Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

U.S. wedding costs soar
Washington Times ^ | 6-15-06 | AP

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: decadence; extravagance; wedding; weddingbubble; weredoomed
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160161-168 next last
To: Grammy

Wow, Nick Lodge! I love his flowers!


141 posted on 06/16/2006 4:17:53 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn (I think the border is kind of an artificial barrier - San Antonio councilwoman Patti Radle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 139 | View Replies]

To: Xenalyte

She's 20............


142 posted on 06/16/2006 5:03:43 AM PDT by Red Badger (Liberals ignore criminal behavior, reward sloth and revere incompetence...........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 111 | View Replies]

To: Grammy; Kaylee Frye; mtbopfuyn
Some of Grammy's cakes!

Sun Burst

Spring Valley

Summer Quilt

Springtime Joy
143 posted on 06/16/2006 5:47:11 AM PDT by Xenalyte (Can you count, suckas? I say the future is ours . . . if you can count.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
If you think wedding costs are high, check the cost of divorce|

Worth every penny ;-)

144 posted on 06/16/2006 5:51:36 AM PDT by MattinNJ (The paleocon's paleocon.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Xenalyte

All very pretty, and that last one is spectacular. Our cake was topped by a smaller version of my bridal bouquet, the "Sonia" peach-colored roses.

When we were planning the cake, the catering manager at the hotel actually suggested a little bride and groom on top. My husband said, "That's when that vein in your mother's forehead just started to DANCE...."


145 posted on 06/16/2006 5:54:09 AM PDT by linda_22003
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: linda_22003


What, y'all didn't have a lovely Precious Moments bride-and-groom figurine? (Gaaaaah.)
146 posted on 06/16/2006 5:58:26 AM PDT by Xenalyte (Can you count, suckas? I say the future is ours . . . if you can count.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 145 | View Replies]

To: Xenalyte

No. No hydrocephalic little monsters for us. I do have a friend who had a small wedding (as she wished) and her in-laws gave a big bash at their country club at a later time for a reception (as she didn't wish).

The mother in law had a huge cake made, and a Lladro bride and groom sculpture smack in the middle of it - not a cake topper, but a full sized piece. That honker must have been eighteen inches high. =:P


147 posted on 06/16/2006 6:03:12 AM PDT by linda_22003
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
A young man who isn't committed will grab at ANY reason not to get married..........

A young man who isn't committed has no business getting married in the first place. Count your daughter as lucky. She still has a chance to get away without help from a lawyer.

148 posted on 06/16/2006 6:08:30 AM PDT by Wolfie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: JoeGar

I've caught a few minutes of some of those on MTV - made me want to reach through the TV and slap those spoiled little brats.... I think we should have a 100% estate tax on THOSE kids - they don't deserve to get a cent. :)


149 posted on 06/16/2006 6:09:55 AM PDT by eraser2005
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 108 | View Replies]

To: JZelle

Real story is - WHAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO SPEND FOR A WEDDING SOAR.

We are living in a very materialistic society, and getting more so every day.


150 posted on 06/16/2006 6:09:57 AM PDT by NavyCanDo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Xenalyte

Ping for later when I have the munchies. I'll be eating a Devil Dog, but I'll be looking at those pics.


151 posted on 06/16/2006 6:11:16 AM PDT by Wolfie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: Wolfie; Bacon Man; Hap
Do you have Zingers where you are?

A Zinger is like a Twinkie, only a little smaller, and FROSTED.
152 posted on 06/16/2006 6:16:44 AM PDT by Xenalyte (Can you count, suckas? I say the future is ours . . . if you can count.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: JZelle
"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."

Bears repeating. Marriage is an extremely important and (should be) sacred event in one's life. Too bad too many now-a-days try to make it into circus production by spending so much money on it to impress people that they'll bust the bank or go into big debt to pay for it. For those, it's all about the show.

153 posted on 06/16/2006 6:20:50 AM PDT by OB1kNOb (This is no time for bleeding hearts, pacifists, and appeasers to prevail in free world opinion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JZelle

When I got married the common reception was cake, ice cream and mints and lasted about two hours. The cost of such a reception was $2.50 per person and my mother thought that was outrageous.
My daughters' weddings each ran about $6000 and they were lovely.
Most of today's wedding have become ostentatious affairs intended for showoff more than solemnity.
And the worst part of these showy, expensive weddings is that too many of the guest come dressed in shorts or jeans!


154 posted on 06/16/2006 6:21:24 AM PDT by Wiser now (A bitter, sour old woman is the crowning work of the devil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator

I have two toddler girls. I plan to give them each a $10K wedding gift. They can use that for a wedding, a honeymoon, appliances... whatever. But if I were them, I would do a quick ceremony at church, then start looking at real estate

Me too! My mom did the same for us, either wedding or home!


155 posted on 06/16/2006 6:26:16 AM PDT by angcat ("IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS, PLEASE, FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM !")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: Xenalyte
Oh yeah, we have Zingers. And these little sugar bombs:

And its nuclear cousin:


156 posted on 06/16/2006 6:27:49 AM PDT by Wolfie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: Wolfie; Bacon Man; Hap

See, I can't take the Sno Balls . . . I hate coconut. It has a nasty feel in the mouth, and it tastes like suntan oil.

Bacon Man had never had Zingers until last weekend. Now he's trying to figure out a way to combine them with bacon and create his perfect food.


157 posted on 06/16/2006 6:29:19 AM PDT by Xenalyte (Can you count, suckas? I say the future is ours . . . if you can count.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies]

To: OB1kNOb

"Bears repeating. Marriage is an extremely important and (should be) sacred event in one's life. Too bad too many now-a-days try to make it into circus production by spending so much money on it to impress people that they'll bust the bank or go into big debt to pay for it. For those, it's all about the show."

I'm not that impressed when I go to a wedding where it's obvious they've spent a ton of money - I'm more likely to think that they've spent a lot of money rather foolishly, particularly when I know that neither the bride nor groom, nor their families, is exactly loaded with dough. While it is often driven by the parents, the bride to be is often a big driver of it, too - with foolish fantasies of being "princess for a day", fuelled by the wedding industry and all those big, thick, glossy wedding magazines. Just like they've bought the diamond industry's hype about engagement rings - all that money for a hugely overpriced, really not that rare, carbon crystal. No, I wouldn't begrudge my wife-to-be a decent engagement ring, but the huge ones are a waste of money that can be better used for other things.

In any case, the most enjoyable weddings I have been to have been relatively low-budget affairs, with the reception held at a rented hall (fire dept. hall, Royal Order of Elks hall, that sort of thing) and much of the food provided by family members. It seems to be a lot less stressfull on everyone when they haven't spent a ton of money on it. Now, if you come from rich families then the money is probably inconsequential, so go nuts.


158 posted on 06/16/2006 7:14:53 AM PDT by -YYZ-
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 153 | View Replies]

To: mtbopfuyn

You should see his shop. Mr G said he felt like he walked into a florists.


159 posted on 06/16/2006 7:16:01 AM PDT by Grammy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: Xenalyte
Thanks Xenalyte. I am an html dummy. I know how to italics and that's about it.
160 posted on 06/16/2006 7:17:38 AM PDT by Grammy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160161-168 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson