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 ...
Well, if he "won't commit" then he's probably not a good prospect for her. She's the one who has to come to that conclusion, though. :-\
Yeah, I know. We tell her, but she doesn't listen. We point out his lies and she thinks we're the bad guys..........
Haha, that article is right above the Penny Pincher contest!
Sorry, I'd rather spend the airfare on the electric bill. Wrap the happy couple up a nice toaster and be done with it.
This guy was unbelievable. You see, you can pick either young Elvis or old Elvis. We went for old Elvis with the sideburns and the gut in a jumpsuit. He could sing pretty well and he told my hubby we was "Award Winning". Apparently there are contests for Elvis Impersonating.
Dear FRiend, you're going about it all wrong. The quickest way to have her send him packing is to become his best ally. I mean, if the sooo un-kewl, clueless, living in the dark ages, old codger, stick in the mud parents like the guy there must be something seriously wrong with him.
Personnally, I cannot stand him. I will not speak to him. If we are in the same room, I leave..............
I can plug him at well over 200 yards. He can't run that fast...........
I like that. Simple, inexpensive, extrememly cool!
Some friends pulled off an inexpensive but fun wedding. They had a friend run the DJ machine, rented the church hall for only a three-hour party, hired a modest caterer, and had no bar. The last point was puritanical, but at least it kept their new marriage in the black.
"I can plug him at well over 200 yards. He can't run that fast..........."
Yeah, but you want him to say "I do" so the shotgun between the shoulder blades is best for that.
If he gets away, escaping the rocksalt and the buckshot loads from the shotgun then granted, the rifle comes in handy.
We got married two years ago. Wedding cost about $15,000. And I was trying to save money the whole time.
The major cost was the food/alchohol. We opted for a 3-hour open bar and a nice buffet at Embassy Suites. Just that cost about $8,000 for 75 people.
Another $4,000 went to the photographer. And he was cheap for being so wonderful (he spent all day with us and took the most beautiful photographs).
So, after that I spent another couple hundred on a DJ, a couple hundred on a cake, about $400 on wedding dress/etc. Another couple hundred on a limo, flowers (which I arranged myself), invites/programs/favors (which I printed myself), did my own hair/makeup to save money, a couple musicians for the wedding, officiant fee, etc - all that added up to the last $3,000.
Before anyone criticizes - every single person at our wedding had an absolute blast! And my folks were happy to see their only daughter have such a beautiful wedding.
This kind of story is soooooooooo stupid. The people who have wedding that cost this much can afford it. They live in high priced areas. Just like when you hear that going to College now costs 50,000 a year this is at elite high cost schools. Most normal citizens do not waste their money this way.
LOL
Yes, he calls them United States gift certificates.
He really didn't want gifts, and he really didn't want any of his friends to have to work at his wedding either. He has helped at too many weddings to ask any of his friends to do it. And he didn't have to deal with any family (from either side) making demands of the wedding.
I saw part of one because I was trying to figure out what in the world it was. I wonder if the families on that show have any idea how many people are laughing at their inanity, frivolity, and self-centeredness. If I acted like that on national television I think I'd have to kill myself out of embarassment.
Slow news day! Ha Ha!
Seriously, the maroons who spend this kind of $ on a party (because it doesn't cost anything to get MARRIED) are self serving, selfish fools. There is no law (other than confiscatory taxes) which requires us to help our fellow man, but, if you have the dough to shell out for a party like that one, I certainly hope that you are invinting some people who could really use a good meal, otherwise, it's just showboating.
My wife and I got married in a beautiful church ceremony which cost us almost nothing, and invited our family and friends for a low cost meal in the church hall afterwards. We spent a total of about $1500 and our memories are every bit as wonderful as some glitzy affairs that we have had the misfortune to attend.
It was cool. And beautiful. My son had strung lights between the trees over tables, and had placed colored spot lights shining in the tops of trees and on the creek. His honey decorated the tables with runners and flat rocks holding various sized candles. Also had leaves and acorns and hickory nuts on the tables. It was a wonderland.
My wedding cost about $15k as well and that was a buffet dinner. We had our reception on the Riverfront in San Antonio. I have friends with well-to-do parents who spent $50k easy.
The article is right on about the wedding industry. They keep inventing new crap to spend money on. And the dozen or so wedding shows on TLC/Style/H&G do a good job of brainwashing every chick to expect the best. It starts with the ring. I tell everyone she wearing my new plasma TV on her finger.
Just a silly excuse for living together instead of getting married. No one says you have to have all the 'bells and whistles' at a wedding.
I know someone that got married for about ~$75.00!!
Cheap and they are still married, doing it like rabbits hahaha!!
Its insane how much people spend on weddings.
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