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Cost of Weddings in this country!!!

BoozyBabe

Ok, so we had a load of can't afford houses ...... yesterday.

But what if you want to get married? At least a house can last the rest of your life if you want (so possible value for money) but €30k (minimum) for one day!!:eek: , I just can't justify that!

Ok, not planning on getting married anytime soon & thank God, cos I don't know where I'd get that sort of money, but you can prob add another €10k onto that for another 5 years time.

It's ridiculous! I don't know what it's like for the rest of you, but where I'm from there seems to be a lot of snobbery & keeping up with the Jone's & a lot of tut tuts if things aren't done by 'protocol'

I mean, there's an awful lot of pressure on people getting married to do the norm (i.e. be out a fortune on one day)
It would be frowned upon to go to Rome (for example) to get married with just immediate family, & then go for a nice meal:- would be seen as being tight & miserable, would be the talk of the local area, as would hiring out your wedding dress for the day, getting outside caterers & having your reception in a local community centre instead of an expensive hotel, getting a friend in a nice car to drive you to the church instead of hiring a limousine, making invitations, mass booklets etc, etc yourself.

I think weddings are this expensive because they can be.. People won't question the price for fear of what the neightbours might say, & for the same reason won't try to cut corners or do something different to save the pennies.

The blaa blaa "it's the best day of your life", "a day you'll never forget" (bloody sure I'll never forget it:- the bank manager won't let me forget it for God knows how many more years to come!!!!), I just don't think those thoughts alone are enough to spend such a ridiculous amount of money.

Chances are, the couple getting married are already up to their eyeballs in debt from building/buying a house.

Am I just talking pure nonsense or am I not the only one who simply can't justify the price of a wedding for one day?

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_Kaiser_

BoozyBabe wrote:

Burts Bee.

Maybe I'm just pure tight now, but I even feel 12-15k is too much for 1 day!!!
I mean yes it's a wedding day, so that's cheap for the day that's in it.

But my point is, I don't think there should be such hype put on "Your Wedding Day" that makes you think spending 12-15k on about 16hours worth of entertainment(if you like) is a bargain!!

I mean, if (for example) you're catholic & you & your family & friends decide it's Easter, I'll get a nice dress & we'll go to mass today, then we'll go to the restaurant for a nice meal, then we'll go hear a band play & have a few drinks.
Would you then think & we'll only have to pay €12-15k for it, peanuts!!

No, you definitely wouldn't, so I don't see why just because you put the word "Wedding" on a day that suddenly it's ok to talk about crazy sums of money.

But, like someone else asked me. I've a feeling that yes, I will have to bow down to the pressures of what's expected of me for my big day, unless of course my better half has as strong of feelings about it as I do, then everyone who has a problem with our plans can go fcuk themselves!!

Simple solution.. Tell them your plans in advance and they can either like it or lump it - after all, it's what you and your other half think/want that counts here, right?

The problem, which you've touched on, is that a lot of people have no appreciation for the value of money since we hit these "good times" in this country.

What people are slowly starting to realise (based on a few other threads around here the last few days) is that it's not as good as it seems (massive personal debt, ridiculous house prices, ever increasing cost of living etc) and this house of cards we've built is looking increasingly shaky!

Save your money people... you may need it sooner than you think!

forbairt

Siogfinsceal wrote:

Been to so many weddings and thought wow they paid 20-30k and half the guest are just here because they felt obliged or wanted a free meal it stunns me.

like the free meal bit ... I've never been to a wedding for a free meal ... considering you're expected to give a gift ... to the value of X ... or is that just me being crazy ?

egan007

Am I just talking pure nonsense or am I not the only one who simply can't justify the price of a wedding for one day?

Yup - nonsense,
If you want to spend 30-40K you are not mad but stupid.
Keep up with who? Who's putting pressure on? Isn't it your day?
Frounded upon? F*ck that
Why invite 300 people you don't know for them to say it was sh!te.?

I'm having a wedding in Dublin in december in a really nice hotel it's costing 5K because only the people i want to go are going (around 80).
Anything over this is garnish and pure sh!t....

jimmidy_cricket

I work in a hotel (Not a fancy castle or anything) and we do a specials for weddings with 100 or more guests; complimentary room hire, flowers for the tables, wedding car, bridal suite, tea & coffee reception, champagne for the bridal party (The bride/Groom, Brides maids and Grooms men) and the price varies on what menu you go for. I think its reasonable. It ranges from 38 to 45 euro per head, thats for a starter, main, dessert, tea/coffee. If you wanted a 2nd choice on the mains add on a fiver. You can pretty much pick and choose what starter/dessert you want as the price only varies with whats on the main. We also used to do complimentary room hire and dinner for two for the bride and groom for their anniversary the following year and if the bridal suite was available then they'd be booked into that but I'm not too sure if that offers still on.

