost does come from somewhere. I’m not arguing against the points made here, because they’re true. But a bridal bouquet for example is far more expensive than a typical bouquet because the flowers used and the work it takes (usually hours) is a great deal more. You can get cheaper options! But most want what they see in photos for the same price as cheaper items.
I love how Adam doesn’t care as much about how people would infer the facts at that time and place as much as he does about making sure everyone knows to truth about everything he and his researchers researched. That level of brutal honesty, the drive to tell the truth no matter how much it hurts, it reminds me of me.
My beautiful wife and I tied the knot 34 yrs ago. We went to the nearest PJ and got married at the courthouse with a handful of our closest family and friends. We spent a whopping $42 dollars to get hitched that day and soon will be celebrating 35 yrs of marriage together. I remember around the time we got married we had a friend who also was planning her wedding along with their honeymoon, a week long stay in a very up scale honeymoon suite in sunny Jamaica ! If I’m remembering correctly she told us her wedding was going to cost $34,000 and their honeymoon was around $7000 dollars. When I ask her who was paying for this very expensive wedding she told us that her and her husband to be where going to split the cost. I remember asking her if they had already purchased a home and she stated that they were looking but hadn’t found anything yet that they liked. I remember telling her about how the wife and I got married by the local JP for $42 bucks and how it was the best $42 bucks I’d ever spent ! She continued on by telling me how this was his and her dream wedding and something that the both of them wanted very much ! Oh ! And she was making new car payments on a brand new Toyota Supra or Cilicia I can’t remember, I just remember that it looked like a super nice race car with a super nice monthly car payment. Anyways the wedding and honeymoon went off without a hitch and I remember one day walking through our office and seeing her crying ! They had found the house of their dreams, the only problem though was that the bank denied them their loan because they were over extended on their income to debt ratio.
Actually a big reason why weddings cost more is because people want very specific things for their weddings and it costs more to get very specific things rather than general things. For example a specific type of flower can be hard to find but people want it anyways because it’s a big day and flowers in general are easy and cheap to get, that’s probably why birthdays are heaped than weddings, because people don’t care as much about them
When I’m getting married I’m doing it the way my parents did. Just the two of us, a chapel, a simple black suit, and a nice dress for my wife (doesn’t have to be a wedding dress.) This way we can have a personal romantic moment that won’t end the moment we see the bill. I don’t like the idea of my wife marrying into debt.
We saw this article while planning our wedding and loved it. Perhaps because we’re two men and older (50’s) we had a $5K budget for a lunch wedding. Hints that help: friends doing the music, dessert was included so no cake, an inexpensive photographer and orchids from Trader Joe’s (in lieu of cut flowers which die these are still in our friends’ homes. They only cost us $120). But yeah, a lot of people just lose it when it comes to their weddings. I met one couple who told me that they were actually renting chairs for their wedding because they didn’t like the ones at the facility! SMH.
My friend got married recently in her backyard – one of her friends made a scrumptious wedding cake, I made savoury appetisers, other friend tended the bar and brought in some affordable wines. We had a bbq for a late lunch and everyone just brought in a plate to share. All this coz of Covid restrictions – we had a blast – the ceremony was lovely, the bride and groom looked awesome and were so happy to be surrounded by friends and family who really cared for them. We spent in a total of 3000 dollars which included her lovely wedding dress – it is absolutely possible to have a great wedding with minimum expenditure!
I’m glad I didn’t spend a bunch of money on my wedding because we got divorced 4 years later. I got married at the courthouse and took a long weekend out of town alone together with my wife. Friends of mine spent tons of money and took out loans to finance their weddings. They’ve been divorced for 10 years and they’re still trying to pay for that wedding. What a ripoff. Lmao! Starting a marriage with debt is just asking for trouble considering that most couples fight over debt, money, and lack of it.
I love Adam. The bit about wedding prices jack is exactly right. I used to work for a florist and the the shop had different grades of markup. You start with the cost of flowers that the shop buys in and then you apply markup percentages according to occasion. Lowest markup was for loose flowers sold at the shop, then simple bouquets, then arrangements to be delivered to homes, then Mothers’ and Valentine’s Day, then deliveries to hotels and finally … 400% up for – weddings. Yaaay! The proprietress loved weddings. And she saw nothing wrong in it. Her rationale was that wedding arrangements take a lot of time to make. That is true to some extent but does not nearly justify the whole price jack.
