Wedding Cost to Dad's for Daughter's Wedding

[Nostril Cheese]

A friend of mine owns property on the beach in Malibu. I asked him if we could get married there. He didnt mind. We had fish tacos afterward. My wife made her dress and my kilt. Maybe spent a couple hundred bucks. We figured that money was better spent on other things.

I don't understand how people spend STUPID money on weddings.

I recently attended my buddy's wedding in Burlingame, CA (like the Beverly Hills of San Francisco). He's a ex combat medic studying on the GI Bill who came from nothing. She comes from a LOADED family. Live band, fully catered, caviar and champagne. They easily threw down $30K on the wedding. Unreal.

Great band and food though.

[PorscheGAL]

Craig, congrats to the family for the excitement of a wedding and a baby. Good luck in the planning.

Average wedding in America cost $29,000. That cost goes up depending on where you live. For instance NY is closer to $70,000

Average Cost Of U.S. Wedding | $28,671

As of 2010, The Knot reported the following stats in weddings:
Brides remain committed to planning a luxurious, memorable event and are willing to spend despite the state of the economy,” said Carley Roney, editor in chief of The Knot Inc. “In fact, approximately 1 in 5 brides are spending more than $30,000 on their wedding, and 12% of brides are spending more than $40,000.”
Key Average Wedding Statistics
Wedding Spend (excluding honeymoon): $26,984
Most Expensive Area to Get Married (excluding honeymoon): NYC (Manhattan), $70,030
Least Expensive Area to Get Married (excluding honeymoon): Utah, $13,214
Wedding Dress Spend: $1,099
Percentage of Destination Weddings: 24%
Bride’s Age: 29
Groom’s Age: 31
Number of Guests: 141
Average Wedding Spend (on a per guest basis): $194
Number of Bridesmaids: 4
Number of Groomsmen: 4
Length of Engagement: 14 months
Most Popular Engagement Month: December (16%)
Most Popular Wedding Month: June (15%)
Most Popular Wedding Color: White/Ivory (43%)
2010 Average Wedding Budget Breakdown
Overall Wedding (excluding honeymoon): $26,984
Ceremony Site: $1,393
Reception Venue: $12,124
Reception Band: $3,081
Reception DJ: $900
Photographer: $2,320
Videographer: $1,463
Wedding Gown: $1,099
Florist/Décor: $1,988
Invitations: $351
Wedding Cake: $540
Ceremony Musicians: $503
Catering (cost per head): $61
Wedding Day Transportation: $667
Favors: $222
Rehearsal Dinner: $1,127
Engagement Ring: $5,392
Figures based on respondents who hired a professional vendor for the service.

Top 20 Most Expensive Wedding Areas
1. NYC (Manhattan): $70,730
2. NY (Long Island, Hudson Valley and NYC Outer Boroughs): $51,811, $45,695, $44,718
3. Northern/Central NJ and Southern NJ: $49,347, $36,694
4. Rhode Island: $41,169
5. Philadelphia, PA: $36,294
6. Santa Barbara/Ventura, CA, and Los Angeles, CA: $36,233, $33,745
7. Boston, MA: $35,458
8. Chicago, IL: $35,389
9. Connecticut: $35,197
10. Southern Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas): $33,810
11. Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland: $33,727
12. Orange County/Inland Empire, CA, and San Diego, CA: $31,954, $30,687
13. San Francisco Bay Area, CA, and California/Nevada (Sacramento, Tahoe and Reno): $31,173, $26,567
14. Baltimore, MD: $30,073
15. Houston, TX: $29,129
16. Pittsburgh, PA: $28,408
17. Dallas, TX: $27,823
18. Vermont: $27,333
19. Hawaii: $26,722
20. Austin/San Antonio, TX: $26,329

