Modern Weddings

I worked with a girl once who planned a big extravagant wedding in Florida. She was then upset to the point of tears when only about a third of her guests accepted the invitations.

She genuinely couldn't seem to understand that people on limited budgets, or with small children, or getting on in years or with only so much annual leave, were not prepared to fly to another continent, pay for five or six nights in a hotel, take a significant chunk of their annual leave and sort out complicated child care issues, just to attend her wedding

I felt very sorry for her as she was so obviously deflated and upset, but she had just lost all sense of perspective and didn't realise that her wedding wasn't the massive occasion in everyone else's life that it was in hers.

We have just found out the date and location of our son and fiance's wedding. To me it sounds extravagant, and inconvenient for many to go to, but their choice. I'm afraid the future DIL is falling under the spell of a glamourous wedding as is shown in magazines. I have to shrug my shoulders, and plan to buy a nice dress... we love them both and hope they have a happy celebration.

I wish it was all a bit more low key, but will just have to go with the flow. i know they are happy together.

My daughter went to a wedding in Saint Lucia, all paid for by the couple.
The bride's hairdresser, beautician, and everyone else were all flown out.

Then the couple fell out a few days before the wedding and called it all off.

My wedding was far larger and just “more” than I wanted.

It was what my father wanted.

I just smiled.

I’d hate to think if it were now I’d have people sneering at how ostentatious “I” was for this event.

That is so true Vintagejazz.

So many think that their wedding, new baby, new puppy, is as meaningful and exciting to the rest of the world as it is to them.

We had a small quiet wedding. Thse who weren't invited assumed it was because i was pregnant. I wasn't, and the date for the wedding had been known for six months in advance.
It was entirely dependent on the best man's allocated leave. He was in the navy and it was entirely dependent on his ship being in port

What I don't understand is why people are still getting married at all?

Because the survival rate of married relationships is much longer than less regulated ones and children brought up in stable married relationships do better in school and in life.

Because for many it is still a valuable institution and also has a religious significance.

And because if one of you dies, things are far more straightforward to sort out if you are legally married.

BigBertha1

What I don't understand is why people are still getting married at all?

Why does that puzzle you?

I've been co-habiting with my partner (we're second-time-rounders) for over 33 years and we chose not to get married again for various reasons. But that's us... people are different, individual...

Marriage is an established institution and, in spite of all the challenges, some of them work really well. I can see the appeal, even though I didn't choose that option.

Blimey just been reading a thread on mumsnet where 'split invitations' where some guests get invited to the ceremony and the dancing part, but not to the meal are becoming more common.

Also that at some weddings there are different meals served for men and women eg the men get steak and chocolate pudding, the women get chicken and fruit salad

Vintagejazz that kind of split wedding invitation has been round for decades. I attneded several like that in the 1990s, when my DC's generation were getting married, although I have never come across, the different meals based on sex before.

I avoid weddings like the plague and always decline (even family ones) on health/mobility grounds. I dont drive and they are too much hassle to get too. Plus the expense of a gift, outfit and hanging around etc. I just send a card and wish the couple well. What they choose to spend their money on is their business.

Not to be bah humbug or a kill joy, but I think weddings that are so expensive are a waste of money, just a trend to share on social media in an effort to look the best. Nothing wrong with a quiet ceremony and a little meal to celebrate afterwards, no need to splash out on a big do that is still being paid for long after the divorce! This puts too much pressure on everyone, back to basics I think. The money would be better spent towards a house deposit IMHO.

M0nica

Vintagejazz that kind of split wedding invitation has been round for decades. I attneded several like that in the 1990s, when my DC's generation were getting married, although I have never come across, the different meals based on sex before.

I've received lots of weddings to the evening party only. But I've never been invited to attend the ceremony and then the evening party several hours later and go off and feed myself in between. That's a newish development to me.

Elizabeth27

Nobodies business but the couple getting married. Looking up the costs of someone else’s wedding is rather odd behaviour.

I don't think looking at the cost of the wedding is odd behaviour we all do it consciously or unconsciously. Look at how we view Royal weddings.
Even if they knew it would be declined, an invite would have been polite to an aunt.
I think lots of lavish weddings are one-upmanship and often wonder what real life after the wedding is like.
In the end, it is down to the couples and their parents' choice but I do know from my own children who both had small intimate weddings pressure is put on the couple often by the venue or a planner if there is one or even the photographer and you have to be very clear in your stance.

vintagejazz sometimes there is nothing happening between the wedding and the evening event. That was the case when my God son got married 15 years ago. When DS got married, those invited to the wedding ceremony got a meal immediately after with all the toasts and cake cutting. the evening event was more informal and included a buffet supper. Some people went home for a couple of hours in the afternoon for a rest or to change, others stayed on with a pay bar chatting to friends and family.

When it came to costs DS was on a winner. His wife was an events organiser at a big local museum. it was a DIY event in a church hall and many friends provided presents in kind, photography, catering at cost, hall decoration done by a group of friends. I helped with both setting up and clearing up the next day. Music was also provided by friends and the Master of Ceremonies was a Performance Poet, also a friend.

Much more fun than a formal hotel wedding.

Apparently many people have been alinvited to travel to the ceremony and also attend the evening of a wedding but the actual meal is for selected guests only. I would find that incredibly rude if I got such an invitation.

I was sitting by myself in a hotel lounge once when a young woman came and sat at a table near me. She was joined by another woman and it soon became apparent that she was a bride to be meeting with her photographer.

Within 2 minutes the photographer had persuaded her that she needed extra photographers if the job was to be done properly.

I expect hotels are also very persuasive in getting brides and grooms to agree to costly chair coverings, sweet carts, photo booths and all the hurdy gurdy that goes with a wedding nowadays.

Likewise the cake maker, the car hire company etc all starting with "well it's up to you but......"

Weddings are huge industries now with people queuing up to part young couples from their money.

It is such a waste spending all that money on one day, especially if a couple of years down the line there is a divorce