Heres a sample bill;

Menu Option (A) E38.00 x 150 5,700.00
Finger food menu (for the afters) E7.00 x 150 1,050.00
10 Bottles Red 10 Bottles White E16.00 x 20 320.00
Bar Tab (estimate E5.00p.p.) E5.00 x 130 650.00
DJ 275.00
Band (Estimate) 300.00

So that works out as 8,295.00

I haven't a clue how much a dress and all the accessories would be but what I'd recomend is a long engagement. If I got engaged tomorrow I'd set about organising it straight away, I'd book the venue for 2008 or 2009. If i put away 100 a week I'd have over 10K in two years. Hotels have to honour the prices they qute so even if the rates go up tough poo for them cause I'd have my deposit paid on a 2006 rate. Oh and I just realised my fiance would have to put money aside too so say he saves 100 a week aswell well then thats over 20 grand and thats more than enough for fine wedding and a lovely honeymoon (I'd take a month and a half and travel, maybe thailand, maybe south africa)

BoozyBabe

egan007 wrote:

I'm having a wedding in Dublin in december in a really nice hotel it's costing 5K because only the people i want to go are going (around 80).
Anything over this is garnish and pure sh!t....

Now that's more like the figure I'd be hoping to spend!!
& you're absolutely right abouth the numbers.

I have more than that number in 1st cousins alone & I was just thinking there now how many I'm close to & would like to be at my wedding. The answer is 1, 2 at a stretch!!! The rest I wouldn't know what to say to them besides hello.

BoozyBabe

jimmidy_cricket wrote:

Band (Estimate) 300.00

Any band these days are charging well over €1k for a wedding.

Padraig Mor

Getting married myself in a few months so encountering all this at the moment! The problem (as usual in Rip Off Ireland) is people paying shamelessly exorbitant prices and then complaining about it after. If they're ripping you off - go elsewhere! It seems that most service providers hear 'wedding' and dollar (or should that be Euro?!) signs start appearing in their eyes, photographers and florists probably being the worst.

Apparently the average wedding costs in the order of 25K. Ours looks like coming in at under 15K for 160ish guests. Note that this is without scrimping - pretty much everything will seem 'luxury'! It simply pays to shop around. Most photographers charge AT LEAST €1500 (and as much as 5K) for the day and will not give you the negatives (so you have to pay their hilarious prices to get reprints). We got a guy for €550 - including negatives. BTW - ignore the many articles warning of dreadful consequences if you don't get an IPPA-affiliated photographer - it's just a cartel. Invitations - €4, €5, €6 each? Fuck that! Get em on eBay - plenty of great invites there for a euro a pop....or just make em yourself! RSVPs, Thank You cards, place names? Get em there too! Or do what we're doing - make your own design in Photoshop and get it printed in a printing press. Herself forcing you to get 'favours'? Loads of websites to buy them from! The internet is your friend!

county

am getting married in the north, its costing us in sterling,but it still works out about 20% cheaper than if it was in the south

rubadub

BoozyBabe wrote:

€30k (minimum) for one day!!:eek: , I just can't justify that!

Ever hear of a registry office. How can you say 30 is minimum?

BoozyBabe wrote:

There's actually an unwritten rule

Then its actually not a rule.

I heard of other people making profits too, like somebody else mentioned.

Sponge Bob

Kiera wrote:

Screw all that. I’m getting married in Vegas by Elvis!

Done that twice with a Reno quickie divorce thrown in between the two

I blame the women for most of the ridiculous cost of weddings though, 3 hairdressing rehearsals , one just for the hats kinda crap. What some people 'have to have' is astonishing

BaZmO*

BoozyBabe wrote:

Am I just talking pure nonsense

Well yes you are imo. There's a big difference between trying to struggle to get on a property ladder due to exorbitant house and wasting money on a lavish wedding just to keep up with the Jones.

BoozyBabe

BaZmO* wrote:

Well yes you are imo. There's a big difference between trying to struggle to get on a property ladder due to exorbitant house and wasting money on a lavish wedding just to keep up with the Jones.

