Among Friends

[AuntG]

Weddings have changed over the years, and have become quite expensive. I thought it might be fun to share our wedding and reception stories. One thing I remember as a child is that whole familes attended the reception. Often they were held in big dance halls, or even in a bowling alley. Meals were sandwiches, baked beans and potato salad. The cake was several tiers high. And, here in the upper Midwest, a polka band provided the music.

I paid under $300 for my dress. No band, just a DJ. Our dinner was a sit down meal, but was served family style, so big bowls of food were passed around the table. It was in a banquet hall (not sure I've heard that term in decades). I just remember it being a happy day, and everyone who attended had a great time. My father paid for part of the cost, but since my husband and I were working, we paid too.

[tends2dogs]

@AuntG  This will be a fun thread.  I answered you on the Proboards forum.

I will be anxious to read the posts. 

[Mom2Dogs]

I do not recall what my wedding/recption cost but it was a small event.  We both had very little family and small circle of friends.

I did not want a wedding, I was shy and did not like people looking at me, but by DH insisted on a wedding.

Reception was in the church basement, mom and sisters prepared the luncheon. I wore my sisters dress, it was the first time I had ever worn a long gown, it felt odd and my photos reflect that feeling.

No dancing as my wedding was late morning so  after the early wedding, we had lunch and it was over.

In March we will celebrate 46 years.

[Sooner]

Best husband and marriage I could ever have imagined.  Worst wedding.  

[deepwaterdotter]

Not a lot to tell.  We had lived together for 11 years before we were married.  Went to the courthouse on Monday morning with 2 of our best friends as witnesses.  Walked down a hallway to the judges chambers and 'made it legal'. 

Most interesting part was the lineup of gentlemen in orange jumpsuits and leg shackles lining one side of the hallway.  They had been charged and incarcerated over the weekend.

Enjoyed lunch with our friends/witnesses at a cafe across the street from the courthouse.  When our server heard us discussing that we had just been married, we all received a piece of cake and coffee 'on the house'.  She received our gratitude and a generous tip.

[haddon9]

I think it would also be fun to know what year one got married in.....it helps to put a perspective on things since styles, etc. changed a lot in just a few short years.

I got married in 1982.  My gown was around $300.00 and I was able to get a floor model.  Hats were the thing to wear in the early 1980s and mine was over $100.00 (one third the cost of the gown!).  My husband and groomsmen wore dark brown tuxes....what was I thinking?!!  LOL!

Neither of us is religious so we got married at the venue which was in a hotel. I'm from a Jewish family & DH is from a Catholic one.  He didn't want a priest so we had a rabbi. 

It was a nice sit down dinner, with a band. in the ballroom  My parents wanted a certain band but when I went to a wedding fair I saw & heard a band that I fell in love with!  They played a little bit of everything with a female lead singer.

I had a multi tier wedding cake with fancy looking support posts which are never done today in a light chocolate since I wanted to be a bit different. 

Bridesmaids wore peach.  So the colors were brown & peach. Today I look back and would have gone with different colors....

My parents paid for the wedding and I don't know what the cost was at the time.  We had around 100 people.

However we will be celebrating out 43rd anniversary next month!

[catter70]

I never saw the need for a big wedding. Went to the JP both times. Neither worked out so glad I didn't waste the money.

[spumoni99]

We got married in 1981, I also found my dress at the store and was able to buy the floor model for 200 dollars. Ceremony was at my parents church and the reception was at the Elks Lodge.  I think the cost was 2000.  We had a dj and dancing and we had a buffett style dinner. 

My daughter got married exactly a year ago, it was around 25k with a buffett dinner, fancier place though but for prices now it was pretty reasonable. 

[Desertdi]

Got married in court on my lunch hour.   Wore a business suit.

[LindaSal]

We had a big one, 250 people.  I also got married in 1982 and did a Catholic church wedding.   I wore a beautiful gown and a long gorgeous veil, I felt like a princess......

We had the reception in a nice Knights of Columbus Hall which my in laws were members of.  Had a full band and did a fancy hot buffet which I gather was unusual at the time, it was mostly sit down dinners.  But it worked out well for us.

The guys wore light gray tuxes and the bridemaids wore baby blue, my maid of honor in a shade darker.  Mom's wore pink gowns.  It was quite pretty as the cherry trees were in bloom (in May) so my pictures have beautiful color.