Till Debt Do Us Part
Lyle Henry of Beltsville, Md., bought his five groomsmen and his ring bearer basketball
jerseys from their favorite pro teams before his 1994 wedding. Because he bought six,
Henry was able to negotiate a 20% discount on the shirts, which cost $32 each for the men
and $10 for the youngster. The gifts were a hit and built on the group's existing
camaraderie: Henry's friends wear them when they get together.
Why not elope?
Average cost: $300 or less
Given the complexity and expense of a traditional wedding, it's no wonder many couples
choose a quick trip to the courthouse. It's an especially popular
option for those taking their second trip down the aisle, so to speak.
Couples on a budget and in a rush can get married any time of day or night at A Little
White Chapel in Las Vegas - the only wedding site with a drive-up
window.
"The drive-up is $30. If they choose to be married inside, which most of them do, it
costs $55," says owner Charolette Richards, who estimates she has
performed 500,000 wedding ceremonies since she set up shop in 1959. The basic package
includes chauffeured limousine rides between the couple's hotel, the Las Vegas marriage
license bureau and the chapel. The marriage license is an extra $35.
"If they want flowers, photos, video, tux, wedding gowns, wedding cake - we have all
of that," Richards says. All told, the tab would come to $250.
Still too extravagant? In Prince William County, Va., it costs only $20 to have the
marriage ceremony performed by the clerk of the court, as 847 couples chose to do last
year. "People come in everything from gowns to blue jeans," says court clerk
David Mabie.
Another 98 couples paid $30 plus mileage to have an after-hours or weekend ceremony, so
friends and relatives could attend. Even with a party afterward, your costs would be well
under $1,000.
Carol and Al Sowell of Winchester Bay, Ore., offered their daughter, Debbie, $10,000 to
elope last year, figuring it would save them money over a wedding. They were right: She
turned down their offer and spent $15,000 last May for a storybook wedding with 300
guests.
"Most girls grow up dreaming about their perfect wedding day," Debbie says,
"and I guess I was no different. Money is only money, but your wedding is once in
your lifetime."
Till Debt do us part
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