When my oldest daughter got married, it cost me thousands. His parents had the rehearsal dinner at their house-She boiled some hot dogs and I wound up giving the wedding party their gifts (another responsibiliy of the groom according to our wedding planner) at the reception.
His family opted for the grooms cake in liew of alcohol at the reception. His mother made a chocolate cake.
It was not that they couldn't afford a nice dinner or alcohol either. She's an attorney and he's a commercial pilot.
I just silently wrote checks because I wanted my daughter to be happy on Her day.
She was.
smile