Next, let me tell her she is probably not done discovering "The Hidden Costs of Marriage." She has identified the costs of:
- Attending tastings
- Postage
- Undergarments (!)
- Makeup and hair run-throughs
- Attendant gifts, parent gifts, groom gifts, and welcome bags
- Services, gratuities, and tax.
But the wedding is not for another month. One thing is certain though - there will be more. Some costs are still hidden. Kinda makes one want to reconsider eloping.
I think that weddings are extremely inflated. There is no reason to charge such outrageous prices. But I guess that is just business. I feel that sometimes Americans live beyond their means and that is also evident in Weddings. I feel that sometimes the wedding turns into a competition amongst women. A wedding is suppose to be a special moment shared with loved ones, not a show.
ReplyDelete"Heather Strickland fashioned her bridal bouquet from wholesaled pink roses. Ashley Butler and Kevin Cohea catered their own cheese and veggie plates for their wedding reception — with the help of Sam's Club. And Tina Czech is planning her big day for the holidays, when her local church already will be outfitted with glittering trees and more than 300 poinsettias.
Whether out of propriety or necessity, weddings are being tweaked — if not turned upside down — by the recession."
Reference:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-07-07-recession-weddings_N.htm?csp=N009
Most people plan a wedding with a Hidden Cost Fallacy mentality (when you ignore relevant costs). They take into consideration the price per person and forget about all of the extra costs associated with the wedding. There is usually and admin fee and tax which takes $125 per person in NY City (a low price in NYC - assume an average 20% admin fee) to $162.56.
ReplyDeleteI am now making my daughter’s wedding. I know the costs that I will incur. I have done the research and asked the questions that need to be asked.
Beside the cost per person and the costs associated with that, I know any time I upgrade the menu there will be a cost to add on per person. There is the band/DJ, photographer, invitations, postage (for both the invitation and the return card inside) and the florist. Not to mention the cost of gas and time to evaluate sites, bands and florists. Add on another $60-$100 a person for these extras.
When making the decision to spend money on a wedding, one must remember that this endeavor, in the traditional commercial manner, is a business. And the costs that listed above are just the beginning.
There are all relevant costs – even the incidental costs are relevant when making a wedding or any event.
Is this a practical way to spend $20,000-$60,000? That depends on why a person would spend this kind of money on what is essentially a party.
A wedding is not a tangible in my mind. It is an intangible; feelings, love, marriage. Is it worth the cost? That each person will have to decide for themselves.
Even at any party, including a birthday party I find that I am spending way more than I anticipated with balloons, paper plates, paper cups, table liners, food, and drinks. The party is about to start and I don't have eggs or mayonnaise to make the salads or don't have other items to make my planned menu. Then there is the cleanup. I wonder if it is worth it. I could have taken everyone out to dinner and I believe that it would have been cheaper. I should do a marginal analysis on my next party. It is no wonder that I need to take an economics class.
ReplyDelete