Grandiose Wedding

“It’s every girl’s dream to have a grand (unforgettable) wedding.”

Ah, really? I would agree that it’s everyone’s dream to have an unforgettable wedding. But having an extravagant wedding isn’t every woman’s dream (Babae naman ako pero hindi ganun ang pangarap ko. Honestly, I can’t even imagine myself wearing, a gown, hmm… wedding gown for that matter). Fairy-tale stories possibly inflicted this kind of dream among ladies – fairy-tale love story, the prince charming, and the all-star cast ending.

Had a chance to watch a bit Mel and Joey's episode last night. Wedding (and even other occasions) has become commercialized. There are a lot of services catering to wedding needs (e.g. planner, singer, designer, damay mo na ang pag preserve ng wedding gowns at bouquet etc.). These plus the fairy-tale notion have influenced well in selling the idea that having a grand (meaning spending hundreds of thousands or even a million or so) wedding is something every girl should aspire for.

Whenever you ask couples (especially those who’ve been together for many years) why they haven’t settled yet, the common answer you’ll get will be, “Nag-iipon pa kasi kami.” I’m always tempted to ask if they are saving up for the wedding per se (meaning they are saving up to have a grand wedding) or they aren’t settling yet because they are saving up for their future.

For well-off couples, I think having an extravagant wedding is not an issue. They have the means to launch whatever kind of wedding theme they wish to have. But for ordinary couples, launching something grand requires “sweat and blood.” I’ve always been against “a one-night or one-time-big-time thing.” I don’t see the essence of celebrating occasions lavishly then worry about getting the money for other important matters the next day.

I guess more than encouraging couples on planning for an extravagant wedding celebration, it is more important to encourage them in setting or planning for their future. Don’t get me wrong, I respect people who see wedding day as the “ultimate point” of showing/declaring their “love” for each other to the whole world. However, wedding is just a ceremony. It’s a symbolic ceremony of proclaiming love and loyalty to your other-half. But marriage doesn’t start and end in that ceremony.

Yeah, I know I might get lots of negative feedback on this entry. Many people will raise their eyebrows on this post. But that’s the way I see “wedding celebration.” Maybe my perspective has something do with my taciturn nature (well a bit) and the fact that I don’t have a religion.