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The average cost of a wedding is nearing $25,000. My mind was blown when I first heard this figure—especially since my average yearly income for the first six years after I graduated from college was considerably lower than this number. (Womp womp, graduate-school stipends.) I had no idea that weddings could cost that much. And, given that cost, I certainly had no idea how I was going to be able to afford one! As I talk to more people and read more posts on the Boards, I realize how common these feelings are.
Yesterday, I read an article online entitled “Three Ways to Fund a Wedding.” The author, Cathie Gandel, describes the three ways in which different people funded their weddings: selling old clothes and possessions, tapping into retirement savings***, and working extra shifts. That last way really resonated with me. In order to help fund our wedding, I have been keeping myself busy by taking additional hours at work.
Teacher stare-down (a joke photo, but I bet I have made this face in class)
I am a teacher by occupation. I have taught in a variety of different settings to a variety of different people. I have taught composition to college freshmen, upper-level literature classes to English majors, Arthurian legend to third graders, and writing to ninth to eleventh graders. Now I work as an instructor for a major test-prep company. I like this job because I get to work with people to help them achieve their goals of going on to graduate programs in different fields. I also like the hours and flexible schedule.
The flexible schedule means that I sometimes get the opportunity to take on more work. These extra jobs mean another night or two away from Mr. Mole each week, but they also mean an extra couple of hundred dollars per paycheck. (Now I can justify the three pairs of shoes that I will be talking about in my next post!) It’s been really hard seeing so much money come out of our joint account for the wedding. It will be nice to see a little bit more go back in.
Are you picking up any extra work in order to help pay for your wedding? Care to share any ideas for quick—but legal!—cash?
***I really (really, truly) don’t advocate borrowing against your 401k. Your wedding is a symbol of your future, but your 401k is actually an investment in it!
Definitely do NOT borrow against your 401K!! That option needs to be “off the table,” in my opinion. Yikes, talk about bad financial planning!
Oh my goodness, we arent allowed to borrow against our retirement funds, thats just scary!
@JB: I audibly gasped when I got to that point in the article. There was a tiny disclaimer, but I think that there should have been a huge flashing, animated bear waving a danger sign or something equally and ridiculously conspicuous.
@Mrs. Teaspoon: I agree! I am lucky enough to not have any debt. I certainly am not trying to change that!
That $25K figure is for weddings for about 100-125 guests too. You then figure, again on average, at Least another $100 per extra head.
So for 200 guests, on average, you would anticipate another $7.5K-$10K! It is mind boggling.
Also, as weddings get bigger, it becomes less possible to avoid venue fees and professional catering, etc. So even if you are queen of DIY, it is going to be costly if you have a long guest list….
Hahaha…. Thats so funny! Your teacher stare down is much nicer looking than mine 
Weddings are crazy. Seriously crazy. Picking a smaller guest list was the only way we could have afforded choosing the venue that we did. People actually BORROW from their retirement funds? Yikes.
Weddings don’t have to cost that much! My fiance and I going for a small casual wedding. I am getting the church for free since I am a member there and I am having a friend of the family do the photo’s (She’s not a pro but she knows her way around a camera). My budget is less than $1000, and so far for the things that are taken care of I am $350 under that mark! I expect a few other things to fall under budget too! A wedding isn’t about spending money or being extravagant. It’s about celebrating your new life with the love of your life. I don’t think anyone should go outside of their means to pay for a wedding.
I really wish I had a job that I could put in extra hours for more money - like overtime. But I’m salary so I wouldn’t get anything for extra hours. Those who do have that option better take full advantage of it!
What we have done to save money was to stop eating out and cook more. We also cut out the “extras” - like the movie channels from the cable company, turned the AC up so we don’t use much energy… little things like that add up so fast. We saved at least $100 a month just from cutting those “extras” out.
And I agree with the whole 401K - there are HUGE penalties against you taking money out and don’t recommend it at all.
@AT: Isn’t that crazy? As long as people are spending within their means, though, more power to them!
@Miss Petit Four: Haha. The teacher stare down is a supremely important behavioral management tool. In the context of this post, I like to think I am squinting at a hugely inflated budget. 
