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I had two siblings get married in recent times and their celebrations were under $15,000 in the NYC/Long Island area. I think people need to revisit their relationship with money and readjust themselves. Not everyone needs a ridiculous over-the-top celebration. If you are of humble means, there's nothing wrong with a humble life and a humble wedding for that matter.

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Is there a source of average price per wedding over time, since say 1800? $12,000 still sounds over the top, even accounting for inflation.

The American average is actually ~$35,000 apparently. Though that comes from the wedding industry so they probably undercount small ceremonies and have some incentive to juice the numbers besides. I couldn't really find a good clean table that went back further than the 90s, but qualitatively it sounds like spending spiked in the 80s / early 90s and has mostly stayed with inflation since. Personally, even though I could comfortably afford it, the financial aspect of such an expensive affair would completely suck all the joy and life out of my wedding for me.

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna47681295

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