Dayton, Ohio Weather, News, Sports and Entertainment WDTN.com, 2 On Your Side News and Weather: Wedding splurges examined in Ohio author's book

Katherine Jellison says the average cost of a wedding today is $30,000, and lavish engagement parties are increasingly popular. The book is called "It's Our Day: America's Love Affair with the White Wedding." Jellison says it wasn't until after World War II that Americans had enough disposable income to marry in such a formal fashion.

And even now as American consumers are pinching their pockets and struggling amid rising food costs, gas prices and a worrisome economy, the $50 billion wedding industry continues to boom. She says Americans see big weddings as a sign of social status. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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