[quote=FlyerInHi]After the wedding-on-a-budget stories, I think people would be embarrassed to declare they spent big.

There’s tradition and most brides do want to a big wedding, I believe. And parents want them too. Anyone spent $100k or more?

I personally like the idea of a reception with 2 dozens or so close friends. That’s enough.[/quote]

I’m not embarrassed. I loved my wedding – it was big and fun and we had to pay the band to stay for an extra hour and a half because the dance floor was still full. We got married at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago (complete with random street person who came in and yelled “I have a bomb” – luckily it was before 9/11.) It wasn’t deliberately expensive, but it was downtown and my family has a tradition of inviting all the aunts, uncles, cousins, their families, etc. I wouldn’t have changed anything. Almost 17 years, three kids and two cross country moves later, I’m still happy . . . and I have great memories. Not to say that there is no other way to do it, but it was a blast.