Does a wedding pay for itself?

by **corkgirl2010** » Wed Nov 24, 2021 11:28 pm

Hi,

I am so looking forward to getting married and we have saved enough money for it. But Im wondering would it actually pay for itself so that we're there or thereabouts back to what we had saved before we started. silly question I know,

we're inviting 200 guests or so and its the first wedding in both our families so very exciting. while money obviously is important I want to look back and enjoy the day.

love to hear your reports if you have time thanks x

by **lavendergirl** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 12:23 am

oh how i wish it did- especially today !!!! not a hope anymore i would think . we are saving hard, will be even more difficult post budget but will be hibernating til summer i reckon ! :wv

LazyBaby · by **LazyBaby** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 8:36 am

not to be facetious, but it all depends
if you have a budget of €5000 and invite 200 people, then it probably would
but most likely, on a "normal" Irish wedding, it doesn't
it may have back 5 years ago, but definitely not anymore

best thing to do is just not to factor in any cash gifts and only spend what you can afford on your wedding.

best of luck

by **bomshell** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:49 am

Corkgirl2010,

I wish I could say it does pay for its self, however I think people now don't have the money to give or if they do they are being more careful with it!

We got married just there October and based on the cost of our wedding (not including the honeymoon) we would have received about 1/3 of the costs back money presents. Although we did not have a wedding list we did still get a number of wedding gifts so people still felt they gave you something but did not put themselves under the same pressure as having to give money.

All I'd say is that the day is really worth it, but do try and see if you can have the wedding you want but be smart with how you do things. Bargain with your suppliers, look at Marks & Spencer wedding cakes, also if you are any way into doing things yourself look at Martha Stewart's magazines/website/TV programmes (USA TV presenter and writer) and get great ideas from her as you can save money in so many ways.

Best of luck and all I'd say is plan early to save yourself any stress close to the big day.

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havemovedon · by **havemovedon** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:58 am

I definitely wouldn't rely on cash gifts to cover the cost of the wedding.
Having said that, we were bowled over by people's generosity and our own wedding was pretty much paid for by cash we received - but that included a substantial gift from my inlaws. We had paid for it all ourselves from savings anyway so it's made for a nice chunk of savings (which will probably be eaten up in the budget anyway!)

Twirl · by **Twirl** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 11:52 am

No it doesnt pay for itself but i have to say i think it was well worth every penny we spent. But bargain as much as you can, and hold back a little for the likes of your photogrpaher when you are sorting out your album ( when you come home from honeymoon ) There is a lot of hidden costs with wedding, for example my dress was made and i was measured for it yet i was charged an alteration fee! I still actually get annoyed over that!
Anyway, we got about 1/3 in cash gifts and people were very generous and some gave what they could afford. We got alot of presents and we didnt have a gift list. You would be amazed what people buy you, but its the thought that counts and as we all know weddings are an expensive day out before you give a present.

Enjoy the run up to it :wv

by **corkgirl2010** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 12:20 pm

Hi

thanks girls for the replies, my best friend got married and cleared 12k after they had everything paid for! I think country weddings people do tend to give money however now that the economic situation has changed I should be aware of that. My friend had a big wedding of 350 - 380 people so its easy to see how it can add up.

Im hoping that ill be able to drop a few hints along the way about cash presents without sounding cheeky I have very very strange modern taste and Id cry if I got lamps and sheets as presents! Id never dream of giving that to someone either.

Im hoping my parents and his parents contribute a few thousand too, please God x

by **too soft** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 12:40 pm

no way does it come near it we spent 26,000 on our wedding logged 7,000 into the bank -2,000 was from mother in law.

some guests didnt give us any gift or even a card which was disapointing
some money gifts was €30 mad you'll be surprized

by **corkgirl2010** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 12:44 pm

oh No thats awful some people have some cheek. I hope to God I'll do ok, I dont mind spending over and above but really thought that the cash presents would cover the majority, My first cousin got married lately and my aunt said to me, dont worry your wedding is well covered by the guests we have alot of family aunts and uncles so my parents and I would have given them good cash presents when they got married so I hope they will return the favour

by **Vintagecushion** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 12:50 pm

Why should your guests pay for YOUR wedding?! Get a grip! If you can't afford it don't have it.

by **grazia** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:03 pm

petalfrise wrote:Why should your guests pay for YOUR wedding?! Get a grip! If you can't afford it don't have it.

+ 1

TBH in my opinion its a very tacky way of looking at a wedding. I'm sure if you want you could have a massive wedding in a cheap hotel and you could also "clear 12k", but surely you'd be better off having a wedding you can afford to pay for and any cash gifts are a happy bonus after the wedding.

by **corkgirl2010** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:09 pm

Jesus girls stop being so nasty, I was only asking a simple question, I look after all my guests very well, Im not asking that they pay for my wedding, but from experience of other family weddings they have paid for themselves.

we are having a nice hotel, with a lovely menu, and a great band, if I was trying to make money out of it I could pick a cheap sugar hotel and have a buffet, id definitely 'clear' money then. it was just the term my friends husband used so dont be so critical. God up until now i found these message boards so helpful and friendly now your making me feel like sugar for asking recent brides if their wedding presents went anyway towards paying for their wedding. honestly give me a bloody break, im sure lots of other brides think the same thing.

by **corkgirl2010** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:10 pm

petalfrise wrote:Why should your guests pay for YOUR wedding?! Get a grip! If you can't afford it don't have it.

did I say I couldnt afford it?

bazinga · by **bazinga** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:13 pm

by **corkgirl2010** » Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:15 pm

all my guests are family and close friends -

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