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U.S. wedding costs soar
Washington Times ^ | 6-15-06 | AP

Posted on 06/15/2006 11:59:09 AM PDT by JZelle

The cost of weddings in the United States has soared to a point some of today's younger generation may be turning away from the ritual. Courtney Martin, whose article on marriages appears in the Christian Science Monitor, seems to be one. She says a typical wedding in 1990 cost $15,208, compared to $4,376 in 1980. Martin, who has no immediate plan to wed her friend of seven years, says that wedding today will set a couple back $22,360, or enough for private college tuition for their future child if that sum is invested at 10 percent return. "Truth be told, we (she and her boyfriend) avoid the topic of walking down the aisle because it is so inextricably tied up with gross, conspicuous consumption," she writes. "We have watched friends get sucked into the tidal wave that is the emotionally manipulative wedding industry -- now totaling $50 billion in sales a year." Saying the marriage ritual has turned into "a circus of decadence," Martin says, "Not only is the egregious spending offensive in a world where too many have too little, but the meaning of the ritual is all but lost amid the designer dresses and lobster dinners."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: decadence; extravagance; wedding; weddingbubble; weredoomed
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Some of those birthday parties for little kids can go pretty overboard too.
1 posted on 06/15/2006 11:59:14 AM PDT by JZelle
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To: JZelle

Wow. This is important.


2 posted on 06/15/2006 12:00:41 PM PDT by PeterFinn (Anything worth fighting for is worth fighting dirty for.)
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To: JZelle
"We have watched friends get sucked into the tidal wave that is the emotionally manipulative wedding industry -- now totaling $50 billion in sales a year." Saying the marriage ritual has turned into "a circus of decadence," Martin says, "Not only is the egregious spending offensive in a world where too many have too little, but the meaning of the ritual is all but lost amid the designer dresses and lobster dinners."

Phooey. What, are they putting a gun to your head forcing you to spend a load of money? If you don't want to spend it, just don't spend it. That's what we did.

3 posted on 06/15/2006 12:01:25 PM PDT by ahayes ("If intelligent design evolved from creationism, then why are there still creationists?"--Quark2005)
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To: JZelle

If you think wedding costs are high, check the cost of divorce!............


4 posted on 06/15/2006 12:01:34 PM PDT by Red Badger (Liberals ignore criminal behavior, reward sloth and revere incompetence...........)
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To: JZelle

Ridiculous. I like the garden wedding at the bride's parents' home. Close friends and relatives, followed by a potluck.

That's what my wife and I did, and it's a great memory for us. There's no evidence that a big, fancy wedding does any more to solemnize the occasion than a simple garden wedding.


5 posted on 06/15/2006 12:02:08 PM PDT by MineralMan (non-evangelical atheist)
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To: ahayes

That's right. Someone who has punch and cookies in the church hall after the ceremony is just as married as someone who puts on a big show.


6 posted on 06/15/2006 12:02:26 PM PDT by linda_22003
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To: JZelle
Definitely true about kiddies' birthday parties.

There's no reason weddings can't be simple.

7 posted on 06/15/2006 12:02:49 PM PDT by Kenny Bunkport (Left's reaction to "GODLESS": "They haven't hated a book this much since the Bible." (pissant))
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To: JZelle

A new reason for the irresponsible to avoid marriage. Ridiculous.


8 posted on 06/15/2006 12:02:56 PM PDT by American Quilter (Equal laws protecting equal rights...the best guarantee of loyalty and love of country. -- Madison)
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To: JZelle

"Saying the marriage ritual has turned into "a circus of decadence"

Like it never was? It is traditional and an opportunity to show off. Happens all over the world.


9 posted on 06/15/2006 12:03:12 PM PDT by dhs12345
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To: ahayes

We go married ('79) in my parent's house with a few close friends and that was all that's necessary.........


10 posted on 06/15/2006 12:03:39 PM PDT by Red Badger (Liberals ignore criminal behavior, reward sloth and revere incompetence...........)
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To: JZelle
Who the hell is spending 20K on a one day party?
11 posted on 06/15/2006 12:04:13 PM PDT by Centurion2000 (Support Network Infrastructure Defense: Kill BlackHats)
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To: dhs12345

I even heard there was a wedding in Capernaum where some guy turned water into wine!.......


12 posted on 06/15/2006 12:04:38 PM PDT by Red Badger (Liberals ignore criminal behavior, reward sloth and revere incompetence...........)
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To: JZelle

I've been to lavish blow-outs and Justice of the Peace ceremonies. A wedding is always just as good as the relationship of the couple getting married.


13 posted on 06/15/2006 12:05:10 PM PDT by inkling
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To: Centurion2000

Who the hell is spending 20K on a one day party?.......Any Kennedy........any day of the week.........wedding not required......


14 posted on 06/15/2006 12:05:31 PM PDT by Red Badger (Liberals ignore criminal behavior, reward sloth and revere incompetence...........)
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To: Red Badger

Two can always elope...


15 posted on 06/15/2006 12:06:19 PM PDT by JoanneSD (i)
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To: JZelle

No kidding... Birthday parties should be cake, soda, games - no reason for it to even reach $50....

But with some careful shopping, there is no reason for wedding costs to go so high... You can still get all the major parts together and do a fancy wedding and reception for under $10k if you put some time into it, negotiate a bit, and don't go for all the frills no one will notice anyway...


16 posted on 06/15/2006 12:06:47 PM PDT by eraser2005
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To: Red Badger

He would have come in handy at my wedding; the bar tab was spectacular.

We did elect to spend about $10k, twenty years ago. We had 55 guests, and it was quite elegant, but we could have married much more simply as well. The article seems to be saying that since young people can't have a big blowout, that's a REASON to avoid marriage.


17 posted on 06/15/2006 12:07:12 PM PDT by linda_22003
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To: PeterFinn

Sorry for wasting your time.


18 posted on 06/15/2006 12:07:17 PM PDT by JZelle
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To: JZelle

Best weddings are the ones with an open bar and music to dance to.


19 posted on 06/15/2006 12:08:24 PM PDT by JmyBryan
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To: JZelle

My daughter got married in March. We had a small ceremony with just the parents, grandparents and two friends of the bride and groom. Including the wedding dress (which my daughter found on sale for less than $300.00) the entire thing cost right around $1200.00. Most of that was for the B&B where she was married. It CAN be done inexpensively if you WANT to.


20 posted on 06/15/2006 12:08:37 PM PDT by mouse_35
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