Why do people spend so much money on weddings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because I married an Indian.

So true.

Weddings of the children is such a huge lifetime community-event for Indian parents and they have no discernment of when to put a stop at it. .

Once upon a time, weddings had all the regional flavors and different rituals and traditions and it was fun to witness the weddings of people form different states, religions etc. Nowadays, Indian weddings are the same hybridized and generic weddings condensed from Bollywood cinema, Hindi serials and American dominant culture traditions. It is uniformly blah - but there is good food, open bars, bhangra, DJ and whatnot.

We are gearing up for a wedding of a cousin which will happen in Texas (White girl from Texas). Couple is in NY. Parents are in MD. Already, there has been a week of bachelor party, and 1 prayer/lunch hosted by parents. There will be 1 sagaai/dinner, 1 sangeet, 1 mehndi/haldi/dinner - all of which will happen in MD. The Bride and Groom will be coming down from NY to attend. The girl will have a bridal shower, a bachelorette party, an Indian wedding/reception(paid by groom's side of the family), a non-denominational wedding/reception(paid by the bride's family), a breakfast/Bidai - all of this in Texas. Are they NUTS? And why are the kids not putting their foot down and saying enough is enough??

As a guest - our family will be probably attending 8 events of these events. I am fuming because this means around 10 really expensive outfits for each member of my own family. I am looking at several thousand dollars in just clothing, shoes, jewelry. Add in travel, lodging, gifts.

Though, TBH, if the bride can endure this... they will have a lifelong marriage.

[Anonymous]

Because the woman they are dating is #highmaintenance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that with the price of weddings these days, the expense does not justify the guest experience. Yes, dancing and open bar with friends and family is fun and all, but come on. For me I see it more as like a keeping up with the Joneses/social media rite of passage. Gotta get those wedding pics up and have pictures to post on birthdays and anniversaries.

The pictures are a big thing for couples now. One couple I know figured out how to have the least expensive wedding they could: morning ceremony followed by essentially a continental breakfast, just some bagels and fruit, followed by some doughnuts. No alcohol. Background music, but no dancing.

BUT, thousands and thousands were spent on clothing for the bride and groom and the wedding party and the flowers for all. Much, much time was spent on taking pictures, in addition to an elaborate pre-wedding photo shoot. The bride changed into a second very elaborate dress during the reception, so more pictures had to be taken.

And now, it has been four years and the couple both still post pics from their wedding on social media practically every month. It seems as though the whole point of the wedding reception was to get pictures, not to host a gracious party for their family and friends.

[Anonymous]

Because they're fun, so if you can afford it why not?

[Anonymous]

A wedding is just a big party. People like to think they cost more, but really if you throw yourself a big birthday party or anniversary bash it’s the same thing. Also bar/bat mitzvahs, quinceaneras, etc.