An Affair To Remember

Very recently I happened to read this article in internet - It was all about how expensive American weddings have become. It looks like the average American wedding costs upto a whooping 28,000 - yes all US Dollars! And its all for a 1 day event. Marriage has become a costly affair and wedding planners, I can see, are becoming richer and richer.

Not just they are costlier, they also tend to build a huge pressure for all organizers - financially, in planning and co-ordination and almost everything. I recently received a mail from an American friend of mine, who had been back from her 'vacation'. I presumed it was a vacation as I did not get back any replies from her for about a week and I asked her how her vacation was. She replied back stating that it was sort of a vacation and that she had been out visiting Vancouver for a family wedding. So it was not the type of 'vacation' to relax by any means! Very aptly said - marriages are no more a relaxing function.

I do agree that the grandeur, the number of events, the potpourri of dishes are all directly proportional to money. But does a marriage always have to be grand to be the best? And does marriages have to be the best in the first place? And what do people gain by having best marriages? Well - people differ and some would love to have such diamond and star studded marriage showing ostentatiously their money and power. They consider marriage an opportunity to show the success in their life. I think it just finally boils down to one purpose - 'Pretentious'.

Marriages are becoming equally unaffordable in India. An upper middle class marriage on a grand scale (thank goodness not an average scale!) costs about 22.5 K US dollars - Atleast few Indian marriages are 2 - 3 day events - but that's no excuse to spend 22.5 K! Well the reason again for all these grandeur remains the same - be it India or the US of A.

But there are few factors which I always consider, would make a marriage touching, lovable and more meaningful. In fact these factors give a feeling of fullness and satisfaction that a pricey marriage could not. Factors like contributions to the poor and needy on the day of the marriage. Be it dresses or food, they go to people who need it and you have the money spent in a philanthropic activity. An activity that would make your heart feel so light and peaceful. In fact the couple can personally visit the orphanage or the temple where free food/clothes can be distributed by the couple themselves.

Probably there are more to write about marriages - One more that I can think of now is 'Gifting In Marriages!' But I will save that for another blog...

With More Thoughts...