Why do people still have expensive weddings?

desultory wrote: »

Seen a girl I know get married, had the wedding itself in a registry office and the afters in a cafe. No joke. Their honeymoon was a day out in Dublin.

...and she's no more or less married then her pal who spent €30000.
...except 3 weeks later her friend is looking at her credit card bill and wondering why someone didn't spot her obvious insanity 6 months previously.

homemadecider wrote: »

I'm curious to know how you managed to spend a whopping 15k when you had a homemade dress and a carvery?? Where did the money go?

Free bar, people tend to order more expensive drinks when someone else if paying. 100 guests drinking for the day and into the night - I'd imagine it was a hefty enough bill.

It's a very nouveua riche/chavy thing to overspend on a wedding.

The upper crust generally have comparatively modest weddings.

candy-gal1 wrote: »

Tbh its up to the couple themselves what they want, put together with they can afford! I would have thought most people getting married dont want to be put in debt afterwards, or maybe thats just me?!
I mean, isnt one of the points in general daily like not to end up in debt unless you something great to show for it and will last, a house/mortgage etc?! And even then imho its a big step to get into

If I do ever get married, never thought Id be saying that tbh :P - before the bf now I was always the one to say "wedding, marriaige, kids??!! fcuk off" :rolleyes: But whatever himself has done to my heart, thats changed anyway - not saying thats what I want now or soon etc but I definitly wouldnt say no

Keeping with the OP, What happened to couples getting pretty naturistic outdoor weddings or hiring somewhere that means something to them to get married in but would prob cost less than church etc, Maybe its just me but I kinda


think church weddings can be very impersonal, samey and a tad rushed!

Sounds gorgeous . The sky for a roof, meadow flowers for a carpet, apple blossom on trees , bees buzzing, birds singing...Unfortunately you will need a Solmeniser (€500).
Oh and the Government have decided that the cloud-scudded sky is not a"roof" after all and a proper roof is needed for your union to be legal.
If you bring people to a field you'll have to feed them or they'll give out about you. Outside caterers marquee etc.€30 per head minimum?
People can't find the field . Hire buses.
Booze?
Band/DJ. (Drunk people want to dance)
Are we in Ireland ? Its raining. Sorry.

I can't get my head around it when people are struggling. If they're flush with cash and want to go all out fine, no problem, it's cash into the economy and keeping people in a job somewhere. I know of a couple who spent about 60k on their wedding and they've no money issues and had an absolutely incredible wedding that everyone had a blast and it's nobody else's business to decide whether that was value for money or money well spent - it was their money to spend and didn't cause them any trouble. But on the other hand a couple I know bought their house a couple of years ago and remortgaged it to pay for their wedding. They're literally going to be still paying for their wedding in 30 years' time. Remortgaging your house for a PARTY?! I was invited but didn't go because honestly, even though I knew one of them growing up, I wouldn't know them if I passed them in the street. Why would I go to their wedding?

If I ever have a wedding it's gonna be small. I want to know everyone there. If I've never met them, why would they be there? Anyone who deserves to be there will just be happy to join in the celebrations and won't get their nose out of joint if there aren't any favours on the table because they'll be too busy having a good time. I think people just lose the head about who needs to be there and what needs to be provided for them. If you wouldn't have them to a siginificant birthday party then why are they at your wedding?!

homemadecider wrote: »

My eldest sister got married a couple of years ago and it must have cost her a ****load. Hundreds of guests, fancy hotel, ice-cream cart, photobooth, designer dress, huge cake... the list goes on. It must have been at least 30k if not more.

I got engaged late last year and we've decided to elope. We used a great travel agent to book everything and are getting married on a beach in the Caribbean later this year. We're not inviting anyone, just the two of us and it will be very low-key and relaxed. The legal fee is about €180 for the wedding and we're staying on for 3 week honeymoon. The bill for this comes in significantly lower than a typical Irish wedding.

We're taking our immediate family (19 people including us) out for a nice dinner when we get back, then throwing a party in a pub function room for our friends afterwards. We've pretty much no planning or organising to do and we're so happy to avoid all the stress of a 'typical' wedding.

Jays, your sis had all the fads.

What you're doing is exactly what I'd do if I was getting married.

I mainly can't believe how obsessed people get with their wedding, it's shocking!

yellow hen wrote: »

Having done the whole €20k wedding thing a few years ago, I eould never go it again. It just wasn't my thing and I wish I had had the courage to be different

Wow, very honest!

Tarzana wrote: »

I've never been to any wedding I would consider worth the money, and I just don't think I ever will. It's a one day event, a party. For me, it's not relative. It's simply not worth what some people spend on it.

Just not your thing.. my mate had his reception in his local pub, savage day.