Holy matrimony!
Cindy on May 21st, 2009
“Marriage is not just spiritual communion, it is also remembering to take out the trash.” — Dr. Joyce Brothers
Here comes the bride — and there goes the family’s life savings. Over the years, I’ve watched newly engaged couples spend months selecting elaborate floral arrangements, inspecting menus from caterers, auditioning professional musicians, and outfitting enough bridal attendants to cast a chorus line on Broadway. How much is too much? Is there such a thing as “over the top” when it comes to weddings and receptions? Click here to read more in today’s Midpoint column in The Oakland Press. –CL
May 21st, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Terrific post! There seems to be way to much “reception” and far less attention to the marriage these days. Keeping up with the Jones never guaranteed a blissful marriage.
May 21st, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Cindy,
You are so right on about this one, one of my concerns too. I do hope when the day comes that my own children marry, they will opt for the wedding of “value.” It doesn’t have to be bargain basement stuff but an authentic (and practical) celebration of this simple yet profound act of love and commitment. Well, I can hope anyway…and hope that I’ve instilled solid values in them.
BTW, I had heard the avg. wedding cost was $15,000. Very scary what you suggest here in costs. Truly, I can’t imagine any couple today (at least one in their right mind) wanting to launch married life with a debt load like this.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:47 pm
And it’s not only weddings. It’s graduations, birthdays, senior proms. So much has gotten way out of hand, it is laughable. A few weeks ago, we saw a chauffered limousine at a young child’s First Communion! Galas, limos, it’s all becoming routine, losing its specialness in a way.
May 22nd, 2009 at 6:56 am
Holy smoke, Joanne! A First Communion gala?!? Yes, we’re all in way too deep. Sadly, the boundaries of good taste have been stretched beyond hope.
Along these same lines, Joanna Jenkins over at Fifty Factor recently posted an excellent piece on graduation parties — including graduation ceremonies for grade-schoolers! Check it out here: http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2009/05/graduation-dilemma.html. Like Joanna, I still wonder: Must we “gift” every graduate who sends us an announcement or party invitation? If so, how much, and where does it all stop?)
May 27th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Wow-I know that I was fairly ignorant about how hard marriage would be but not so innocent as to have a $30,000. wedding! Take out a couple of zero’s and we had ourselves a Clambake, camping out and then a B&B wedding with only the first circle of friends and family present. Some people say that it was the most fun wedding they’ve ever been to! Oh the many things I could do with $30,000!