The average American wedding costs about $27,000. I've been to a couple of weddings that were probably close to $100,000, complete with multiple photographers, multiple videographers, multiple make-up artists, multiple wedding cakes, Monique Lhuillier dresses, fancy vineyard venues, and gourmet food.
During our year-long engagement, I picked up lots of wedding magazines,
including one that advertised itself as featuring "budget weddings".
The cheapest among these was around $10,000, and that did not include the price of the dress
or the rings. Most of the supposedly "cheap" weddings described in the magazine still cost about $25,000.
In contrast, we spent a total of about $4,400 on our absolutely beautiful dream wedding and were overwhelmed with how perfect everything was. Looking back, there was no need to spend any more than that. Throwing more money at it wouldn't have made it any more special, memorable, or divine.
Not only does our $4,400 total include two separate wedding dresses (one I wore for the ceremony and one I wore for the rehearsal dinner and to a party the day before the wedding) and the rings (four between the two of us), it also includes the cost of things we didn't end up using (a blouse, an iPod dock), plane tickets for a close friend, clothing for six guests (who couldn't otherwise afford it), and the deposit from the venue that we still expect to receive back in full.
How did we do it, you ask?
Our outdoor picnic area venue was only $398 (minus the $150 deposit). Our officiant was free (though the $4,400 total does include a $98 gift for her). We had no photographer. Our cake (and cupcakes) were made by our best man (and a couple of other friends). Our clothes were from the Gap, thrift stores, and Etsy. Our rings were locally made and included no gems. All of our flowers were handmade from recycled materials, as were our party favors. We didn't have a wedding planner (well, besides me), and we didn't have any fancy cars to drive us to the ceremony or reception (unless you consider a Nissan Quest minivan fancy, which perhaps you should).
Our music turned out to be our largest expense: $400 for the two-man band (plus a $110 tip). But it was well worth the price. They were amazing and had learned and arranged dozens of songs, including "California Love" by 2Pac Shakur, "Dance With My Father" by Luther Vandross, and "Only Girl" by Rihanna.
What the $4,400 total does not include is all of the food and alcohol that our friends and family gifted us for the reception. While we did pay for some of the food, many guests decided to help with the potluck rather than give us presents, which was just what we wanted!
The total also does not include the cost of the rehearsal dinner (which was about $300 for seven people split between both sets of parents) or the honeymoon (though the hotel was only $238 for a full week because my parents lent us their timeshare).
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Here is an itemized list of what we bought (I highlighted purchases that were "superfluous"):
Engagement and Wedding Rings (4) (Kiss My Ring) - $500
Wedding Dress 1 (Haight Street thrift store) - $82.13
Fabric and Zipper for Wedding Dress 1 (Discount Fabrics) - $11.46
Alterations on Wedding Dress 1 - $40
Tulle Skirt (Etsy) - $165
Hemp Twine (Dick Blick) - $6.80
Earrings (Tree House) - $12.29
Headband (Tree House) - $17.56
JCPenney Wedding Guide (Urban Ore) - $1.42
Doilies and Handkerchiefs (Urban Ore) - $9.00
Decorations (EB Depot) - $39.62
Books (Pegasus, Shakespeare and Company) - $17.22
Travis' Clothes (Gap) - ~$180
Travis' Shoes (Simple) - $55
Doilies and Handkerchiefs (Clausen House) - $16.75
Paper, Envelopes (EB Depot) - ~$10.24
Plates and Forks (Unique Boutique) - $9.50
Corset (Etsy) - $119.50
Blouse - ~$50 (didn't wear)
Sash - ~$5
Yarn and Fabric (EB Depot) - $7.50
Veil (Lacis) - ~$30
Ribbon and Glue (Stonemountain) - $34.04
Venue - $398 (expecting a $150 deposit refund)
Doily and Ring Case (Clausen House) - $2.40
Thread, Photos, Paper (EB Depot) - $10.06
Sack, Handkerchiefs, Table Runner (Pauline's) - $20
Fabric (EB Depot) - $6
Glue (Dick Blick's) - $4.75
Glue (Stonemountain) - $12.34
Scissors, needles (Lacis) - ~$29
Speakers (Amazon) - ~$55.00 (didn't use)
Burlap Sacks (Etsy) - $36
Books and Basket (EB Depot) - ~$18
Doilies (Clausen House) - $25
American Apparel Panties - ~$39 (didn't wear)
Kasey's Shoes - ~$60
Doilies (Clausen House) - $11
Glue, twine, Goo Gone (ACE) - ~$25
Juice and Vegenaise (Sprouts) - ~$74
Rooting Growth Hormone (for plant favors) - ~$10
Kasey's Jacket (Decades of Fashion) - ~$32
Paperweights (Loved to Death) - ~$46
Doilies (Church Mouse) - ~$40
Engagement Earrings (Kiss My Ring) - ~$88
Musicians - $400 (parents paid)
Marriage License - $96
Necklace - $39
Shirt for Guest- ~$27.75
Clothes for Guest- ~$85
Parasol, etc. (Lacis) - ~$64
Plane Tickets for Guest- $275.20
Basket (Out of the Closet) - $3.50
Doilies (Mixed Pickles) - $2.18
Bottles (Urban Ore) - $6.74
Glue Tape (Paper Source) - $26.70
Safety Pins (ACE) - ~$6
Ribbon (Stonemountain) - $6.09
Under-dress (H&M) - ~$14.30
Clothes for 4 Guests (dd's) - ~$30
Cake stand, baking cups (Someone's in the Kitchen) - $136.70
Food (Whole Foods) - ~$177.00 (parents paid)
Food (Farmers' Market) - $27 (parents paid)
Food (Trader Joe's) - ~$50? (parents paid)
Food (Trader Joe's) - $53.82
Lace, books (Lacis) - ~$33.50 (parents paid)
Pens (Staples) - $19.54
Stakes for Altar (ACE) - $10.42 (parents paid)
Screws for Table (ACE) - ~$5? (parents paid)
Rental Car - $118 (parents paid)
Rental Chairs - $64.90
Tip for Band - $110 (parents paid $50)
Tip for Officiant - $98
Foam Squares (Paper Source) - ~$12
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