My bf and I talk occasionally about the what ifs of the future such as weddings. We both decided we’d rather spend any kind of wedding money on a decent reception than anything. Gave the thought of having the traditional cake, then making it a sort of pot luck situation for food and having a big cupcake cake for better convenience. Been to maybe 3 weddings in my life, so I couldn’t care less about the expensive tradition of it.
My sister’s wedding reception was held in our home. Our yard is big enough for a bigger party so renting a venue was out of the question. My mother made my sister’s dress which wasn’t even white, so sis could wear it later in bigger parties. Mum has actually made several wedding dresses for relatives and friends who can’t afford a more expensive gown. I’m so happy that we haven’t got that ‘matching bridesmaid dresses’- thing in Finland. I would have had terrible time looking for a dress of certain colour that fits me (my tastes are…peculiar)
I had a friend who had his wedding in his backyard with like 10 people in attendance. Him and his wife are 2 of the godliest and happiest couples I know. One of my best friends got married in a small baptist church, simple wedding paid under 1k for everything, him and his wife are so happy have 2 children & they have 0 regrets.
We got married at our local city council here in London. Just us 2 and two witnesses. The whole thing cost us £250 (the cost of the actual paperwork/marriage certificate). We did it between the 1st and 2nd lockdown back in 2020 which also gave us the perfect excuse not to have any guests. Saved a ton of money and spent them on our honeymoon trip two years later. Best decision ever ❤
Many wedding practices are pointless displays of public wealth. But the basic purpose of a wedding is timeless: the opportunity for a man and woman to publicly declare their love for and commitment to each other in front of their friends, family and community, and for the friends, family and community to publicly show their support for the couple.
When I get married I know just what I want. Sure The major parts like the Ceremony and Reception are gonna cost me a small fortune but I’m not doing it to show of money, I just want guests to be comfortable and go to an amazing wedding. I already picked out most of my future wedding attire and it’s nothing extravagant even if it looks that way. Really if your spending money just to look good, it’s not a wedding it’s show, if your doing to bring people to gather, then it’s a wedding.
These articles always make me laugh. My entire wedding cost 1,500 dollars that includes rings, tux, and dress. We did finger foods, had a friend play the music and married in a church. If you are dumb you can spend thousands of dollars on this event. I had friends tell me they regretted spending the money the day of the wedding. My wife and I were able to confess our love to each other in front of God and our friends. You don’t need anyting else.
Yeah, wedding cakes cost more than those for a birthday party: *Because they’re a fuckton more complicated”*. “Size” is not the factor determining total cost, that’d be decorations, which are all done by hand, and take longer. More hours on same product = higher cost. In addition to multiple tiers, a wedding cake usually has every surface covered in decorations, hand-piped icing, and custom-made elements. A birthday cake is usually a single sheet cake with a flat image on top. The “size” only determines the base cost of the cake–all decorating, transportation, and additional structure (separated tiers, etc) cost more because it takes much more time to make. It’s not a commodity, it’s a service, and wedding decorators are not rolling in the dough–they work their assess off. This kinda makes me wonder how many other articles you half-assed.
as the best friend of a wedding photographer, the reason the wedding tax exists is because you’re paying for the fact that this day can’t be redone. sure a birthday party can’t be “redone” so to speak, but you don’t have 500 people at a birthday party and you’ll have one next year. “the wedding tax” is not because the vendors want to rip you off, it’s because you’re paying for the guarantee that the vendors are going to get it right the first and only time they have the chance. vendors will put more resources into it because they know it’s special.
