Among Friends

[AuntG]

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@Trinity11 wrote:

I had a fairytale wedding. My dad was still working and wanted to impress his business associates so he insisted on it being lavish. Caviar, open bar, long cocktail hour with photos was followed by an elaborate reception with 250 guests. My gown was a Priscilla of Boston. Funny, though, we wanted simplicity but my parents insisted on a lot of pageantry. I was 21 and my husband was 27, both very naive and went along with my parents demands. We did have a beautiful honeymoon in Bermuda. We will be married 50 years in April. We planned on going back but my husband is fighting aggressive cancer and cannot travel. Maybe, when his treatments are finished we will go back. 💕🙏

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Prayers for your husband. 

[SloopJohnB]

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@AuntG wrote:

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@SloopJohnB wrote:

Picture it, Sicily 1922…....

Just kidding......

Picture it, Fort Lauderdale 1988…....

Had a beautiful handmade to order wedding dress.  Catholic church wedding.  Lavish reception.  Don't know the cost as my parents footed the bill.  A couple of beautiful children followed.  Only to eventually end in divorce.  💔

The end.

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Sophia! You had a very tall daughter - I think she was named Dorothy.

@SloopJohnB 

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@AuntG   Yes, but I liked to call her pussycat.  🐈

[ajsidney12]

We had about 50 guests and held it at a small inn in ME. We paid for the whole thing, we were working and mid 30s, and purposely kept it small so it was affordable but still classy, fun and cute. The whole thing was about $9k, including pics, DJ, the justice of the peace,flowers, sit down meal (filet mignon or chicken), open bar cocktail hour only (will never recommend someone to have a fullopen bar for the whole reception, such a huge waste of your money).

Purposely held it a few weeks before Xmas anticipating snow for our outdoor pics and the seasonal decor from the inn as our backgrounds. Haha, December that year was almost all rain, but not that day, but still muddy everywhere though. They had a huge stone fireplace fully roaring where we had the reception, and it was also a beautiful backdrop for so many pics. 

My dress cost $250, from DB. Right off the rack fit perfect. It was the style that was common in gowns at that time, high wide empire waist that was beautifully beaded, adjustable straps and column chiffon gown. Kind of Roman or Grecian inspired style of the early 2000's. I bought two crystal beaded pins that matched the beading of the waist and used them as added details on the front of the dress to keep the straps in place and finish off the décolletage area as it was a little plain. Hair and makeup I did myself and the maids of honor were asked to wear a knee length black cocktail dress, so they could use it again and not just wear it once. It was a great day, everyone had a blast and still talk about it. 

[Mary Bailey]

(I'm going to go back and read  after I answer)

I loved reading it all. Thanks for sharing everyone!!

We got married in 85. Rainbow wedding, 4 bridesmaids chose their own color. Same dress as in Pretty In Pink. (Didn't know, saw the movie years after my wedding)

Lyton's was going out of business bought my beautiful lace wedding dress for $125, veil $35.  I had it preserved and donated it to goodwill about 5 yrs ago.

We had a few hours between Catholic wedding & reception. Everyone was almost late for reception since partying at my parents house & at our house after church.

We rented banquet hall (now a VFW), buffet dinner, open bar, DJ.

Adult reception. Photographer & videographer.

We paid for everything. I don't remember what it cost.  No honeymoon planned. My Dad gave us $1000 so we drove to Niagra Falls (from suburban Chicago)  We paid my Dad back. 

[Tshirtgal]

I was 27 when I met HIM and married in 1984. After our first date, I told my mother that I believed I met the man I was going to marry.  Three years later, I had the wedding I thought I would never have.  I bought a tea-length very full ivory Queen Anne lace gown with veil, and pretty lace high heels, all making me feel like a Princess.  I loved every minute of plannning and had bridal showers, luncheons, and dinners.  I  practiced listening to Trumpet Voluntary every day in the car so I would not cry when I walked down the aisle.  Our wedding had 300 people (big family on both sides and both of us were active in local business and community) .  We had an hor doerve buffet in the afternoon so people could mingle and visit.  It was lovely for both of us.  Last December we celebrated 40 years, I still think he is a catch,  and we are still having loads of fun!  Lucky, I guess.

[Puggywuggy]

We married in 1980 at the courthouse and a JP officiated. My dress was a very simple, classic design and I carried a single rose and it was in the middle of a scorchingly hot and humid summer day here in the desert, lol! We will celebrate our 45th anniversary this summer. ❤️

[AuntMame]

We were married in 1990. Bought my dress for $100 at a JC Penny's catalog outlet store. The wedding was in a Catholic church because that's what my future in-laws wanted. My mom didn't approve of the groom so wanted nothing to do with any of it. Had a hard time convincing her to attend. Hosted a chicken dinner for a small group of family and friends at a restaurant afterwards. Cake was a simple chocolate cheesecake. Still, everything cost about $1K and we paid for it ourselves. Couldn't afford photographer or music. Had a hard time scraping together money for the invitations so the RSVPs were phone-chain which resulted in some chaos.  We've been happily married for 35 years, having been together for nearly 40. 

[spiderw]

My marriage was at a church in the country. The priest , groom, my maid of honor and best man were there.  We didn't have a reception or party.  I was older when I married and just wanted a simple ceremony.  

With that being said, I was in so many weddings as a bridesmaid , all had bridal showers and fancy receptions!!!  The money spent on my dresses, shower gifts and wedding gifts was a lot to say the least.  However, between friends and family members weddings I enjoyed each and every one and the money spent was worth the fun, laughter and happiness!!!!!

[ID2]

Married in 1978. Dated for 4 years, engaged for 2 years. Dress was $300/ matching veil was $200. Sit down dinner, live band. Went on our honeymoon the day after. 2 weeks in Hawaii, $2,000. Bought our first house 6 months later, $59,000. Still happily married living in our oasis in a lovely cottage on our favorite lake in upper Michigan. 

[redhead handbag queen]

We had a very incomplete rehearsal so my husband panicked and grabbed the priest by the collar so my BIL came and got me, after I made sure he still wanted to get married and then told him to just follow me. In the wedding video you can see me telling him to stand, sit, etc. The photographer did show up, a friend sent her husband home to get their video recorder and we have snap shots. I didn't care because it was my wedding day and I got to marry him. Then at the reception my MIL switched the cake and we didn't find out until we bit into it. 

Several years later my MIL gave us an album of our wedding with half the pics of her and her favorite daughter, let me tell that those pages when they are set on fire kinda smell bad, lol.