The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding

peekaboo2011

Okay, I know we talked about how freakin expensive weddings are for us common folk recently, but in my procrastination, I stumbled across this article, which gave me a mild heart attack.  And then made me look again at how expensive our wedding is going to be, and still cringe.

The first number I saw was $160,000.  That's Kate's parents' measly contribution.

The entire freaking thing is going to cost $32 MILLION.  BEFORE security.

So, if you had $32,000,000 to spend on a wedding, what would you do with it?

MLekathLEEN

I can't fathom spending that much on a wedding, or in general. That's without security?!!!

The only idea I can think of that would spend that much is actually buying the venue.

That being said, I am super excited to see the wedding.

SassyFlats

I would elope (somewhere really nice, of course). Then I'd pay off our student loans, buy an awesome house and put all my future kids through college.

Elle1036

Ditto Emily.  I can't wait to see the wedding.  It might be a ridiculous sum, but that won't stop me from ogling it.

Elle1036

Also, I'm emailing this link to my mom with the loving note: "it could be worse".

Thanks, Peekaboo!

DanieKA

I'd buy a private island, build an  awesome island retreat and have the wedding there. Then we could use it for vacation or rent it out when not there. I think I want to be Richard Branson:)

I'm also stupid excited to see this wedding. I think the British people are "okay" with the cost because Royal Weddings hold a special place in their culture. It brings out a ridiculous amount of national pride and general goodwill and they have had a rough go of it the last several years (like the States). But I don't think Americans would ever accept a "First Wedding" so to speak, that cost that much. Both Chelsea Clinton and Jenna Bush had weddings far beyond what an average person would spend, but I think they were classy enough, and the price was well hidden enough, not to seem overtly wasteful in this economy. 

peekaboo2011

Yeah, I think I'm going to send this one to mom and FI.  Although Mom is freaking out because friends of hers are spending $40K.  Eeeeep.

If we had that kind of money to spend, we'd take the wedding somewhere super nice and fly all our friends and family out, pay for the BM/MOH dresses and BM/GM tuxes.  And then honeymoon in Figi, come back, pay off the loans, buy a house and put the rest in savings.

I'm excited to see the wedding though.  It means getting up at 6AM for me, which isn't too much of a stretch for a Friday.  But I may be tempted to skip class to watch, and THAT is not good.

bethsmiles

We would probably fly everyone that we want to be at our wedding to New Zealand, have one kick ass wedding followed by an awesome honeymoon in Australia.

[Deleted User]

Um, HELLO, I'd totally buy that million dollar ring from Costco!

SeaTea02

I want to know is where they are putting all that money. You know like on Platinum Weddings when they break down the costs? THAT is what I want to see. 

MLekathLEEN

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_cost-of-royal-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:54ad2dc5-dfad-4161-825b-d32770513b52Post:532dbaa5-c913-41b6-8f79-738042763bad">Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding</a>:
[QUOTE]Um, HELLO, I'd totally buy that million dollar ring from Costco!
Posted by amsybot[/QUOTE]

but what would you do with the other 31 million?!!

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_cost-of-royal-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54ad2dc5-dfad-4161-825b-d32770513b52Post:644dc15a-d3e2-41f6-a41a-089405d83634">Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding : but what would you do with the other 31 million?!!
Posted by MLekathLEEN[/QUOTE]

Buy a few Hummers, an Escalade, a 40 bedroom house with twice as many bathrooms as bedrooms.  I would also buy a few islands here and there where I would throw parties that are worthy of being aired on MTV!

In all reality though, I would have a small wedding and buy my mom a house.  I would also buy myself a house and pay off my school loans as well as BFs.  I would create a scholarship fund for kids from my hometown, as well as donate to the museum I currently work at. 

ETA: I would also buy BF his dream little white fluffy dog.

Elle1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_cost-of-royal-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54ad2dc5-dfad-4161-825b-d32770513b52Post:83908d8a-7ffd-4f18-8c9c-bd53d7259f5b">Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding :  I would also buy BF his dream little white fluffy dog.
Posted by amsybot[/QUOTE]

Like this:


<a href="#" title="Click to view a larger photo" onclick="return gSiteLife.LoadForumPage('ForumImage', 'plckPhotoId', '074abcd3-87a8-49c4-9231-f3219bab1b71', 'plckRedirectUrl', gSiteLife.EscapeValue(window.location.href));"> <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/7/2/074abcd3-87a8-49c4-9231-f3219bab1b71.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a>

Sorry -- couldn't help it.  I love AWing my dog.

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_cost-of-royal-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54ad2dc5-dfad-4161-825b-d32770513b52Post:abba2c4e-2d99-4d0b-be97-ef1fc81a6a43">Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding : Like this: Sorry -- couldn't help it.  I love AWing my dog.
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]

Like that, but about half that size!   You can AW your dog as much as you want because it is super adorable!!!!!!!!

AmethystMSU

OMG. Unreal! I also sent the link to my parents and told them to be happy I'm not marrying a Prince! haha

I can't wait to get up at 5 a.m. to watch the wedding which will begin at 6 a.m. my time! I'll be on vacation in Florida with my immediate family, so my Mom and youngest sister and I will be watching! I joke that I'll be watching it to get ideas... haha YEAH RIGHT!!!!

