Among Friends

[Ladyrain]

Got married at 19 (both of us) many, many, many decades ago.   We're still together but I wouldn't recommend any 19 year old getting married.   Live some life first.

My parents paid for the wedding.  Catholic church, now closed.  Nice restaurant reception (restaurant is now closed too), open bar, sit down dinner, Polka band (not my fave).   Gown was empire waist A-line Alencon lace top, satin bottom.  Bridesmaids in empire waist gowns of dark green velvet top, lighter green skirts.  Men in traditional black tuxes.  3 day honeymoon to Lake George (we're in MA) which we drove to in a friend's car, as we didn't even own one, lol.    Husband was in the Air Force and got stationed in NH  (Viet Nam era).    

It was a nice enough wedding, but as simiple as it was compared to today's lavish productions, I always felt it was more for everyone else's enjoyment, rather than a symbol of two people commiting their lives to each other.  So, no I"m not a big fan of weddings in general, and think that the focus should be on the "marriage" of the two individuals rather than on the clothes, flowers, food, guests and the cost of the whole shebang.

[Cakers3]

First wedding. MIL showed up wearing an off-white wedding dress,

complete with lace hand gloves, matching picture hat (1970's style) trimmed with a lace bow that trailed halfway down her back, and.....wait for it.....a parasol with ruffles.

My gown and veil $200. I'm short and weighed almost nothing back then. Next to her I looked like I was making my first Communion.

'Nuff said.

Second wedding just DH and I and our children (all grown) and their partners if they had them, and our close friend who also took the pictures.

My son was my "maid of honor" and DH's oldest son was best man.  Married at the restaurant in a private room and best time of our life. No band, just us, vows, dinner, cake. Freezing weather to boot. I wore a long straight gold dress kind of shimmery.

Sometimes you just find the right person when you are not looking. With all that is going on with his health now I would not go back and make it all fancy. It was real then and it is still real today.

[threecees]

My gown costs $100. I still have it boxed in a closet. 

40 people at our wedding.

Not outrageous or terribly expensive.

[PA Mom-mom]

I found a digitized photo of the minister, DH and me watching him fill out the license.

[lgfan]

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@PA Mom-mom wrote:

I found a digitized photo of the minister, DH and me watching him fill out the license.

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The two of you make an attractive couple.

[63mkm]

My aunt and uncle were married in 1978. I 14 yrs old and was a bridesmaid. The guys wore brown tuxes with ruffle shirts and the girls wore peach. Just like your wedding. And our flowers were peach carnations! Sign of the times back then and I guess trendy!

[BunSnoop]

Got married in 1981.   

Got married in the courthouse.  My mom, brother and his wife-to-be were present.  We had a small dinner at a Bohemian restaurant that included 30 - 40 people - mostly my husband's friends and family.  My family is super small. At that time in my life I really did not have many friends.  I did not keep in touch with people from high school and had not met any close friends yet though work, etc. 

I wore a knee length white dress I purchased in the mall.  Not sure of the price, perhaps about $50.   As for the price of the dinner, I do not know that as my in-laws picked up the tab.  But I think it was very reasonable.   

I do sometimes wish I had a more traditional wedding, but with not having many friends or family it did not seem like it was to happen for me. 

 When my mom remarried (several years after my dad had passed away) I was her maid of honor.  I was so nervous walking down the aisle that I was almost crying - I have no confidence and did not like everyone turning around in the pews to look at me.   So after that experience, I don't think I would of been able to be a bride walking down the aisle either.  Perhaps if I had someone to walk down it with me, but who knows?

Since we did not spend much on the wedding we were financially able to purchase a home a few months before we even got married.  

If I could do it all over again, I'd make the event a little bit more grand than it was.

[chrystaltree]

There were always huge, expensive over the top weddings.  They just were not common in our circle.  I got married in the late 80s.  I was 25.  My dad was a long distance truck driver, my mom a housewife.  We were the definition of middle class.  I was engaged for two years.  I helped pay for my wedding because I had four younger siblings.  We had very nice but typical wedding.  We got married in our church in June.  We had our reception in the church hall and it spilled over into the rose garden.  No dancing, no liquor but there was champagne.  Plenty of food.  Cold drinks.  My mom's friend made the wedding cake and trays of cupcakes that looked like the wedding cake.   Sandwiches, veggie tray.  My godmother made her famous pasta salad.  It was common in our circle to have a mix of catered food and home made food.  I think the emphasis was on everyone having a good time.  My gown came from a local bridal shop.  My mom and I argued about it because I wanted pretty and light while she wanted formal, embellished, traditional.  I got my way.  My gown was dotted swiss with sheer bishop sleeves.  I had a wreath of yellow and white silk flowers with an elbow length veil.  No blusher.   My bridesmaids wore yellow.  We ordered their gowns from the Sears catalog.  The roses in the garden were particularly beautiful and full that year so it all felt magical to me.  Friends and family contributed in different ways.  My dads friend took all the pictures.  It was his wedding present to us.  My brother and a bunch of his friends did the clean up of the hall and garden.  It's what we did back then.  Family and community.  While I helped pay for the wedding, my then fiance bought the rings, paid for the honeymoon and set up our little apartment.  

[Twins Mom]

@Carmie 

I can just envision the joy and love swimming around the church and reception that day. Although you were outnumbered on plans, it was done with love and you have great memories.

[mrshckynut]

@AuntG   we got married  on February 14, 2002 in our county court house and only family members and a couple close friends were invited         reception was at  local mexican restaurant with about 15 people there       we told all that attended          no gifts

mrshckynut