There is a new book out called "The Wedding-Industrial Complex Exposed: A new book reveals that many long-treasured wedding rituals were invented to separate happy couples from their dough.
http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/moneyhappy/39681
2007-07-20 09:57:11 · 22 answers · asked by Steve C 7 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Yes I think it is a waste.
More ridiculous is the time, not the money, that goes into wedding planning. It seems that the majority of couples spend up to 2 years planning for that single day in their lives yet spend hardly any time at all on planing for the marriage itself. What color flowers, what kind of cake, where the reception will be seem to be the more fervent questions to the couple than what will our financial plan be, how will we keep our communication in top priority, and will we have compatible parenting styles.
If often found it ridiculous that so much more time and money goes into that one day than into the (hopefully) life-long commitment that is being made.
Just one more reason (in my view) why the divorce rates are so high.
Just my opinion...............
2007-07-20 10:54:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 1⤋
Depends on the couple. If you make 100,000 a year 30k for a wedding isn't so tremendous..its just a drop in the bucket.
How much you spend on your wedding is a totally personal choice, the only time I have a problem is if you are going into debt to keep up with what you "have to have" at a wedding. The only thing you "have to have" is yourselves, two witnesses, and an offciant.
Our wedding will cost about 5k but that doesn't make me any better or any worse than brides who spend more (or less).
2007-07-20 17:05:25 · answer #2 · answered by pspoptart 6 · 8⤊ 0⤋
To each their own, I say.
It is a shame that the world has gone this way when it comes to weddings....but people are still going to do it, regardless. And no matter how it is done, family and friends are always going to want to be a part of it.
We are now in the early stages of planning our wedding. We are paying for it ourselves and it will be simple, but tasteful. We are hosting the reception at our beautiful home, so saving money there. I am doing most of the cooking/catering myself, with help from my sister. We will be feeding probably about 80 or so close friends and family. And I am happy. All up I think it will only cost a couple of grand. We probably would never do the big traditional wedding, mainly because I have been married before, and he doesnt like a fuss.
However my nephew got married recently and had the traditional (and very expensive) wedding. They could afford it and it was lovely. And why not????
Dont worry Spockie baby, I am sure some day you will meet a fellow Trekkie lady who is weird enough to want to marry you. I wonder if you could have your vows read in Klingon?
2007-07-20 17:54:46 · answer #3 · answered by bluegirl6 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
It's no more of a waste of money to spend on your wedding than it is to pull up to the Hummer lot and just have to get that H2 that depreciates in value the minute it roles off the lot. People spend their money where they want. I've told my boyfriend a few times that his wedding budget far out paces mine. He smiles and nods and tells me why he thinks the budget needs to be as such. So firstly, it's not always women who buy into the big budget wedding process. Secondly, as long as folks are able to fund their wedding big or small then they should be able to have the date they want. No I personally wouldn't spend a quarter of a million dollars on our big day but if someone else wants to and can afford let them. Sometimes you can see where the money went and other times you can't but everyone has different standards and expectations for their lives. Let them enjoy them.
2007-07-20 17:58:08 · answer #4 · answered by indydst8 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I've had both kinds of weddings, the one where you get the white dress, bridesmaids, become a bi*** to everyone, expensive flowers, glorious honeymoon and the marriage only lasted 2 years. What a complete waste of time, money and effort. The second time it was simple, just a home-made dress, I made the flowers myself, no rented tuxedos, no uncomfortable standing for pictures, I even did most of the cooking for the party after wards. We've been married 25 years and together for 27. If people would put as much effort into their relationship as they do the big wedding and reception then more marriages would last.
2007-07-20 17:08:44 · answer #5 · answered by Scooter Girl 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
oh my god, thank you so much for enlightening me! gosh, I wish I had seen this before, otherwise I totally would have done my wedding differently!!!!!!
seriously, there are plenty of couples that don't just throw money away on empty "traditions" for their wedding. my husband and I took the time to make sure our wedding day reflected us and our relationship and would provide a fun, memorable event we could share with our loved ones. I wouldn't change a thing about my wedding. maybe it's OK for some people to get married in a court house and act like it's any other day, but for us, we wanted to share it with our families and friends, and thank them for sharing it with a nice party. feeding 125 people isn't cheap, but the memories are totally worth it.
to each their own. if you don't want a big "expensive" wedding, then don't have one. but don't put down someone else for wanting to celebrate their wedding a certain way. besides, a ritual has to start somewhere. maybe it started 70 years ago, but if someone wants to do it, knock yourself out. I'm sorry weddings are such empty, meaningless days to you. I'm glad you weren't a guest at my wedding.
2007-07-20 17:26:50 · answer #6 · answered by not margaret 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
i think it's stupid how people will drop $40,000 on a wedding and think nothing about it! My wedding reception cost a total of about $3,000 and it was amazing! my mom was really good about looking out for deals or buying something that was supposed to be used for one thing, and then using it for another. I had a lot of connections so many things didn't cost an arm and a foot. But i mean, it's just a wedding, why spend so much money! save the money and use it for after your married! you can still have a wonderfuly beautiful wedding without spending so much. My wedding turned out JUST how i pictured it and i didn't need to spend so much. What's the point?
my wedding had everything i wanted, i had brides maids, groomsmen, i BEAUTIFUL dress that was 1,400 but i borrowed it from my sister so i spent about $100 for alterations...i had flowers, cake, food, beautiful tables, great honeymoon (except i got sick) everything i ever wanted, for way less than most people spend on their wedding. seriously, just be smart and spend less. it's way better
2007-07-20 17:17:46 · answer #7 · answered by jillinebinny 2 · 7⤊ 1⤋
No. it isn't a waste of money because weddings are a special day for people. You get a guy then marry then get a child.
2007-07-20 20:18:41 · answer #8 · answered by IWearJeans;D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't think that it is a waste. My wedding was a day that I will never forget. I don't regret spending $1. Infact, I wish that I was making more money at the time, so that I could have spent more.
2007-07-20 17:01:41 · answer #9 · answered by drruth 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
"Tremendous" is relative, and priorities vary from couple to couple.
We gals could easily say, "guys, don't you think it is a waste to spend such a tremendous amounts of money tricking out your stupid muscle car?"
Or "guys, don't you think it is a waste to spend such a tremendous amounts of money on hair plugs?"
Or "guys, don't you think it is a waste to spend such a tremendous amounts of money buying a new driver/putter/copper bracelet to improve your swing?"
I must respectfully disagree with one of the posts above: $30K is a drop in the bucket for a couple who jointly bring home $100K? In my mind, one-third of a couple's after-tax income is a very large portion of the bucket -- unless they have no mortgage, no car payments, no student loan debt, no credit card balance, no medical bills, and no other significant expense to speak of. I don't know anyone over 25 who is in that enviable financial situation.
2007-07-20 17:50:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