Well then you actually agree with me that I'm NOt talking nonsense as my point was it IS ridiculous to waste money on a lavish wedding just to keep up with the Jones

& to someone else, yes I've heard of Registry weddings & am on all for them.

My €30k figure was for the big traditional (way over the top IMO) wedding.

BaZmO*

BoozyBabe wrote:

Well then you actually agree with me that I'm NOt talking nonsense as my point was it IS ridiculous to waste money on a lavish wedding just to keep up with the Jones

Well yes I agree with you but only in the sense that if you think it's too much to spend that much on a wedding well then you shouldn't do it. As I said already, it's a totally different situation feeling that spending 350K on a house is too much when you know there's nothing you can do about it compared to spending 30K on a wedding when you know you can do something about it.

BoozyBabe wrote:

It would be frowned upon to go to Rome (for example) to get married with just immediate family, & then go for a nice meal:- would be seen as being tight & miserable, would be the talk of the local area, as would hiring out your wedding dress for the day, getting outside caterers & having your reception in a local community centre instead of an expensive hotel, getting a friend in a nice car to drive you to the church instead of hiring a limousine, making invitations, mass booklets etc, etc yourself.

So what if other people "frown upon what you're doing? Do you worry much about other people's opinions?

daveg

jimmidy_cricket wrote:

I work in a hotel (Not a fancy castle or anything) and we do a specials for weddings with 100 or more guests; complimentary room hire, flowers for the tables, wedding car, bridal suite, tea & coffee reception, champagne for the bridal party (The bride/Groom, Brides maids and Grooms men) and the price varies on what menu you go for. I think its reasonable. It ranges from 38 to 45 euro per head, thats for a starter, main, dessert, tea/coffee. If you wanted a 2nd choice on the mains add on a fiver. You can pretty much pick and choose what starter/dessert you want as the price only varies with whats on the main. We also used to do complimentary room hire and dinner for two for the bride and groom for their anniversary the following year and if the bridal suite was available then they'd be booked into that but I'm not too sure if that offers still on.

Heres a sample bill;

Menu Option (A) E38.00 x 150 5,700.00
Finger food menu (for the afters) E7.00 x 150 1,050.00
10 Bottles Red 10 Bottles White E16.00 x 20 320.00
Bar Tab (estimate E5.00p.p.) E5.00 x 130 650.00
DJ 275.00
Band (Estimate) 300.00

So that works out as 8,295.00

Add
E2K dress
E2.5K photographer
E1K grooms hire
E300 church
E300 car hire
E600 cake
E1500 flowers
E300 invitations
E1K videoographer
E? Honeymoon
E1700 band & Dj
E600 wine

and thats off the top of my head. The list goes on and on...

BoozyBabe

BaZmO* wrote:

So what if other people "frown upon what you're doing? Do you worry much about other people's opinions?

Yes, I completey agree on the house thing, don't think I ever said anything different.

& no, I honestly couldn't give a toss what others think, but my ma's very traditional & she really does care what others think & would be really hurt if I went too much against the norm as people would be talking about us.
& I do care what my ma thinks / feels, don't like hurting her, but hey, this thread was more of a general topic, not so much about me. I'm not even engaged!!!!!:D (& maybe might never need worry about wedding rip-offs!!:( )

Burts Bee

BoozyBabe wrote:

Burts Bee.

Maybe I'm just pure tight now, but I even feel 12-15k is too much for 1 day!!!
I mean yes it's a wedding day, so that's cheap for the day that's in it.

But my point is, I don't think there should be such hype put on "Your Wedding Day" that makes you think spending 12-15k on about 16hours worth of entertainment(if you like) is a bargain!!

I mean, if (for example) you're catholic & you & your family & friends decide it's Easter, I'll get a nice dress & we'll go to mass today, then we'll go to the restaurant for a nice meal, then we'll go hear a band play & have a few drinks.
Would you then think & we'll only have to pay €12-15k for it, peanuts!!

No, you definitely wouldn't, so I don't see why just because you put the word "Wedding" on a day that suddenly it's ok to talk about crazy sums of money.

But, like someone else asked me. I've a feeling that yes, I will have to bow down to the pressures of what's expected of me for my big day, unless of course my better half has as strong of feelings about it as I do, then everyone who has a problem with our plans can go fcuk themselves!!

Yeah I know what you mean, when my mam and dad got married they had the reception in Dalkey and they had chicken or lamb for the dinner and a bottle of wine and whiskey on each table. They looked great and had a great time.

