ElowynW
definently NOT spending that much money. I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but unless you are filthy rich enough to spend $27,000, doing so is wasteful and completely retarded. You could put a down payment on a house for that amount! geez! Anyways, I will be spending no more than $10,000 possibly less and I'm cutting back on things that aren't the most important to us. Bringing in friends to play music, having guests bring food as a gift, buying small things here and there at your arts and crafts store. Don't feed into your bridezilla. Keep it simple, keep it smart

r_e_courtney
My fiance and I live in NJ and are getting married in Las Vegas. We have paid for our hotel and airfare, wedding, limo, photographer, internet broadcast, and a 20 person reception on a budget of $5,000. Dress and tux are also included in that budget. It can be done. Just remember the day is for you and those closest to you. Without all the drama we are actually enjoying planning our wedding!

aschabes
The cost of a wedding goes up expoentially if you don't think about having a budget wedding. The price goes up considerably with the following few considerations: guest list and location. Consider having it in your backyard, a public park, or at a restaurant. Consider inviting just those who are close to you. If not, you are at the whim of the wedding machine and EVERYTHING costs more when it has "wedding" attached to it. I started with a budget of $15000 and blew it all on location, catering, rentals, and booze because of my choices in venue and guest list. Now I'm a bit closer to the average.

rrseymour
I think the thing to remember is that weddings just 30-40 years ago where not the big extravagance that they are today. Try to remember that the goal is to have a good time and celebrate not spend hundreds of dollars on invatations that are going to be throwen away and forgot about. Try to keep a humble opinion of yourself and remember that people aren't really going to care if you had a $3,000 dress or a $200 dress, what matters is that you look good. So spend that extra money on a jump rope and a set of weights and tone up! When your in shape you make the dress look good, and you won't have to spend as much. In all the weddings I went to the thing I remember the most was the fun on the dance floor and socializing, not if the couple had custom engraved napkins. I would highly suggest keeping vendors out of the picture as much as possible. Go to Costco and by the beer and food your self. Use paper instead of real place settings. And learn to say "No" (It is a complete sentence), when the person selling you your wedding dress also wants to do your bridesmaid dresses. You would be amazed how much cheeper it is to go to say Ross, Target, or J.C. Penny's and find really nice "bridesmaid" dresses that you like just as well and are hundreds of dollars less. Get your invetations at a retail store (like Target). Have your family pitch in and make the food themselves and keep the food simple. Try to make stuff that you would have at a normal family gathering. Believe it or not you can cut cheese into cute little squares yourself and roll the cold cuts and slap some lettus under it all to look pretty. Have an amature take your wedding pictures, they often do just as good of job and a bonus is if they are related and will do it as a gift. Then spend the money on the important things. Your ring is one, you'll have to see it everyday of your life. The DJ is really important, he sets the entire tone of the wedding and is responsible for everyone enjoying themselves and getting involved. And of course the honeymoon! After all, who is this wedding for anyway? In the end try to keep an open mind and at least look at some of the less expensive options before you sign any contracts, it's amazing what can look beautiful for less.

lynlovesjoe
That's a lot of money! I know one couple who spent about $300 on theirs, another who spent $3000 and had it at Embassy Suites, and another who spent 30,000--$50,000. Everyone has their own opinion and what is important. Our budget is $15,000, but I already cheated and didn't record a few numbers of things I bought awhile ago and stored away. I don't believe in budgets... haha