Not all wedding vendors are greedy. The biggest reason floral arrangements are expensive is due to the brides wishes for pictures she’s seen online. Floral designers have to shell out big money to their wholesalers for peonies, lily of the valley etc. Try talking the bride down to her budget ! No. It was on Pinterest. 😞
We have been married for 21 years. We had a smaller family wedding. Our Church didn’t cost much and i rented the town hall for less than $100. I made most of the foid myself crock pot roast beef, my Dad smoked 2 turkeys and we had Sam’s club potato salad, coleslaw, rolls and veggie trays. Pickles and olives and Aldi’s potato chips. My aunt handmade cream cheese mints and our cake was a full sheet cake with a heart shaped push in top tier. My BFf thpught i was nuts but we had a Victorian Christmas theme so i bought decorations the year before on after Xmas clearance had tea candles and mini topiary from the $ store for cenrer pieces. Everyone loved the food because it was real homemade food. All told under $2000 including the rings and my dress. My dress was under $500 and i made my own viel with $20 of tulle and lace. Somehow I doubt my adult daughter will be happy with that though lol
My husband and I spent $6,000 on our wedding and a 10 day honeymoon to Florida. Most of that was spent on the trip. My gown was purchased at a discount bridal shop for $99. Who cares if it was last year’s style. Everybody thought it was beautiful. I had a grocery store make a sheet cake and a “birthday” cake and purchased pillars and a stand to mount the small cake in the center of the sheet cake. I simply asked them to make the trim white like the cake and put clusters of pastel flowers in the corners of the sheet cake. Everyone said how moist it was. Real wedding cakes are baked days in advance and are coated with a sugary mixture to stop it from going stale, creating a hard crunchy layer under the frosting. I made all of the flowers myself including the centerpieces and pew decorations. Some supplies were purchased at the craft store, and I even got the vases and some flowers at the dollar store (you can find some good ones there but not all are good). We rented a hall that used to be a little white church (steeple and all) for a very low cost. It was quaint and private, no other parties or diners in another room. We decided to put our money into food and music, because other than how the bride looked that is all anyone talks about after a wedding. We lucked out and got a very inexpensive and good DJ. The food was the most expensive item at $23 a plate for the caterer, who supplied real china, glassware and fancy chaffing dishes for the buffet. That included a fruit and cheese table before dinner and hot steamed napkins for the guests to wipe their hands after dinner (barbecued chicken and Danish spare ribs were on the menu) and uniformed waitresses.
“Despite your family’s wishes, weddings are pointless and expensive displays of wealth.” If that’s how you choose to see it, sure. I’m not saying everyone has to have a wedding. If you or someone wants to get married but doesn’t want to have a wedding, hey, by all means, you guys do what’s best for you! But, if a couple genuinely wants a wedding because that’s what THEY want, then to them, a wedding isn’t “a pointless and expensive display of wealth.” And as some commentors said, a wedding doesn’t have to be expensive. There are cheaper options out there if you know where to look. Some families want to have a wedding if their loved one is getting married and are willing to fit the bill. There’s other ways to save money – get fake flowers instead of real ones. If you have certain skills, you can save money – are you a pastry chef? Bake your own wedding cake. Do you have mad graphic design skills? Create your own stationary – or better yet, send invites via email. Does your family happen to live on a farm? Have your wedding at the family farm. Not all weddings “have to” be expensive. Again, not saying everyone has to have a wedding. Just saying, there’s nothing wrong with having a wedding if that’s what you genuinely want. And for those who genuinely want a wedding, to them it isn’t a pointless waste of money. The “pressure” around weddings is only “pressure” if you allow it to be “pressure.” If you choose not to care about “traditions” or what’s “trendy,” and only care about what you want your wedding to be, then there is no pressure.
I just went to the town hotel with my girlfriend, booked a day, came back, signed some papers and boum, free. The whole thing took like 40 minutes. Perfectly happy about it. Now what we’re really putting some thought and money into is the home we’re gonna live in for at least 10 years. It’s both awesome to try and design your interior yourself, and it’s something that will last more than 8 hours.
The reason why people spend on weddings is because lavish expenditure is often seen as a way one puts their money where their mouth is over how much they care about the other person. It’s very much embedded in pop culture that women expect nothing short of the “dream wedding” like they care more about that one tiring day than they do about who they’re with on that day and possibly all the days following that day. Same can be said about the engagement ring.
My parents had a very simple wedding in 1951. Twenty-five people at the Church and about thirty at my grandparent’s house for the reception. My Dad was on a 48-hour leave (he was in the Canadian Army) so everything was low-key. This meant no freaking huge honeymoon like people have now. They had one night at one of the best hotels in Toronto back then, the King Edward Hotel. They were married for 46 years (my Dad passed away in 1997) and while their wedding was not the biggest one on both sides, they were the only ones not to get divorced or have a “we’re staying together for the kids” kind of marriage. Simple, sweet and meaningful is better than obnoxiously expensive and you don’t have to take out a loan to do it.
The part about Queen Victoria’s dress was slightly off. Victoria’s father had been a huge spendthrift and the UK was in debt when she took over. She chose white for her wedding dress because dyes were super expensive, and she was trying to show how frugal she would be as a monarch. Yes, she set a trend and wealthy people quickly figured out that white fabric was a stealth display of wealth (then morphed into a bogus symbolism for purity), but it wasn’t the reason she chose it initially. Also, before Queen Victoria, for CENTURIES most white Anglo women just wore their best dress (of any color) on their wedding days.