Interesting Regional Differences
TheKnot.com & WeddingChannel.com 2010 Real Weddings Survey can be broken down on a region-by-region basis across more than 80 markets. Regional highlights include:
Budget: New York City (Manhattan) has the highest average wedding budget ($70,730), and Utah has the lowest average wedding budget ($13,214), excluding honeymoon only.
Age: New York City (Manhattan and Outer Boroughs) has the oldest brides (32 years), whereas West Texas has the youngest brides (24 years), on average.
Engagements: Northeast brides have the longest engagements (15.5 months), while brides from Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi have the shortest (12 months), on average.
Wedding Size: On average, Nebraska and Iowa brides still have the largest number of wedding guests (213 and 200, respectively), and Hawaii and Nevada still have the smallest number of wedding guests (82 and 59, respectively).
Wedding Style: Hawaii has the most casual weddings, while Northern/Central New Jersey has the most formal (black-tie) weddings.
Economy’s Effect: Brides in New Mexico, and California and Nevada (Sacramento, Tahoe and Reno) were the most affected by the economy, while brides in Alaska and Nebraska were the least affected.
Registry: Brides in Toledo, Ohio, Kansas and Minnesota are the most likely to register for wedding gifts (96%).
Top 10 2010 National Highlights
TOP SPENDERS. New York City Tri-State Area, New Jersey and Rhode Island Brides Are Top Wedding Spenders, Spending More Than $40,000 on Their Wedding. Nationwide, 12% of brides spend more than $40,000 on their wedding event, and approximately 1 in 5 brides spend more than $30,000 on their wedding event, not including the engagement ring or honeymoon.
ECONOMY. Economy’s Decreasing Impact. Less than a third (31%) of brides said the economy affected their wedding budget – a decrease from 34% in 2009. However, when it does come to lowering the wedding budget, one successful cost-cutting tactic used by brides is to trim the number of wedding guests – 141 was the average in 2010, compared with 149 in 2009. Despite the decrease in wedding guests, wedding standards weren’t affected, as the average wedding spend per guest remained the same as it was in 2009 – $194.
BRIDE & GROOM SNAPSHOT. Couples Are Older and Cohabitating. Not only are couples older at the time of their wedding compared with previous years (29 for brides and 31 for grooms in 2010 versus 28 for brides and 30 for grooms in 2009 and 2008), but more of them are living together prior to marriage – nearly three-quarters (74%) compared with 70% in 2009 and 2008.
LOCATION. More Destination Weddings. Destination weddings rose the past two years, with an increase of 20% since 2008. In fact, approximately 1 in 4 couples considered their wedding a destination wedding in 2010. This, in turn, affected the percentage of guests needing overnight accommodations – 42% compared with 36% in 2008.
CEREMONY. More Ceremonies Outdoors; Less in Houses of Worship. Religious institutions, such as churches, synagogues and mosques, dropped off by 10% as more couples opted to hold their wedding ceremonies outdoors. In 2010, 43% of ceremonies were held outdoors, compared with 39% in 2009 – an increase of 10%.
COLOR: Purple’s Popularity. Purple is the new “it” color, with 1 out of 5 brides (21%) choosing it for their wedding – a 50% increase since 2008. What’s losing popularity with brides, though? Brown, which decreased by 16% since last year.
ENTERTAINMENT. Guest Entertainment on the Rise. Having guests merely attend a wedding isn’t enough anymore. Custom guest entertainment, such as photo booths and comedians, is on the rise, with 15% of brides incorporating additional guest entertainment into their wedding (up from 11% in 2009). In addition, 13% of brides have interactive food stations, such as a sommelier with wine tastings, a sushi chef or a cheesemonger.
ONLINE RESOURCES. Online Wedding Planning and Execution Continues to Increase. From using social media to communicate wedding details (a 78% increase since 2008) and creating/sending save-the-dates or invitations online (a 40% increase since 2008) to using an online RSVP service (a 31% increase since 2008) or setting up personal wedding websites (a 23% increase since 2008), brides are increasingly using online wedding planning tools to prepare for the big day.
PLANNING. How much and how stressful. As the wedding approaches, brides spend more time wedding planning. In the last three months leading up to their wedding, brides spend an average of 11 hours a week planning. Nearly 50% also found that planning their wedding was more stressful than they expected. Nearly 1 in 3 hire or use an event/wedding planner, with more than half of those brides hiring them for day-of coordination (52%).
DESSERTS REIGN. Not just wedding cakes. A majority of brides (68%) have a traditional tiered wedding cake; however, other desserts like a groom’s cake (20%), candy (14%) and cupcakes (13%) are also served.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

Craig, congrats to the family for the excitement of a wedding and a baby. Good luck in the planning.

Average wedding in America cost $29,000. .....

WOW....thanks for that info Stephanie! We're a bunch of guys talking about something that is definitely not "our thing" . Soooo....

It's easy to spend "daddy's money" for brides....how many of those marriages end before the debt is paid off

You've obviously done quite well, and have always struck me as being "grounded", practical, and extremely intelligent....so what's your take on this from a female's perspective? It just seems crazy to me....

[scottmandue]

Tijuana!

We were going to cheap out and do a Vegas wedding... but I decided I wanted my elderly parents to be there for the ceremony so we went for a small church wedding.

[AFC-911]

Ewww. Vegas wedding?

There's only two things I don't want if I ever get married. No Vegas (wedding or honeymoon) and no "Here comes the bride." Crap song.

[cstreit]

Weddings are like Porsche parts.

"You need 250 flowers? That'll be $200. "
"Oh they are WEDDING flowers? $5000 please."

[Craig T]

Stephanie, thank you. As this planning is full speed now, and I'm starting to desensitize to the costs, I'm really excited about the wedding and grand baby. With her university finished and paid for, and in her career job now… This wedding completes my job as a single father.

Thanks also for that wealth of data. Unfortunately, I'm located in #6 on the list of Top 20 Most expensive wedding areas…Santa Barbara/Ventura Country, CA. I guess it's not just irony that with all my negotiating, cash offers, and forcing competitive proposals from three different venues, that I'm projecting costs to land right smack in the middle of my region's $33.7K-$36.2K average.

Top 20 Most Expensive Wedding Areas

1. NYC (Manhattan): $70,730
2. NY (Long Island, Hudson Valley and NYC Outer Boroughs): $51,811, $45,695, $44,718
3. Northern/Central NJ and Southern NJ: $49,347, $36,694
4. Rhode Island: $41,169
5. Philadelphia, PA: $36,294
6. Santa Barbara/Ventura, CA, and Los Angeles, CA: $36,233, $33,745

[NY65912]

Yea, I'm in #2!

