[mgkimsal]

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.