I had a wedding in Japan and that was simply the most economical. We did do it on a far lower budget than normal (and with only about 40 guests) but we also had the added benefit of all the guests requiring to give us cash as gifts instead of useless crap (The guests receive the cheap and useless crap instead). In the end, the gift money covered the wedding costs. That, and I also made all the invites and article presentations myself, which saved us a small fortune. Still a rip off but at least it was heavily subsidised.
We held our whole wedding at my parents house (in their barn) so venue was FREE. I bought a casual, off white lace dress at a regular clothing store – cost like $130. With all the help from family and choosing reasonably priced food, we barely paid much. We used the gifts of money from our wedding to pay for our honeymoon. I can’t believe people spending thousands on a dress alone! We maybe spent just a few hundred dollars total of our own money for everything. (Also because that’s all we could really afford lol)
They raise alot of good points. I had a problem when we were planning because even the simple wedding venues started at 30,000 just for food.how ridiculous is that i meant it couldnt have cost over 2000 for the food but they over charge so much! Luckily in arabic weddings they give cards with money so usually you end up breaking even!!! Helped ALOT!
We had xeroxed invitations, silver wedding wings made by the best man, gown and costumery made by my mother-in-law (fantasy theme) floral arrangements made by my mother-in-law’s girlfriend, cake and refreshments made by my Grandma, ceremony performed in church for free, reception renting a dojo that happened to be free that night (neither of us do martial arts, but it was cheap) and for music we told our friends to bring their own instruments and jam. Must’ve worked–34 years later we’re still married!
I’m actually getting married hopefully THIS October. Lol. Had to push it off three times now. Money is always tight so seeing the ads and the prices of things I just want like a potluck cookout wedding. Simple, easy, and cheap. I’m even making my own wedding dress from a wish dress and self embroidery. Fake flowers because I want to save them, perfectly not wilted and grey, and my husband is probably just gonna rent a tux. As for location. Camp site. Everyone brings tents, games the works. A family get together for both sides and for them to actually meet.
I understand the extra taxes on cake and stuff. Usually when catering for weddings they use longer lasting materials and ingredients which are often more expensive and the cakes are usually way more layered and detailed than a regular cake. I can understand that but some businesses take advantage and double or triple the price instead of presenting the reasonable costs inlcududing expensive ingredients.
My brother is getting married, And God i would love to show my brother this with my diehard faveorite tv show host Adam ruins everything, Adam Ruins weddings, also me:imagine all the money we be saving by telling them we haveing a birthday party and skipping out on their wedding tax 😂😂😂, 😀😀😀 thanks Adam for exsposing the get rich quick greedy industry, another reason why im never getting married. Thanks Adam
I’ve been married and so I can say this is true, right down to the divorce! 🤣 So just a side note: if you book a restaurant for 100 people, there’s no surcharge, you simply providing the restaurant with a full house for the evening! Now, say it’s for a wedding receptiion and there’s automatically a “rental” for the room added. Once again, I know from experience! 🤣
This is not completely accurate. As a photographer, most of us do not charge a different price for weddings vs birthday parties of the same size. But if they were to, I can also understand why. Weddings versus a birthday party can be drastically different, with tight schedules and significantly higher expectations as it is only “once in a lifetime” versus birthdays. Additionally, customers for weddings expects doing all those fancy shots versus for birthdays where most of the time they are just looking for someone to take group pictures.
I’m from Chile, my wedding cost 2 dollars, that is the cost of the municipality’s papers. Me and my wife wore the same formal clothes that in our bachelor thesis presentation. I don’t understand the American shows about extravagant weddings. At least here, housing is expensive, I never would spend more on a wedding than on the down payment of a house loan.
When my brother got married and the fellow bridesmaids and I spent hours scouring the internet for dresses and if you every at the word ‘bridesmaid’ or any words related to weddings in your searches the prices of dresses skyrockets! We ended up buying fun ‘summer’ dresses that looked the same for $10 a piece. They weren’t ugly either and we still occasionally wear them.
Weddings should be a private ceremony and only be comprised of five people: The couple, officiant, and two witnesses. If both sides of the family want to attend a wedding for their progeny so badly then they can pay for it (while consulting the couple regarding what they want). The couple shouldn’t have to spend a dime.
As a wedding photographer and recently married groom, the idea that prices being higher at weddings being arbitrary, is bunk. Brides, grooms and everyone else have high expectations of vendors at weddings, and the expectations, required experience, pressure of getting it right once with no repeats as well as the plethroa of work before and after the day, is why we charge what we do for weddings. My wife and I spent smart on our wedding and I encourage being clever with money, avoiding credit cards, and not spending beyond your means. Having said that, if you think wedding photography is a rip-off for the price, try it for a day and see how exhausting it is, or stick with iPhones instead. Your wedding only need be as expensive as you choose it to be 😉
A wedding, if you plan it in advance, you can save a lot of money. If you need party supplies, go to the dollar store and stack up throughout the year. A parent or family member can help set up a wedding for you based on the materials you bought. Then the venue, there are places that you can go that are less expensive. You just don’t get it of the main strip of the city. Otherwise, if you prefer outdoors, you can easily book a pavilion for the wedding. I think for a good wedding, I wouldn’t spend more than $15,000. I wouldn’t go out and invite everyone, just invite the closest people in your family, the people that matter to you the most. And there’s no need to dress up, why does everyone need to overspend on suites and dresses. I can still wear a nice pair of pants with a collared up shirt. You still get the same experience. It sure is fun to show off your wealth, but at the end of the day and the party is over, who gets stuck with all the bills. I guarantee you that a lot of it was part on Visa or Master card. When my parents got married, they had a $1,500 wedding (this was way before I was born) they did just fine. A lot of the cost will get soaked up from the venue. You need a venue to provide shelter because you can’t predict the weather. Then you have to feed each guest. Honestly, in lieu of gifts, I’d have them all bring a dish to pass and I still think it would be just as memorable. There’s ways to go on the budget without anyone substantially noticing.
My girlfriend’s sister just got married. The ceremony was held in their back yard and it only lasted a little over 1 hour. Still, the commissioner costed a few hundred bucks and the photographer billed them $1000 for that hour. I mean, it was one person with a camera for an hour for $1000… Imagine just got off the plane for your honey moon and greeted with a lovely mind blowing bill for just a few photos.
Got married to my wife two years ago in a courthouse. Spent $38 for the license and registration. Had about 10 people at the ceremony. Whole thing took about 2 hours. Then we went to our favorite restaurant with our guests. No stress, no drama, it really was the perfect day. All the money we would’ve spent on a wedding, we just used to go on vacations to Europe and South America. We also got a head start on buying a house. We didn’t regret it then, and still don’t regret it now. Just because we didn’t spend 50,000+ on a wedding doesn’t mean we don’t love each other. This experience has really taught me “traditional” weddings are scam.
Breaking tradition for my wedding was the most cost-effective thing I ever did do. White dress from a bridal store? Nah, red from Etsy. Big fancy white cake? Pfft. The icing always sucks – tiramisu baby!!! Floral decorations? We’re getting married in a forest – we have enough plants, thank you. Decorations? Again, forest. You don’t need much more than that. It was wonderful, unique, very us and on a plus side, people are still talking about it because it was so unusual.
I like wedding appearances but also hate the industry. Like, I love the image of flowers and pretty white dresses, but I’d rather handle it myself with a small group, and handle expenses among my group rather than dealing with some big companies. Something more like what my parents did; they got married in the graden behind a Mexican restaurant where my Grandfather and the owner were friends, the restaurant did the catering, mom made her own dress and dad wore a 3 piece tweed suit. I don’t think it should be as tuned back as it used to be, have fun and make it an occasion. But you don’t have to deal with the industry to have a good day.
Wedding dresses are a complete con. I worked in the fashion industry for well over 35 years making of all other things wedding dresses. Damn well over priced will never fit right (brides to be diet so much just before the wedding) therefore dress too big and has to be ’emergency altered’ ie; totally butchered so it fits as the last fitting was three months ago. And I’m not talking about the parlour down the high street, I’m talking about the large department stores in London’s west end. Go for something you like, sew a bit of lace on it and there ya go. After all, you only going to wear it once.
I get the intention here, but just because a wedding is expensive doesn’t make it bad. My sister got married last year and it was a memorable time. My family is pretty big and most of us haven’t been together in years, yet all of them along with countless friends and family showed up. IT was a fun experience nad I doubt anyone is gonna forget it.