Our $2k wedding might cost $3k now: Existing suit for him, clearance-rack dress for me. Outdoor wedding in the really nice park in our town for free. Maybe $400 for pro photos with the digitalis we printed ourselves. I made the invitations from cheap card stock (and they looked amazing!). About $400 for a beautiful plated dinner that night for a couple dozen people closest to us. BBQ in the park next to our house for a reception with everyone the next day ... which cost about $500 in food and $25 to reserve the pavilion. We had a TON of food. We could have done with half of that. I bought a dozen roses from the grocers and picked wildflowers from the ditches to make two bouquets and four table pieces the night before. The back-up plans in case of rain were to have the wedding in the club where we had dinner (and help move the tables if we must) and/or host the reception at our house. This idea that people MUST SPEND MONEY ON A WEDDING is asinine. It's time for that trend to stop. If you can't afford the "wedding of your dreams", wait or get married at the courthouse.