Is $215,000 too much to spend on a wedding? If so, how come? How much did you spend on yours?

Question

My friend's wedding for August 25, and she has have 9 bridesmaids and 9 groomsmen.

She's got at least 550 people coming to the wedding, and she spend almost $9,000 on a dress she's only going to wear once.

I pulled my wedding off for less than $850.

Answer 1

uhm even me loving the most expensive things think its a waste.. I would rather pay for college or buy a house!

Where are they planning on living?!

granted with that many people there might be the raise in the price like a lot...

My limit is 25,000 since its white tie major extreme formal like royal formal. Also i have to get my dress custom made or else it won't look how I dream it should look.

but its her life..let her do what she wants.

Answer 2

We spent $25k... it was a waste.

Answer 3

Each family is going to have a different answer to this question.  I'll be in your budget range, unless my honey and I win the lottery.  I certainly don't advocate going into debt for a wedding, and nobody I know could afford that much for themselves.  But hey, I'm kinda low rent anyway.  If a couple have that kind of money to spend, and that is what will make them happy, then it is not too much to spend.  If they don't have that kind of money but they go ahead and spend it anyway, then maybe the best wedding present for them would be a giant cluestick.

Answer 4

that's absolutely ridiculous. unless they are millionaires, they will be in debt for life, which is so stupid to do for one night.

my wedding was $8,000 for 180 people

Answer 5

i think that is very well stupid..i mean i there are so many other things you can do with that much money and i know it is a special day but i want it special meaning only my close friends and family only 60 people are coming to my wedding and i am trying to keep it under a very small budget make it special yes but it is one day.and as you said one day she will wear that dress...i mean if she had the money and that is what she decided it is her choice but i think that was so very stupid..

Answer 6

Its her 1 day to be a princess and if she has that sort of money to spend on a wedding then go for it but it is not about the guests and the food and drink or any of that as long as she loves the person she is marrying then it really doesn't matter if it costs you $50 to get married.

Answer 7

If your fired has that kind of money at her disposal, and has everything else she NEEDS, then why not spend it? We all want the best we can afford, and if she can afford it, why not...lets just hope she makes sizeable donations to charity too!

mine is going to cost around £5000... but I'll come back with the final figure once its all done and dusted... :O

Answer 8

Oh my goodness!  That's RIDICULOUS!  I wouldn't spend 1/3 of that on a HOUSE let alone a WEDDING!  

WOW!  We pulled off our wedding, everything from the rehearsal dinner at a nice restraunt for 35 people, to the wedding food and cake to my  dress to the bridesmaids dresses, to the groomsmen's tuxes ( 6 bridesmaids and 6 groomsmen) to my husband's wedding ring (I didn't get an engagement ring or wedding ring from him, so there wasn't any cost for that), to the venues, the dj, the well EVERY SINGLE ASPECT of our wedding with 360 guests for less than $2,000.  I paid for all of it myself.  

THAT IS A LUDARCRIS AMOUNT TO SPEND ON ONE DAY!  YOUR FRIEND IS NUTS!  lol!  And I mean that in the best possible way of course, but holy buckets!  Like I said, I wouldn't even spend 1/3 of that amount on a HOUSE!  Yikes!  (Seriously... I wouldn't, our house cost $57K.  lol)  Aroudn here $215,000 would buy you a 5 bedroom 4 bath 3,000 square foot plus house on 80 acres!  Yikes!

Answer 9

Hey if they got the money and they wanna spend,its all good.Me personally,if I had alot of money,I still wouldn't spend that much.I'm a cheap B!!!!.

Answer 10

215,000 is way to much. That could be a house for goodness sake.

How come: well I don't come from a rich family so I could find a better use for $215,000 like the house I mentioned earlier or finishing up my college schooling.

We're budgeting for $3,000 and hoping to pull it off for a lot less then that.

Congratulations to your friend though. I hope you enjoy the wedding.

Answer 11

Well if they can afford it and aren't in debt because of that, I see no problem in it.  

Different strokes for different folks, you can't criticize someone for having different priorities than you do.  

Then again our wedding will hopefully be around $8-10K or less.  But a very basic destination wedding, with a simple beach BBQ (probably) as a reception when we get home.

Answer 12

$215000 is stupid! You can have a SUPER nice wedding for less than $20000. I'm attempting to plan a future wedding and I refuse to spend over $1500. Anyone who spends that much money on a wedding just wants to show off.

