The average cost of a wedding is $33,000 in 2024, according to Forbes .
The most expensive part of the wedding is the venue, with average costs ranging from $6,000 to as much as $75,000.
A mother and her two daughters are attempting to ease the burden on future married couples with their new local business, Elegant Elopements.
The affordable wedding venue, found in uptown Corpus Christi on the 17th floor of the American Plaza Building, is run by Rosalva Guerra, Claudia Villarreal and Odyssa Villarreal.
“Marriage is a very important decision to make,” Guerra, a former Zapata County judge, said. “People want their wedding to be a memory, but we want the experience to be happy for the couple because it’s a very important decision that they’re making for their lives.”
During her time as a judge, Guerra performed plenty of marriages in the Zapata County Courthouse 2 1/2 hours away from Corpus Christi. Wanting to continue being an officiant, she attended a course with Odyssa Villarreal where they both became certified.