Saying - I Don't

Weddings are becoming mini-coronations. The "robes", the procession frou-frou and the walloping guest lists are becoming ridiculous. The total costs would buy an exotic car! At least a true coronation is lasting and I won't say more on that topic. I know one career couple who bought a mortgage together on a huge house, lived in it for five years until they had saved up for the gargantuan marriage ceremony that became family legendary. Sadly it ended in tragedy. One of the couple was killed in a head-on collision. There were no children in the empty house but ironically lots of photos on display of their long anticipated wedding for the remaining spouse to view. Cold comfort. And while it is an extreme tale, it brings to question what really  matters. Is the huge expense worth it? The ridiculous sum for a wedding gown worn once, the location, food and drink costs could well be put toward a down-payment on a house. Some young couples, after the "coronation" pay for it years to come.  Their indulgence might well have been spent elsewhere. To say that it is because they want to pay back for attendance at the fantastic weddings of their friends, or to "do it" for show for their  relatives is just not a valid reason for the foolish pomp and circumstance. Most of the people who attend weddings don't care if it's fish or fowl on their plate or how many flounces were on the wedding dress. They go because they want to celebrate the union of two people who are in love, not in debt, at the end of the affair. The weddings I treasure in my memory are the "small" ones held in homes and gardens or of the loving couples who go off to some romantic place of their choice are the ones I admire. Frankly, I have been at some large weddings that were disastrous. The bride and groom were long past their first honeymoon and often had their kids in tow. Why not call those a "confirmation of love" or some other term than  "wedding". To me, weddings are an event saying that a young couple are just starting out on a matrimonial journey and who want to celebrate it with their loved ones in a simple, sincere way. That is a wedding.