Answer 13

$215,000?!  (Im choking on my drink here). Oh that just breaks my cheap heart... You could use that money for so many other things. Your friend went OTT with her wedding. I spent less then $1,000 on mine (granted it was ruined by my room mates... and I HAD to spend my honeymoon with my ungrateful in-laws........ugh)...

$9,000 on a dress?! What is she a gazillionaire? I'm wondering if she's regretting spending that amount of money now?  

We spent less then $1,000 on our wedding. Granted it was ruined by my room mates.. and I had to spend my honeymoon with my ungrateful in-laws from h**l! Were planning a renewal of vows for our 10th wedding anniversary. We will probably spend about $2,000-$2500 (were thinking about going on a world cruise. :D).

Good luck. :)

Answer 14

I personally thing that is a HUGE waste (more than my house is costing us!). However, everyone has their own opinion on what is too much, depending on their financial situation.

I am spending $2,000 on my wedding. I didn't even want to spend that, but I didn't know how much stuff cost..

Answer 15

my god, that's almost a 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bath house in my area, give or take a few grand.

That's just nuts.

My wedding cost $650, food, flowers, cake, photos and rings.

Answer 16

Unfortunately, that's pretty much a starter home in my area.  Still, $215,000 is way too much to spend on a wedding IMO.  Nine bridesmaids?  For what?  All of this excess really takes away from the meaning of the day, which is supposed to be two people joining their lives together as one for the rest of their time on Earth.  It doesn't sound to me like she understands what marriage is all about and because of that, I'll bet you she ends up divorced.

EDIT:  How many weddings really are "once in a lifetime"?  I only know one or two couples where each partner was married only once and is still together after 10+ years of marriage.  And second or third weddings these days can be just as opulent as first ones.  

Another thing people keep saying is, "If she's got the money, why not?"  The truth is that she probably doesn't have the money.  She's probably putting a lot of it on credit that it's going to take her and her new husband years to pay off.  My gut feeling is that if she really did have the money, she wouldn't feel the need to impress all her friends and relatives.

Answer 17

anything more than $25,000 is too much. Look at it, it depends if they are living within their means. If they have a home and money in their savings I guess it's ok. However if they're gonna live in a box and have to eat bread and water only & be in debt for years and years to come, well wow... that's too bad. That's what we call a POOR CHOICE

Answer 18

I would love to know wehre everyone is getting married for less than $5000!!!  I am getting married next year and we already spent $34,000.  That doesn't even include the transportation, flowers, favors, hotel...

I do think $215,000 is way too much, but I think nothing of spending $50,000 on a wedding.  This is a once in a lifetime event.  Why not go all out?

Answer 19

If I had that kind of money I'd still do a small wedding and put the rest to an amazing honeymoon and a house!

Mine is about $5000

Answer 20

weddings are huge waste of money... happiest weddings, most stress free, most honest, and happiest couples i have ever witnessed were all result of small unconventional weddings like at beach etc.

Answer 21

that is INSANE!!! i work at the hotel mcdonald...(nicest hotel in alberta or really close) and THE most expensive wedding i have ever heard of was 50 000 dollars!!!  and why nine bridesmades??? if they are all her friends they will understand when they are not bridesmades... ok talk some sense into your friend

Answer 22

It's her wedding, her day.  So what.  Just go and enjoy the wedding!  They are your friends, why are you so jealous?

Answer 23

she cares more about the wedding than the marriage sounds like.

Answer 24

What a selfish waste of money.  But if they have it to blow on one day, then good for them.  I sure couldn't afford it.  

The caterers, tailors, etc will be happy, and it's good for the economy I guess.

Answer 25

That's friggin' insane, even if you are a millionaire.  I had 450 people at my wedding and a huge reception with all the bells and whistles and pulled it off for a little bit over $5000.  I thought even that was ridiculous.  To each their own I guess.

Answer 26

I could buy a house AND have my dream wedding (Cruise Wedding w/8 guests-all expenses paid!) with that amount of money!

Jeez!

Answer 27

First of all, even though I think it is a waste, it is their wedding. Second, that is nothing, don't you people watch Platinum Weddings? $215,000 is like pocket change to some of these people. But, they are some of the most extravagant weddings I have ever seen. If she has the money and is not putting herself and her family on the streets when it is all said and done, then I think it is perfectly fine.