Elle1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_cost-of-royal-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54ad2dc5-dfad-4161-825b-d32770513b52Post:bfd966cb-a7a4-403e-bdb3-7146ee1fc23f">Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding : Like that, but about half that size!   You can AW your dog as much as you want because it is super adorable!!!!!!!!
Posted by amsybot[/QUOTE]

He actually only weighs about 12 pounds, but he has so much freakin' fur he looks a lot bigger than that.  Here he is as a puppy (I'm pretty sure everyone has seen this picture 10 times now):


<a href="#" title="Click to view a larger photo" onclick="return gSiteLife.LoadForumPage('ForumImage', 'plckPhotoId', '2816b75d-3c19-4401-a3d6-d18aabbf871d', 'plckRedirectUrl', gSiteLife.EscapeValue(window.location.href));"> <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/8/3/2816b75d-3c19-4401-a3d6-d18aabbf871d.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a>

peekaboo2011

That's my first time with that one Elle.  He's so freakin adorable.  

If we're AWing cute white puppies, here's my angel.  She was about to clean my nose.

Elle1036

Peek - she looks like a lion!

peekaboo2011

She's amazing.  Seriously, I might steal her from my parents when I move to Florida this summer.

artbyallie

This reminds me of a project my fiancé told me about that he did in school. They had to plan a wedding, and drew budgets randomly. Well, he got a literally unlimited one. So he figured he'd fly everyone to Rome, restore the Colosseum, and have the Pope officiate there. Beat that, William and Kate!

SeaTea02

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_cost-of-royal-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54ad2dc5-dfad-4161-825b-d32770513b52Post:3d8441db-1fd0-407b-a14f-83c1383d23b5">Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding</a>:
[QUOTE]This reminds me of a project my fiancé told me about that he did in school. They had to plan a wedding, and drew budgets randomly. Well, he got a literally unlimited one. So he figured he'd fly everyone to Rome, restore the Colosseum, and have the Pope officiate there. Beat that, William and Kate!
Posted by artbyallie[/QUOTE]
<div>
</div><div>What kind of class was that?</div>

artbyallie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_cost-of-royal-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54ad2dc5-dfad-4161-825b-d32770513b52Post:f19713dd-d2c7-482c-8b90-373471515c33">Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding : What kind of class was that?
Posted by SeaTea02[/QUOTE]

<div>I don't remember right now, though I think it was some sort of home ec equivalent. I'll ask when he gets home from work.</div>

[Deleted User]

I can guarantee that if I had $32 Million none of it would be spent on a wedding! lol

leia1979

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_cost-of-royal-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54ad2dc5-dfad-4161-825b-d32770513b52Post:e26dedda-2f1e-448a-bf0a-06b6a6c4e3cf">Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding</a>:
[QUOTE]I can guarantee that if I had $32 Million none of it would be spent on a wedding! lol
Posted by LyzMcFlyz[/QUOTE]

If I had that much, I could afford $100k for the wedding. Then I'd buy this acre lot for sale in the hills of our city (for $800k) and build a great big house (with that detached 20-car garage FI wants). It says the lot is approved for a 6300 sq ft house and a 1400 sq ft garage!

marleylikeair

Yeah...I'm trying to add up all the costs of my fantasy DW in Paris, only with 1800 guests and the most expensive versions of everything, including venues, plus 3 different Pnina gowns for me (natch), assuming paying for all accommodations and travel for guests (international flights and most posh hotels), plus, oh, I don't know, $1000 welcome baskets for all guests, and, oh heck, let's throw in the honeymoon, and I still can't fathom how you could possibly get it up to $32 Mil. I'm coming up around 6 Million.

</end poor man's Dylan Thomas imitation />

caitlin.cave

I would buy a yacht to live on, like one of the ones that looks like a floating hotel.  Then I'd invite all my wedding guests onto it, and have a really kickass wedding.  Then I'd use the rest of the money to sail around and sunbathe for the rest of my life in my huge yacht. haha.

artbyallie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_cost-of-royal-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54ad2dc5-dfad-4161-825b-d32770513b52Post:f2a3631d-7ddd-42e8-92cd-e45d8b207530">Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: The Cost of A (Royal) Wedding : I don't remember right now, though I think it was some sort of home ec equivalent. I'll ask when he gets home from work.
Posted by artbyallie[/QUOTE]

<div>It was called 'Family Life' and was a health alternative. He says it included mock job interviews and the like. Note that this was at a private Baptist high school, not a public one.</div>

SopChick

I honestly can't think of what I would spend that much on for a wedding. I can't even think of what THEY would be spending that much on, they are having the reception at his grandmother's house, after all!

If I was only allowed to spend money on a wedding - no debts, house, etc - I would probably spend a bunch on venue, food & booze. Get really amazing gifts for the BP (all-inclusive trips at a 5-star anyone?). Have awesome favors and donate as favors. Have the best pre-wedding parties. Buy the attire, accessories, hair, makeup, etc for anyone who wants it done (including guests). Have a really stunning custom dress. Buy BF his dream car so we can make our exit in it.