I think though the money does mount up even when you do it on the cheap. Like dresses and food and the music, they are the main expenses. But like we don't want to spend more than 12k but hopefully we won't even spend that. I am SO not into the whole materialistic side of it, that's not what my wedding day means to me.

And I'm getting kind of sick of this whole 'Rip off Ireland' thing. The only people that are making you pay 30k for a wedding are yourselves! Not the government or anyone else!

Burts Bee

I also think the more you do yourselves and the more you get your family and friends involved the better. Keep it real kids...it's about two communites and families coming together, the more you keep both sides involved the better.

How cool would it be to look about on your day and think that it happened because all your mates and your family helped out and really made the day!

JB123

Sherlock wrote:

Myself and Mrs Sherlock tied the knot in Rome, no family or friends there. Had a great time, no pressure or hassle at all. Enjoyed a relaxed breakfast before wandering over to the Church for the ceremony. Wandered around Rome with a camera for photos before heading back to the hotel for phone calls home before hitting the bubbly and vino. Dinner in a nice restaurant that night. Anyone who spends 20 or 30k on one day for what are in the main part acquaintances or distant relations needs their head examined.

Myself and Mr's jb123 did the deed in Rome to.Had about 30 guests.We were all on the piss for the week.Had nothing to do with money I was best man at a wedding for a friend a few years back,my poor nerves took 6 months to recover and I said no way am I putting myself through that again.
What church did u go to?

GeorgeBailey

BoozyBabe wrote:

Blah blah blah

You care far too much what people think. Break the cycle and others will thank you for it later.

BoozyBabe

GeorgeBailey wrote:

You care far too much what people think. Break the cycle and others will thank you for it later.

BoozyBabe wrote:

& no, I honestly couldn't give a toss what others think, but my ma's very traditional & she really does care what others think & would be really hurt if I went too much against the norm as people would be talking about us.
& I do care what my ma thinks / feels, don't like hurting her

If my time comes I will try my upmost to do the big day on a budget & show all it can be every bit as good & memorable as a wedding 3 times the price.

Kinetic^

Thank god I don't believe in marriage as the thought of paying 10-20k on 1 day just makes be cringe!!!!

And you know, I'm not going to be forced into it by anyone. If my family or her family don't like it then they can go **** off. Sorry for language, just feel very strongly about this

ionapaul

If I can't find a women willing to get married in Vegas by Elvis, I'll never get married. That's the truth...

jimmidy_cricket

daveg wrote:

Add
E2K dress
E2.5K photographer
E1K grooms hire
E300 church
E300 car hire
E600 cake
E1500 flowers
E300 invitations
E1K videoographer
E? Honeymoon
E1700 band & Dj
E600 wine

and thats off the top of my head. The list goes on and on...

I've highlighted some items there that I included in the sample bill in my post. These items in Bold are included in the hotel I work in.

Like some one already stated...shop around and you'll find cheaper rates.

BoozyBabe

ionapaul wrote:

If I can't find a women willing to get married in Vegas by Elvis, I'll never get married. That's the truth...

I hear Kiera's up for it!!;)

rubadub

daveg wrote:

E2.5K photographer

john hinde?

daveg wrote:

E1K videoographer

speilberg?

daveg wrote:

E600 cake

3lb hash brownie?

daveg wrote:

E1700 band & Dj

U2 & fatboy slim?

I am in the wrong job if those are the going rates for a days work!

BaZmO*

Well at one of my mates wedding the cost for the video was 2K and theband cost 2k also, and it wasn't a particularly lavish affair. Depends on who you get really and what you're willing to pay.

Kinetic^

Spielberg?

Why not get his non union mexican equivalent, senior spielbergo!!!:p

BoozyBabe

rubadub wrote:

I am in the wrong job if those are the going rates for a days work!

I don't know about the other 2, but he's bang on the money for the band & DJ

As I've said, the whole thing is an outrageous money making scandal!
How's about Reg Office & any 1 item from the McDonald's Euro Saver Menu!!:D

Sherlock

Yes they're crazy prices and bear in mind its not even for a days work, just a few hours!. Our Rome photograher cost us just 220 euro and the results were top class.

Kinetic^

BoozyBabe wrote:

I don't know about the other 2, but he's bang on the money for the band & DJ

As I've said, the whole thing is an outrageous money making scandal!
How's about Reg Office & any 1 item from the McDonald's Euro Saver Menu!!:D

HHmmmmmmm, in the very unlikely situation that I ever change my mind on getting married, you're hired as my bride