Weddings and chances to overspend

I’VE been to auto shows, boat shows, lawn and garden shows, sports memorabilia and remodeling shows. But I’ve never been to a bridal show, and I didn’t feel I had been missing anything.

But there I was on a frosty, sub-zero Saturday morning in January with about 4,000 other moms and dads, and future brides and grooms, lining up to enter a bridal show at Kansas City’s downtown convention center.

Over the next three hours, I walked the hall, talking to some big vendors who had the prime real estate near the entrance, as well as mom-andpop operators near the back of the giant hall.

I feel certain I saw what all of the 100-plus booths had to offer: more than 100 ways to spend your money on everything from cakes and cupcakes, to dresses and suits, to mobile sound systems and diet plans.

I heard comments for and against destination weddings, rustic weddings in the country and all-inclusive wedding and reception packages. There were also sales pitches about all the extras, including catering, gifts for the wedding party, awnings and centerpieces for the reception.

There were even booths manned by financial planners, bankers, real estate agents and more.

I did learn a few things about how to make the most out of a bridal show experience. Collect lots of business cards from the vendors and sample the food and refreshments from caterers.

When my wife and I finally left the event, we were exhausted and overwhelmed.

I’m a father of a bride-to-be. And let me tell you, it’s a different perspective — and potentially a way different price point — compared with my two sons’ trips to the altar.

As many parents know all too well, wedding bills can be big ones. And most parents don’t spend years saving for the big event as they do for college or for a home.

Just how much money are we talking about?

According to a 2016 survey of 13,000 couples by The Knot, the average wedding hit an all-time high of $35,329. Most couples spend less than $10,000, however, Costofwedding.com says. Those big bills, which cover an average-size crowd of 141 wedding guests, don’t include the honeymoon.

While you can cut out a lot of the extras, there’s no getting around some costs, whether you are keeping the event simple, going all out on an extravaganza or doing something in the middle.

Parents, whatever direction you choose, don’t throw budgetary caution to the wind. Ensure you stick to your budget and aren’t impulsively buying an extravagant horse-drawn carriage ride to the reception.

Get a clear understanding at the outset of what each family will be covering, and whether the happy couple plans to contribute.

On average, the bride’s parents pay for about 44 percent of the wedding bills, while the bride and groom cover 42 percent, and parents of the groom pay for the rest, according to The Knot’s survey.

Decide how involved you want to be in the planning. Would you prefer just to write a check and let the future newlyweds decide how to spend it, or do you want in on the negotiating?

Websites, such as TheKnot.com and Costofwe dding.com, offer helpful wedding budgeting tools. Even so, allot some extra padding in your budget to cover the unexpected, such as gratuities for the bartender, taxes and transportation.

Whatever you opt to spend for the big day, make sure it aligns with your income and other financial goals.

Las Vegas Review-Journal A trip to a bridal show will reveal just how many ways parents and couples can spend their money on weddings.

The average wedding reached a high of $35,329 in 2016, but most couples spend less than $10,000, according to Costofwedding.com.