Posted on 06/15/2006 11:59:09 AM PDT by JZelle
The cost of weddings in the United States has soared to a point some of today's younger generation may be turning away from the ritual. Courtney Martin, whose article on marriages appears in the Christian Science Monitor, seems to be one. She says a typical wedding in 1990 cost $15,208, compared to $4,376 in 1980. Martin, who has no immediate plan to wed her friend of seven years, says that wedding today will set a couple back $22,360, or enough for private college tuition for their future child if that sum is invested at 10 percent return. "Truth be told, we (she and her boyfriend) avoid the topic of walking down the aisle because it is so inextricably tied up with gross, conspicuous consumption," she writes. "We have watched friends get sucked into the tidal wave that is the emotionally manipulative wedding industry -- now totaling $50 billion in sales a year." Saying the marriage ritual has turned into "a circus of decadence," Martin says, "Not only is the egregious spending offensive in a world where too many have too little, but the meaning of the ritual is all but lost amid the designer dresses and lobster dinners."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Wow. This is important.
Phooey. What, are they putting a gun to your head forcing you to spend a load of money? If you don't want to spend it, just don't spend it. That's what we did.
If you think wedding costs are high, check the cost of divorce!............
Ridiculous. I like the garden wedding at the bride's parents' home. Close friends and relatives, followed by a potluck.
That's what my wife and I did, and it's a great memory for us. There's no evidence that a big, fancy wedding does any more to solemnize the occasion than a simple garden wedding.
That's right. Someone who has punch and cookies in the church hall after the ceremony is just as married as someone who puts on a big show.
There's no reason weddings can't be simple.
A new reason for the irresponsible to avoid marriage. Ridiculous.
"Saying the marriage ritual has turned into "a circus of decadence"
Like it never was? It is traditional and an opportunity to show off. Happens all over the world.
We go married ('79) in my parent's house with a few close friends and that was all that's necessary.........
I even heard there was a wedding in Capernaum where some guy turned water into wine!.......
I've been to lavish blow-outs and Justice of the Peace ceremonies. A wedding is always just as good as the relationship of the couple getting married.
Who the hell is spending 20K on a one day party?.......Any Kennedy........any day of the week.........wedding not required......
Two can always elope...
No kidding... Birthday parties should be cake, soda, games - no reason for it to even reach $50....
But with some careful shopping, there is no reason for wedding costs to go so high... You can still get all the major parts together and do a fancy wedding and reception for under $10k if you put some time into it, negotiate a bit, and don't go for all the frills no one will notice anyway...
He would have come in handy at my wedding; the bar tab was spectacular.
We did elect to spend about $10k, twenty years ago. We had 55 guests, and it was quite elegant, but we could have married much more simply as well. The article seems to be saying that since young people can't have a big blowout, that's a REASON to avoid marriage.
Sorry for wasting your time.
Best weddings are the ones with an open bar and music to dance to.
My daughter got married in March. We had a small ceremony with just the parents, grandparents and two friends of the bride and groom. Including the wedding dress (which my daughter found on sale for less than $300.00) the entire thing cost right around $1200.00. Most of that was for the B&B where she was married. It CAN be done inexpensively if you WANT to.
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