Affluence

Holly wanted a wedding at the seaside resort of Spruce Point Inn along the coast of Maine. The wedding, she thought, would feature rocky seaside with white chop waves, August nights cooled by a gentle ocean breeze, lobster boats steaming past, blue sky, bluer waters, navy blazers, linen pants, silk-draped bridemaids’ shoulders, beauty and elegance combining to create an understated and highly cultured splendor.

So, her father rented the entire resort for a three-day weekend of magical, memorable, matrimonial moments for a mere $45,000. This cost in only slightly more than twice the price of an average American wedding these days. According to Richard Markel, president of the Association for Wedding Professionals International, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is now between $18,000 and $21,000 (Smartmoney.com).

According to Bride’s Magazine, the going rate is about $95 per guest, so Holly’s nuptials, not counting clothes, limos, photographer, invitations, thank-you notes, the ceremony, the honeymoon and the band, cost her dad $225 a guest. But what if, after making all those arrangements, no one had shown up?


Matthew 22:1-14