I don't have much to compare against, but my own wedding was... infinitely small. 2 witnesses, low cost ceremony, marriage license, 2 day honeymoon in a B&B, and a car rental was all had for under $500. (1998). I'd also started a new job that week - my new cubemate had just moved back to the area from out of state. She'd been married the year before, was now going through a divorce, and they were fighting over who was going to handle the $20k debt incurred for their wedding expenses.
The $500 is a bit misleading - each family later threw us a small backyard get together with other friends/family, but we were in different countries, so there was airfare involved later, and the food/catering for each event was probably a couple hundred each (burgers, chips, drinks, cake, etc for a few dozens folks). Including airfare to visit people, and the cost of those events, it was probably still under $3k. I understand it was 20 years ago, but some people were spending $20k even back then, apparently.
I don't think so. I'm currently planning a wedding and while I hope to see the final price is under 30k, it would be very easy to go that high.
Just buying dinner and drinks for 150 people (which seems like a lot, but it's really easy to come up with a list that long) will probably cost you $5000. Then you need another place to put those people and that's another $5000. Then you might want a nice photographer for at least another $2000. Add in music, decorations, lodging, clothing, etc. and you're almost to 30k for a pretty "normal" wedding. Once you start getting higher end food/drinks/venue then the prices go up quickly.
The $500 is a bit misleading - each family later threw us a small backyard get together with other friends/family, but we were in different countries, so there was airfare involved later, and the food/catering for each event was probably a couple hundred each (burgers, chips, drinks, cake, etc for a few dozens folks). Including airfare to visit people, and the cost of those events, it was probably still under $3k. I understand it was 20 years ago, but some people were spending $20k even back then, apparently.