Does the Sinking Economy Spell the Doom of Big, Fat Weddings?

via AlterNet:



Does the Sinking Economy Spell the Doom of Big, Fat Weddings?

By Vanessa Richmond, The Tyee. Posted December 19, 2008.

The average U.S. wedding costs $30,000 -- in today's economic climate, eloping is looking better and better.



Famous and ordinary, fictional and real, lovers are fleeing from big, fat, traditional weddings right now. Credit the bridezilla-backlash, the new postnuptial depression phenomena, or the global financial meltdown's arrival on Main Street.

Which leaves a lot of today's newlyweds with more in their bank accounts and less mental wear and tear. Some will swear eloping is just more romantic.

In last summer's Sex and the City movie, Carrie Bradshaw planned a giant, fairy tale wedding for her and her Mr. Big, only to have its ideological and social weight collapse their relationship. They reconciled, after realizing the true cause of their misery -- the wedding itself -- then spontaneously eloped to city hall one afternoon. "I don't want a wedding, I just want you," said the groom, coining a phrase for the new movement and making small the new big.

More recently, though arguably a giant PR stunt, two of the world's least favorite celebrities, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, eloped to Mexico (then released their private, intimate vows and photos to the media).

Back in reality world, last month, two friends of mine got married in a "hybrid-elopement," which meant immediate family only, in a Vancouver coffee shop, followed a month later by a Facebook-invite, cocktail party in their apartment. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/sex/113773/does_the_sinking_economy_spell_the_doom_of_big%2C_fat_weddings/

$30,000 for a wedding is obscene.

They should be next to the definition of Greed.

I think this downturn is hurting even the well off so it may hit them too.

But the SUPER elite wealthy are probably still putting out for weddings, and things like this obscenity:

http://www.wally.com/jumpch.asp?idChannel=44&idUser=0&attivo=2

I hope it will also put the kibosh on those ridiculous over the top birthday parties for children. Talk about a stupid waste of money!

I've got two daughters in their 20s, both in steady relationships.

Fortunately neither wants one of those three-ring-circus type wedding extravaganzas. They want to do something along the lines of my wedding.

My own wedding 26 years ago cost about $600 and was a wonderful home-made event. Friends and relatives made the cake, arranged the silk flowers (which I bought wholesale), played guitar, sewed the wedding dress(I bought the material wholesale), took photos, tended bar and played DJ. I asked my four bridesmaids to show up in blue dresses that they already owned. The four groomsmen wore dark suits and blue ties. The reception was in my in-laws' backyard rose garden, with rented tables, chairs and pastel tablecloths. The night before, a friend and I made large amounts of potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw, veggie platters and dips, and arranged a variety of cold cuts on trays, along with all kinds of rolls. We provided soda, mixers, beer and other alcoholic beverages. The ceremony was in a Unitarian church. Many people said it was the most tasteful wedding they'd attended. And fun! We sat around singing and listening to people playing guitar late into the night. The next day we drove to Cape Cod for a week at an inexpensive motel by the beach.

Everyone laughs and participates. Everyone has such a great time. I get to make friends with and stay in contact with the bride and groom. There are smiles all over the place. Though I never, ever stay for receptions, the small and informal weddings give me a chance to participate and shake hands in a way I can't do in a big ceremony. For a professional officiant, it's the best place to show off your best creative writing -- you can write and perform something special just for each couple and their most-favorite family and friends. The couple aren't as harried, so they can give better input; the ceremony can reflect exactly what it is they want to convey. Everyone wins.

Hopefully so. $30k is too, too much money for a damn wedding!