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This should be required reading for anyone about to be sucked into the pocket-emptying wedding industry, while planning for the beginning of the rest of their lives. Every time I attend another relative's wedding I find myself wondering how many months of rent were wasted on the open bar, flower arrangements, hall rental, etc. And none of my relatives are wealthy! So much pomp, gravity and $$$$$$ for an essentially boring and rote ceremony.
And does anybody ever fondly remember a wedding for
the flowers, or the vows, or the choreographed groomsmen and bridesmaids standing uncomfortably for a stiff, stifling eternity while the bride and groom mumble boilerplate vows of devotion and love? Of course not. A wedding is remembered for the impromptu family reunion at the reception, for who got drunk and made an ass of themselves, for the candid moments of conversation with people you haven't seen for years.
Sure, you can spend $5,000 on that fancy, tasteless, disgusting cake... but why get sucked into that BS? Put the money in a mutual fund or something and save for that house you want to buy in a few years.
My wife and I were married 3 years ago. We are far from rich, but even if we had been, our overriding goal was to avoid the extravagance and disgusting, conspicuous consumption that so many people try to impress their relatives with (who are just waiting for the open bar anyway). We were married by a magistrate in a mercifully short ceremony, threw a party with plenty of beer, wine, and friends for a few hours, and played our own mix of tunes on a sound system that a friend provided. It was a good time, not boring and I still look back on that day fondly. And, it cost us less than $1,000.
A wedding shouldn't be about having "the perfect day". It should be a time of reflection and committment to the marriage that one is (hopefully) committing oneself to for the rest of one's life. And it's an excuse to have a nice party. I don't understand why many Americans think spending themselves into penury equals a strong beginning to their marriages.
Reality check: Cinderella is a FAIRY TALE.
