Love is said to be priceless.
However, when it comes to weddings, that statement doesn’t hold true.
According to a report from the wedding website The Knot, couples in the United States spent an average of nearly $30,000 on their weddings in 2022.
But it wasn’t always this way. In the 1950s, the “Complete Guide to Wedding Etiquette” advised couples to set aside £30 (equivalent to $482 today) for a reception that included the cost of alcohol, according to the BBC.
Interestingly, it is still possible to get married for much less today.
What You Get for $15
A Las Vegas venue called the Chapel of the Flowers is offering a wedding package for just $15. This package includes:
- An on-site ceremony
- A 10-minute photoshoot and five 4×6 photographs
- A wedding bouquet and boutonniere
- A live broadcast of the ceremony
The price of this package, which is normally $500, is the same as what couples paid to get married in the chapel back in 1953, according to Cynthia Sharpe, the venue’s director of storytelling.
A picture taken in 1953 of a sign outside the Chapel of the Flowers promoting its $15 wedding packages.
Source: The Chapel of Flowers
“Chapel of the Flowers wants to give back and thank all of the amazing couples who have been a part of making Las Vegas the Wedding Capital of the World,” said Sharpe, referencing the city’s trademarked name.
This discounted wedding package is part of a celebration commemorating 70 years since Las Vegas was first given that moniker. The campaign aims to promote Las Vegas as the “Wedding Capital of the World.”
The package is available to 70 couples on a first-come, first-serve basis and does not include the minister’s fee, which is $70. As of today, all packages are still available, according to Sharpe.
According to U.S. News & World Report, Nevada had the highest marriage rate in the U.S. in 2021. Couples can obtain a marriage license and get married on the same day.
Other Affordable Options
Other venues in Las Vegas are also offering discounted wedding packages, according to the campaign.
Couples can have an Elvis-themed wedding at The Little Neon Chapel for $470 until Sept. 30. This package includes an ordained minister dressed as Elvis, photos, and enough room for 10 guests.
An Elvis impersonator performs a remote vow renewal ceremony during the pandemic at Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ethan Miller | Getty Images News | Getty Images
For $700, couples can exchange vows 900 feet above the famous Las Vegas Strip atop The Strat Hotel, Casino & Tower, the tallest structure in the city. This package includes a Champagne toast for the couple and up to 15 guests and is available until Dec. 30.
The Dangers of Wedding Debt
According to a 2019 report by the financial services company LendingTree, 45% of newlyweds go into debt to pay for their weddings.
Furthermore, nearly half of those with wedding debt said that money issues led them to consider divorce, while only 9% of couples without wedding debt reported the same, as shown in the survey.
The survey also asked participants to identify which wedding expense they considered the most “worth it.” Surprisingly, the most popular response was not related to the wedding itself but rather the honeymoon.
The survey conducted by LendingTree included 506 Americans aged 18 to 53 who had been married within the previous two years.
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