CHEAP WEDDING, RICH MARRIAGE August 29, 2025

Carolyn and I celebrate our 56th anniversary on September 4. The size and expense of our wedding had nothing to do with our marriage’s longevity. 

Note that in late June, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez basically rented Venice, Italy, for a three-day wedding extravaganza. Bezos, 61, had been married to MacKenzie Scott for 25 years and had four children with her. Their divorce provided Scott with roughly $36 billion in Amazon stock. Money couldn’t keep them together.

This week, pop superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs all-pro tight end Travis Kelce announced their engagement. Kelce and Swift, both 35, will each tie the knot for the first time. Their wedding probably will wait until after the football season, though they could have a small, private civil ceremony before that. 

Even if Swift with a $1.5 billion net worth and Kelce with only $90 million—figures according to celebritynetworth.com—don’t spend as much as Bezos (and Sánchez), the cost likely will dwarf that of the average middle-class wedding.

That cost, according to theknot.com: $33,000.

Will Swift and Kelce be married to each other at age 50? 60? Beyond? Money spent on a wedding doesn’t guarantee a long and love-filled marriage. 

Granted, few people want to get married on the cheap, although many do of necessity. But a cheap—thrifty?—wedding doesn’t restrict what a couple experiences after the honeymoon when it counts. Carolyn and I know.

Our wedding in 1969 ran us $350. 

We organized it ourselves. Rented a suite at the Menger Hotel in downtown San Antonio next to the Alamo. Hired a justice of the peace. Invited roughly 35 guests, including my parents, Blanche and Morris, sister Kay, brother-in-law Herb (my best man), and Aunt Babe and Uncle Harry. Carolyn’s folks and brother from Waco were there. A few more family members. Some friends. My former boss at Fort Sam Houston. We served cake and punch.

A filmmaker I did some writing for was supposed to take the wedding photos as a gift. He never showed. That left us with only a few snapshots plus a bride-and-groom portrait taken months later. Oh, and Carolyn made her wedding dress. I helped with the buttons.

Our custom-made wedding rings were extra—and not ready yet. They cost $250. Total.

Thirty-six years later, we spent more on a recommitment ceremony. Still, it was a modest affair at Congregation Sherith Israel. We had more guests, who instead of gifts brought canned goods for the synagogue’s food drive. Our senior rabbi, Larry Raphael, and cantor, Rita Glassman, blessed us as we stood under a chuppah topped by the tallises (prayer shawls) of our three kids. A caterer—a congregant and friend—prepared dinner. Although financially comfortable, we remained high on joy, low on glitz.

Well past the five-decade mark, we’re still very much in love and look forward to many more years together. However, after 20,000 days of marriage, we take it one day at a time. 

If you’re getting married, spend as much as you want on your wedding. And on your honeymoon. (Ours was a weekend in Houston.) 

But remember, you can only buy happiness with love, understanding and a willingness to cut each other some slack. 

Those characteristics are priceless.

Please pass on this post.

I’ll be taking a little time off to re-charge. Next post: Friday, Sept. 26.

Order my novel, TAKING STOCK (Kirkus Reviews starred selection) — or 2084 —in softcover or e-book from Amazon, barnesandnoble.com or iuniverse.com. Or from your favorite bookstore.