Now is your chance!

Yeah, I'm working on paying off mine off myself... Come on tax return!

Going into debt to pay for a wedding . . . what an awesome start to married life!

Nah no debt I have been working on this for 2 years.

But it is the American way so...

I'm oldschool . . . we just went cheap!

My girl wasn't having the cheap way .. Trust me I threw out Vegas and getting married by Johny Cash more than a few times.

Congrats Rich! I did like Andy, invited the rich relatives and fed them cheap. Just sayin

It's sad that it's considered the American way.

People who spend more than a couple of thousand are just wasting money (in my opinion) that could be used for a downpayment on a home.

Hmmm...half a day of feeding relatives that you won't see for another twenty years or a house to live in and enjoy for the rest of your lives? No brainer for me on this one.

Totally agreed. I think ours came in at around $2K (suit/dress included) for 60-70 guests. We did most everything ourselves, but had the food catered. If I had to do it again I'd just elope.

our wedding was done the same...cheap.

rented a sick beach house with close friends each pitching in on it. (oceanfront, heated pool, ELEVATOR, pool table..bling shit)

we got married on the beach in Corolla, NC at sunrise. (otherwise known as the OBX)

brunch for the reception (mmmm...cheap! healthy stuff though, plus vegan fare, for the vegan friends)

best day ever, marrying my best friend ever.

Or better still spend the down payment money on Japanese Vinyl

I wasn't considering spending big money until a wedding confers the same rights regardless of sexual orientation. But maybe I could just offer to pay the caterers in Frankenrouge Nags? At 2K, a mountain of debt, outstanding house repairs and a fucked up car, it is certainly tempting. When I tell non-collector friends what these go for - the first thing they always say is "why dont u sell them?" But its hard to explain the fluctuating concept of RFSO to non-skullbrainers.

Last min. Trip to Vegas with no announcement. About $1500 (we splurged and had fat Elvis marry us in the themed knights room that had a Death Dealer painting on the wall) and 12 hours in Vegas. I also barfed. My wife rules for going along with it. Held a reception later to get the fat checks from relatives. All my friends regret the bigger weddings, their spouses do too.

From Nags to riches!

Yeah, after TRYING to plan a REAL, in-town wedding we came to the conclusion to do a destination wedding. The cost of plane tickets and stay in Kauai was just as much as the place were we looking at to hold the ceremony/reception at a city near by. About $2500, round trip with cottage B&B stay. Booyah!
So in less than 3 months of preparation, we decided to hit two birds with one stone: Get married and enjoy a honeymoon in Kauai. Invited parents and bros/sis only, and it was perfect. Wouldn't have changed a thing. After the ceremony, had a family dinner, and then told the 'rents "I don't wanna see your faces around here, and see you back in TX!" and enjoyed the sun. Then had reception with friends back home...
I, too, barfed. Helicopter ride.
Totally worth it, though... And highly recommend it! Mai Tai's are the best!

I love this thread, it always takes a turn but finds it's way back. It's like your in the twilight zone with this thread.

At this rate, soon you'll be able to trade a nag for a russian mail-order bride.

How long till some dude in Hong Kong starts bootlegging 'em?

OR MEXICO! I'd LOVE a cheap blow-mold Nag knock off! Not that I want Shig to get screwed, but still, it'd be sweet! Put the Power Rangers and Spider-Man (but in yellow and black) on the package and it's DONE.

I come from a relatively small town on a small island, so maybe I'm a little off here, but the wedding and reception is not just about you and your spouse-to-be. It's also about your parents and their friends and community members who watched you grow up, who helped care for you, etc. It is a way of thanking them for supporting you throughout your life so that you could get to this point.

I think that's how it is for a lot of people who aren't from small towns too. I mean all my friends it was this "oh we owe our families." For me it was "Is my wife-to-be's family or my family going to pay for it? No? Well then I don't care."

But I think that's what it is for a lot of people. Some are insane weirdos though and like dropping 2 mortgages on the things too though.

You can be creative and include everybody. The main trick is to by-pass as much of the industry established to guilt trip you out of your money. Most of the time, 'the best' is pure marketing. Especially the 'traditional' diamond wedding ring. Before the DeBeers started to control the market, nobody had diamond wedding rings.

Are the DeBeers part the ebay/NNN conspiracy, hmm.....

^^ Yeah F diamonds, emeralds are rare for real and super-beautiful. If you go for a rock, go for an emerald.

And, lest i forget, seasons greetings all...

[quote="Biff"]You can be creative and include everybody.quote]
No, I'm sure, but you haven't met my family or in-laws so it was better without them

SMORKIN LABBIT NAG?! OMG!

You can do this without spending a boatload of money. We made our decorations. I went out to a farm and bought all our flowers direct and we put together all the flower arrangements. We did our own music. We rented the banquet hall of an historic building in the neighborhood we both grew up in. We had our favorite Thai restaurant cater. We bought kegs and wine. We bought a dress and a suit and rings (rings not included in the $2K price). We paid a friend to design our invitations. Weddings don't need to be expensive to show your friends/family that you care.

This may be a more SB appropriate new years card:

Hot.