Good grief: blowing the house downpayment on a glorified 'party' is not an act of love. Rather than setting most of that aside to help fund their life together (a sign of commitment), these people are blowing it on instant gratification. Twenty-six grand? That's obscene.
Got married by the police chaplain in my apartment when I graduated the academy. $100.00, tops. $750 for the engagement ring. If it would have cost $26,000, I'd still be single.
My friend's parents spent $250,000 on his sister's wedding. And it wasn't in Manhattan or Beverly Hills but Cape Girardeau, MO.
I wish I would have used all that money for a house. But, I got overruled. It was $15K for us.