[Paul_Heery]

My son is getting married in #4 in March and we are "chipping in". Luckily, I capped our contribution. Also, we did suggest that we would gladly give them the same amount to be used for other purposes (house down payment, college fund, etc.). But my future daughter in law wants the wedding of her dreams.

[PorscheGAL]

Originally Posted by KC911

WOW....thanks for that info Stephanie! We're a bunch of guys talking about something that is definitely not "our thing" . Soooo....

It's easy to spend "daddy's money" for brides....how many of those marriages end before the debt is paid off

You've obviously done quite well, and have always struck me as being "grounded", practical, and extremely intelligent....so what's your take on this from a female's perspective? It just seems crazy to me....

We were married at the courthouse and didn't tell anyone until it was over. Probably less than $50 with the license cost. I don't regret that at all. It was perfect for us.

That being said: I did own a flower shop and loved doing weddings. Brides look at this day with excitement and that excitement is infectious. It does make it stressful but it also is a day of great possibilities of what life will entail and that is why it is easy to get sucked into spending lots.

The key for anyone is to decide what is the max budget and stick to it. I think that the photographer and videographer are the most important cost. In the end, that will be what you have left for the years to come.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

in Burlingame, CA (like the Beverly Hills of San Francisco). .

One of our projects is tearing up that city. I wouldn't rank the place with BevHills

Nice place, no doubt



Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by AFC-911

Ewww. Vegas wedding?

There's only two things I don't want if I ever get married. No Vegas (wedding or honeymoon) and no "Here comes the bride." Crap song.

Henderson, just southeast of Vegas is a great place for a wedding. Anything available in Vegas (including inexpensive travel and hotel choices for guests who may make a Vegas vacation out of it), just a cab ride away in a beautiful, quiet setting. Plenty of nice restaurants for rehearsal dinners, etc.

[stinkindiesel]

Had two daughters get married within 60 days of each other two years ago. Fortunately, both were very realistic in their wedding plans, so I didn't have to put my foot down too strongly.

One took a simple trip with immediate family only to San Francisco, the other was a small Las Vegas wedding. Probably cost me $20,000 for both of them.

Both were also trying to buy their first houses, so appreciated the help with that a whole lot more than a big wedding.

Gary

[jwhcars]

My brother has two daughters and he was told to show up, shut up and pay up.
I am glad that I only have three sons.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by jwhcars

my brother has two daughters and he was told to show up, shut up and pay up.
I am glad that i only have three sons.

lol! :d

[john70t]

In the early 70's, granpa gave me $5-7K in GE stock.
30 years later it turned into about $70k. (Only after the Bank of NY tried to steal it as 'abandoned/forfeited')
That was used to purchase my first property and home in cash. (That property was almost stolen by a felonious embezzler when I assisted in calling him out)
I still have the property.

It was a real moral boost to not live under the weight of debt.
An investment now will turn in a huge gift later for her child...if the wedding costs are kept under control.

Just something to consider.

[Mark Henry]

Our wedding cost $6K in 1989, but people (100+) thought we paid a lot more.
My mom hand made the wedding dress and the bridesmaids gowns, My dad was a legion member and got a free hall rental, prime roast beef dinner put on by the Legion ladies was $12/plate, wife and her sister did all the flowers, cards etc. minister was $250.
It was also cheaper because this was a rural wedding, village near our cottage. Flower etc were so good they used them (we donated) for the next wedding.

We paid the $6K ourselves, with the money both of our parents gave us "for the wedding" we were mortgage and student loan free at 28 (wife was 23) years old.
I owned the house since I was 21yrs and it was an illegal duplex, after the wedding we were able to kick out the renters and take over the whole house.

[AFC-911]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Henderson, just southeast of Vegas is a great place for a wedding. Anything available in Vegas (including inexpensive travel and hotel choices for guests who may make a Vegas vacation out of it), just a cab ride away in a beautiful, quiet setting. Plenty of nice restaurants for rehearsal dinners, etc.

Sounds better than Vegas, but still a no for me.

Besides, if it's pricey to get to, it just means there's less guests. Win win!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by john70t

In the early 70's, granpa gave me $5-7K in GE stock.
30 years later it turned into about $70k. (Only after the Bank of NY tried to steal it as 'abandoned/forfeited')
That was used to purchase my first property and home in cash. (That property was almost stolen by a felonious embezzler when I assisted in calling him out)
I still have the property.

It was a real moral boost to not live under the weight of debt.
An investment now will turn in a huge gift later for her child...if the wedding costs are kept under control.

Just something to consider.

That's what I'm hoping to do with my kids, give each of them a little something for a head start on life. The funny thing about weddings is that after the fact, even most women show some regret for the money spent. Despite our fairly practical wedding, my wife now wishes we had a smaller and more simple ceremony.

[Cairo94507]

The thought of spending $30K+ or more for a wedding is just beyond my comprehension unless you are just stupid rich. I would rather take that money and put it down on a home to give them a start in life. Don't blow $30K+ on a party.