Whats the point of mariage?

[blueta2]

yeah. . .but she didn't pay for the wedding. . .you can't "make money on a wedding" no matter how many people you invite. . .my wife and i paid for everything ourselves. . .there were probably 250 in attendance, but my wife's gown was expensive, her wedding band was expensive, we had a very nice rehearsal dinner, a beautiful wedding, our reception was a kick ass party with excellent food and plenty of booze, we had a good photographer, a good dj and we went on a nice honeymoon. . .we'd be real lucky if we even came close to breaking even gifts-to-expense. . .in fact, i'm pretty sure that if i sat down and figured it out, it probably cost us a bit. . .looking back and knowing what i know now, i'd probably spend even more money if i had it to do over again. . .the (almost) 15 years since then have absolutely been the best of my life

Well my friend Linda is Italian and I'll give you a snippet of how Italians have weddings. First off, the parents always pay. Second, the hall dinner with drinks cost $125 per person. They usually invite 300-400 ppl.
When Italians send out invitations, they request a $200 per person gift on the invitation (which is SO classless IMO). They also invite ppl just for drinks and no dinner.
Well 99% of the time not all invited with attend, but since they were invited, then feel obligated to send a gift anyway. Italians have this pride thing and cannot look bad.
Their close relatives and "Pizans" ALWAYS give more than $200. Uncles, cousins etc will always give between $500-1000 cash to the couple.
Now at only $125 a plate with drinks, you do the math.
Trust me, Italian weddings are a money making biz!

 

[alien amp pharm]

Big weddings are about the dumbest thing ever. It's just another "I am a Princess" event for the woman, coupled with greedy people demanding gifts from everyone.

I've rejected friends and families weddings before. I tell them "I won't be at your wedding, but I will be there to help you move your stuff after the divorce"

I'd much rather spend the money on a kick-arse honeymoon vacation.

 

[digimon7068]

First off, the parents always pay. Trust me, Italian weddings are a money making biz!

like i said. . .no way in heck that any "money was made". . ."making money" requires positive (i.e., in the black) cash flow AFTER all expenses are paid. . .

 

[blueta2]

like i said. . .no way in heck that any "money was made". . ."making money" requires positive (i.e., in the black) cash flow AFTER all expenses are paid. . .

do the math, they all win....trust me!

 

[javaguru]

Big weddings are about the dumbest thing ever. It's just another "I am a Princess" event for the woman, coupled with greedy people demanding gifts from everyone.

I've rejected friends and families weddings before. I tell them "I won't be at your wedding, but I will be there to help you move your stuff after the divorce"

I'd much rather spend the money on a kick-arse honeymoon vacation.

I know a lot of people who used the money they would have spent on a wedding for a down payment on their house. Seems like a better investment to me.

 

[fistfullofsteel]

Big weddings are about the dumbest thing ever. It's just another "I am a Princess" event for the woman, coupled with greedy people demanding gifts from everyone.

I've rejected friends and families weddings before. I tell them "I won't be at your wedding, but I will be there to help you move your stuff after the divorce"

I'd much rather spend the money on a kick-arse honeymoon vacation.

So true

 

[digimon7068]

do the math, they all win....trust me!

if we have to pick "winners" and "losers". . .all of the vendors (dress people, caterers, bartenders, florists, etc.)are winners, the happy couple are winners and the parents losers. . .big time. . .especially if the "happy couple" turns out to be one of the 52-percenters (i.e., of marriages that end in divorce). . .

. . .plus. . .you're only taking into consideration the $125 a plate. . .what about the rehearsal dinner and the party after, bachelor/bachelorette parties, dresses, tuxes, rings, all those damn paper products and party favors that you have to buy, the dj or band, the extra booze that you gotta run out and buy cause your family are a bunch of damn lushes, fuggin ice sculptures, flowers out the ass and the honeymoon (ain't no requested $200 per gift couple going on a cheap honeymoon). . .trust me. . .i've done the math. . .a few times. . .it's a break even proposition at best. . .

 

[Bikini Mod]

My mother to this day doesn't believe that my husband and I are REALLY married LOL.

She keeps telling my sister - "There is NO WAY that you will get me to believe that your sister's marriage was legal."

LOL

That wedding was THE BEST idea I ever had. Actually, it was my bestfriend's idea. She knew that Halloween was my favorite holiday. She actually gave me away... Sounds silly but I am getting all teary-eyed over that....

 

[manny78]

I know a lot of people who used the money they would have spent on a wedding for a down payment on their house. Seems like a better investment to me.

Word. House or a car makes sense. You can sell your house or car years after and get something out of it. A wedding ? It's all gone. Everyone drink and eat like pigs and they leave. Wow...

 

[cindylou]

If I did not have enough money / ability / to have a decent (not crazy expensive) wedding and did not have enough to purchase a home I would have waited to get married.

There is no rush ya know. I would not have gotten married if we were too broke to buy a house. I dont know if its a good idea to start a marriage off broke like that.

I'm lucky that my parents paid for the wedding ; but I would have had the wedding anyway. It was not that expensive. Church's are free ya know most of the time.