Wedding plans. aaarrrggghhhh!

In reply to frenchyd :

I'm in the same boat you are, I'm 35 and have as many can openers as I need 

You can also start an Amazon registry and not fill it with household stuff

When my bride and I got married 20+ years ago (her second marriage after loosing her first to cancer, my first),  we rented a small restaurant overlooking the beach.  The size of the restaurant dictated the number of guests - about 125.  We only invited the folks we really wanted to have there.  Had a string quartette and a sit down meal with beer and wine.  If people wanted something stronger, there was a bar attached to the restaurant.

We were into the whole thing for about $2K

When we got married we paid for most of it and both had large families.  We were married in the church she's attended all her life and then had a reception at the VFW.  We spent a fair amount on a DJ she had seen at another wedding and it was money well spent.  He was fun, kept the party moving, and was very professional.  One thing we did that I wasn't sure was going to work was have a cash bar.  We both have some problem drinkers, are not big drinkers ourselves, and had guests traveling long distances.  Some people made it known that our gift was smaller as a result but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and we didn't need the police or ems.  We could not have asked for it to go better.  

Married my wife 11 years ago when I was 30. Her parents covered the whole shebang and I still don't know, nor do I want to know, what it cost. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.  I heard from guests that the wedding and reception were great, but it was all one busy blur to me (and I wasn't drinking!).

If she has been dreaming about the perfect wedding for years, you are just along for the ride, and to fill a tux...