Wedding of the century...

[denorios]

My cousin (well, actually my cousin's daughter, so technically my second cousin?) got married this week, and oh my Lord. Talk about over-the-top. I've never seen anything like it. I mean, she's an only child, daddy's little girl, her mother is Romany, and they're not short of a few bob, so I was expecting it to be fairly ostentatious, but...wow. I

Comments

[author_by_night]

I feel like huge excessive weddings aren't just about getting married, but about living up to everyone else's expectations. Which is kind of sad, imho. And half the time you don't even see the bride at these huge weddings - sometimes you don't even see other people you know, because everyone's seated at tables across the room, and you can't really mingle much except to dance. That's why I liked the last one I went to, it was a nice size, and the cocktail hour, reception and ceremony were all in the same place (just different areas), so you actually could get up and walk around and things, as opposed to being stuck staring at strangers for four hours while trying to catch one glimpse of the bride and groom.

[denorios]

I don't think I exchanged more than five words with my cousin! I mean, we're not close anyway, but there were just so many people there...

This was definitely one of those where you didn't get much of a chance to talk to people other than those on your table. Once the music started up and the dancing started, it was too loud. And it was in a marquee on the horse farm, so you couldn't really go anywhere to get away for ten minutes or decompress. I like weddings in hotels where I can go back to the room for half an hour, or slip away early without being noticed!

[bearshorty]

Wow. 500 people is way too many.  Last wedding I've been to in December had 175 guests and that was a lot. We barely talked to the bride (a friend of my husband). I guess some people want to show off. I'd rather use that amount of money on a house. I would also be too self conscious.

My husband and I both wanted a small wedding. We planned for 40 people and ended up with 34. Just family and close friends, and not all family either. We had it in a beautiful decorated private side room in a Russian restaurant where the loud music was on the main floor, and people could go dance there. In the private room, our guest could have a conversation. We found that the key was lots of free booze (we gave bottles as parting gifts too) and everyone was very happy. I still got to wear my fancy dress and we had a rabbi and a priest. My Mom was our photographer, we took regular cars and we had a fantastic time.

[denorios]

Just a couple of weeks ago I was a wedding for a friend, and it was so low-key and lovely. There were only about 50 guests, the reception was in the church hall, they'd organised their own buffet and drinks, the bride just wore a pretty dress, rather than a 'wedding' dress, a friend was the photographer. It was real and genuine and totally 'them', and they could sit and talk to everyone and it wasn't overwhelming or loud or lasted too long.

[cattraine]

Better to elope and spend that kind of money on a great honeymoon and setting up house. Jeez. So many people seem to think a wedding is some kind of prize--forget the marriage. "I won! I'm Married."They forget they have to work at a marriage everyday for the rest of their lives to get it to work.

[denorios]

I'm the same. I'd far rather spend the money on my honeymoon for myself and my partner, than thousands on food and drink and decorations for people, half of whom I'm probably not that close to and am only inviting so as to not upset other people!

[gelsey]

O.o oh wow.

I've never dreamed of a huge wedding. I can't imagine spending that kind of money on one day.

[bymagajones]

When I was younger, I had a whole Plan that involved renting out an entire hotel. Now that I'm older, if I ever found someone I'd want to marry, I think I'd be happy if both of our families were there - and that's not necessarily required (that's why our phones have video and photo functions, right?). Just the thought of all of that work makes me tired, and I'd rather use that money to pay off my bills and go on a fun honeymoon.