sf wrote:

>
> $28,000 is starting to look normal to me. DD is just starting to plan
> her wedding and it's already over $20,000. That's only the reception
> part. It's still minus minister, dress, tux, DJ, wedding party gifts
> & flowers.
>
>

Unfortunately once you say the word "Wedding" to any vendor the price of
everything goes up exponentially.

Sheet cake? $50
Wedding sheet cake? $7.50/serving

Party buffet? $25-30/person
Wedding buffet? $75/person

And the wedding magazines and wedding "consultants" spend all of their
energies turning brides into Bridezillas who must have it all.

Our son is getting married this weekend in the beautiful mountain ski
town of Breckenridge (luckily "out of season".) There's an old horse
and carriage in town that carries tourists around, quite quaint. It
costs something like $15 for a half hour. Son and fiancee looked into
hiring the carriage for the two block ride from the church to their
restaurant reception, two blocks away. The quote was $400. When asked
why, the company said "Oh, for weddings we wash the horse and the driver
wears a tux." The couple decided they'd walk with family and friends
instead.

It all depends on your tolerance for B.S.

;-)
gloria p