Average American Wedding Costs Over 1.3 Million Dollars

The cost of the average American wedding has spiraled completely out of control. Based on the most recent numbers I could find (2005) the average American wedding costs over 1.3 million dollars! OK, OK I hear you…. that number can’t be right. But it is.

For a typical wedding, the couple will typically shell out $28,000. If you were to invest that same amount instead, on their golden wedding anniversary that $28,000 would have grown to over $1.3 million (assuming an 8% annual return on investment).

Given those numbers, why would any parent spend so much on a wedding instead of setting up their son or daughter for a sound financial future? I have a theory, and mind you it’s only a theory. My theory is that her parents opted for an extravagant wedding because they don’t expect your marriage to last. That’s right. They’d rather blow cash on a bash to impress their friends and family with how conspicuously wealthy they are than give one thin dime towards the financial future of you, their scumbag, soon to be, ex-son-in-law. That’s even though you’ll only get half that dime (also known as a nickel) in the divorce.

I suppose it’s possible that they have no financial sense or that they care more about appearances than they do about their daughter’s financial future, but that’s such a negative thing to say. I think my theory is a much better way to think about your future in-laws.

Is the big day still looming on the horizon? Well then let me wish you Mazal Tov!