She Sat Me by the Kitchen at My Son’s Wedding — So I Burned It All Down With One Phone Call

and pulled up my bank account.

The wedding expenses stared back at me in stark black and white:

Venue: $12,500

Catering: $8,700

Photography: $4,200

Flowers: $3,800

Band: $3,500

Dress (Emily’s): $2,400

Dress alterations: $680

Invitations: $950

Cake: $875

Bar service: $2,300

Decorations: $1,650

Miscellaneous (favors, programs, etc.): $1,890

Total: $43,445

Forty-three continue reading …