Movie Weddings Prove Expensive

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 684, 8 June 1929, Page 25

Movie Weddings Prove Expensive

Actors’ Extravagance £6,000 FOR ONE FUNCTION

According to Laura la ! Plante, who writes in “Tit Bits" courtship and marriage are more costly in Hollywood than in any other place in the world. The average cost of a { wedding is said to he about 1 £6,000.

‘HURST, there are the presents a ■*" young man gives the girl of his ancy before he can persuade himself to propose,” she

writes. “They range from diam o n d wrist watches to platinum chains. He must own a car as trips into the country are essential and these entail membership of various clubs where the journey may be broken.

\yhen the engagement stage is reached there is an all-round increase in expenditure. The ring may mount up to £2,000. Emeralds are very popular just now, and cost about £4OO a carat.

“The wedding details are usually taken over by friends. Flowers run to £ 100. The minister gets £ 30, and the ring costs anything up to £l5O. At the close of the ceremony there must be a car costing one or two thousand, and the bridegroom’s gift to the bride may be a string of real pearls. These vary in price from £SOO to £15,000. “Ceremony and reception over, there is the honeymoon. A trip to Europe is first choice, with a yacht to Honolulu a good second. Before setting out, the bride must have a practically inexhaustible stock of gowns. This item recently cost £1,500. “Meantime, the young husband’s friends have been putting his house in order. The total cost will certainly pass £12,000, and may reach £30,000.

“Within a month or so the wife will find it necessary to adjourn to New York to replenish her wardrobe. This is often the time chosen to start divorce proceedings! The highestpriced lawyers are engaged, and the million-dollar battle begins.”