@Mrs. Jaguar: We went for a smaller guest list too, for that same reason! We decided what we felt comfortable spending and then worked some very rough numbers back from that point.
@sarahkap83: Wow, that’s so impressive! Do you have any other tips to share? Thanks so much for your comment. We are cutting costs wherever and whenever we can, but it is nice to be reminded of the true “value” of a wedding. You hit it spot on.
@stephalina6: There’s always a trade-off! My flexible job means that sometimes the hours are a bit more flexible than I’d like! But it’s working out really well in the months leading up to the wedding. Anyway, you have some excellent tips! We got rid of Netflix (regardless of the rate hike), and we are cooking at home instead of eating out so often. We also have been waiting to see some movies until they get to the discount theater. As you say, all of those little things add up! I’m trying to apply that type of thinking to the wedding itself as well, not just the period of time leading up to it.
I remember a thread a while back in which someone was told to get a Pay Day loan to help make final payments for her vendors. Thankfully, plenty of other Bees suggested cutting expenses and selling things on Craigslist.
I wonder how people feel waking up the morning after their weddings when they’ve borrowed from their 401K or overused credit.
As a tax accountant, I about had a heart attack when I read “tapping into retirement savings!” Glad you mentioned that is a BIG no no! ha ha I wish I could get paid per return I complete!
Living at home! If we didn’t live with my dad before the wedding we would not have been able to afford a wedding. It made things awkward sometimes, but it was worth it when we got the wedding we wanted and some savings to start our marriage.
Ive taken up another job to help with funding. Itll all be worth it in the end!! ::sigh::
I actually took on a design job working for our floral designer so I could make extra money and score some killer DIY moves. It stinks that I have spent the last 4 months working 6 days a week/50+ hours but the influx of dollars has been a blessing.
I get a little thrill watching our savings account grow…but then I think about how far away we are from our goal and I get all bummed out again.
Next time, I’m eloping in Vegas! 
Absolutely hear you. Foxy has been working the overnight shift every. single. day. for the last week to make some extra money to put toward the wedding.. he normally words two twelve hour days, has two off, etc. But 7 days in a row? It’s hard on both of us, but almost necessary due to the unfortunate cost of things. So I feel for you!
@Aud1628: Thanks! And thanks to everyone else who added!
@Jeannine @ Small Chic: I can’t imagine. I know that I won’t spend any more than I can afford (even if I have to work a few extra hours).
@Miss Sunhat: Want to do mine? Haha.
@Mrs. Pony: Oh, that’s definitely a money-saver! I know people who did that before their wedding as well; they complained during the time, but they really appreciated the sacrifice afterwards.
@MsNarwhal: That’s what I keep telling myself too!
@futuremrswifey: Vegas is great! Your plan is great: earning money and developing your DIY skills! I bet you will have some great floral designs at your wedding.
@Miss Fox: That’s definitely rough. I hope that you guys both get some time off soon!
I took a part-time job to earn money, and almost all of that is going toward the wedding. I had been getting a lot of hours, but starting this week, it looks like I’ll be posting my number under the schedule looking for extra shifts. Haha.
Something else the fiance and I just looked into — cashing in our check card points. Between the two of us, we can get almost $150 from that. It’s not a lot, but every little bit helps! I think I’ll start selling things in the next couple of weeks.
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Mrs. Mole, Los Angeles/Las Vegas Age and Occupation: 29, Test Prep Instructor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, User Experience Architect Engagement Date: April 2011 Wedding Date: January 2012 Venue: Wynn Las Vegas/Bouchon Bistro About Me: I’m a Wisconsinite-turned-Angeleno who is planning a destination wedding in Las Vegas. I am passionate about education: I spent 23 (!) consecutive years in school, and now I work to help other people get into graduate programs. I love running on the treadmill, buying bath products from Lush, learning new moves in step aerobics, and exploring my neighborhood on foot. I am sometimes snobby about food, but I am rarely snobby about books. I read everything from Geoffrey Chaucer to Iris Murdoch to Chuck Klosterman to Candace Bushnell. My fiance and I are getting married on our third anniversary!
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