When my two older sisters got married in the 60’s and 70’s, my mother says they paid about $50 for the use of the Battle Creek, Michigan Women’s Club Banquet Hall, $200 for the tuxes, $175 for the wedding dress (one sister made her own), $100 for the alcohol for the reception, and about $5 for the rice.  College friends of my sister provided the music “just for the experience” and my sister and brother-in-law honeymooned at a campground in Northern Michigan.  “We certainly never spent more than $500-$600,” my mother says as best she can recall, now that she  has joined the octogenarian set.

When I got married in 1988, we spent $50 for the wedding dress, $50 for the cake, and $5 for mixed nuts.  The wedding party wore their own clothes for the wedding and reception, and we drove to San Francisco from Tacoma, Washington for the honeymoon.

Today, the average cost for an American wedding is over $30,000 and includes hair/makeup services, the musicians, gifts for the attendants, save-the-date cards, imported champagne, and some of the most extravagant honeymoons I’ve ever heard of.

It seems to me that weddings should be a commitment of love between two people.  It shouldn’t be about out-doing the wedding of your neighbor or co-worker’s daughter.  It seems ridiculous to me to spend more than a down-payment on a house for one night.  I’m not saying it shouldn’t be special.  My wedding day certainly was (even if the marriage itself only lasted 10 minutes).  I just think special and memorable doesn’t have to be budget-breaking.

In the play, “Father of the Bride,” which is currently being mounted by Main Street Players of Boone County, Stanley Banks ends up paying $4500 for domestic champagne, and that is just the start of his wedding woes as the guest list continues to increase, his secretary, as well as both the bride and groom, have nervous breakdowns, and he can’t find his rap dictionary to understand anything his younger son says, fo shizzle ma nizzle.

By attending Main Street Players’ latest production, you can live vicariously through the Banks Family and avoid those pitfalls when your sons and daughters get married.  It will give you a chance to laugh, to cry, and to remember the day you exchanged vows.  The cast includes Clara Krumrei, Kim Hughart, Beth Carner, Harmony Thornton, Patrick Bird, Joshua Mrkvika, Michael Neumann, Karen Burke, Sarah Glickenburger, Courtney Hughart, Emily Kapala, Sean Bussy, and Johnny Perez of Boone County and Michael Schottle, Jason Hartman, Karen Guler, and Patricia Mims from Rockford.  Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $5 for students.  Seating is limited, so be sure to  make a reservation by calling 800-741-2963 or by visiting www.mainstreetplayersofboonecounty.com.

“Father of the Bride” plays the following dates:
• Friday, May 9th @ 8PM at a special opening night celebration, hosted by Mark Henderson, Chief Meteorologist on WIFR TV, Channel 23. 
• Saturday, May 10th @ 2PM and 6PM (note the special times).
• Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11th @ 2:00PM, hosted by Dana Arquilla, Host of the Daybreak program on WTVO TV, Channel 17 and @ 6:00PM, hosted by Andy Gannon, News Anchor on WIFR TV, Channel 23.  There will be a special Mother’s Day reception between shows on that day.  You can bring the special mother in your life and stay after the 2PM show or come early before the 6PM show. 
• Saturday, May 17th @ 2PM and at @ 6:00PM. Eric Wilson, Evening Co-Anchor on WREX TV, Channel 13 will be the host.  (note the special times).
• Sunday, May 18th @ 2PM.