There isn't a need to succumb to pressure. In fact, most of the time , the things that we try to do are always against the flow of the tide.
However, certain things ought and must be done. You do not drive a car knowing the brakes are faulty. Similar considerations for tottering together must be taken into the picture and fulfilled simply because we do not live alone in this world.
And among those that live in this world with us, we owe it to some of these people (a.k.a the troublesome lots -parents) that brought us up to where we are today. And no matter how obstacle-ish some customary may be - it ought to be done - as a gesture of graditute to the hands that brought us up.
Wedding ceremonies have bells and whistles attached - some cost money, but all can be D.I.Yed or B.Y.Oed. It's a matter of what we want and how determined are we at preventing scope creep (and cost creep).
The one-in-a-life-time excuse to spend money is indeed a worn-out pair of shoes. In fact, the arguement of spending due to once-in-a-lifetime event is frankly barking up the wrong tree. What should be key consideration here is HOW you want your wedding event to be like. If you want a void deck wedding, go ahead. If you want an expensive banquet wedding, go ahead. As long as the personS involved are happy (notice the 'S'?). Money is always second fiddle here. Unless you are a miser or you put too much emphasis into money - and the connocated value attached to the piece of paper.
Marriage in today's context is too commercalised. Remeber how we used to lament on how oldies always have more meaningful lyrics in comparision to today's canned pop songs? It's the same problem here. Which is why insistence on perceived value - things that are important to you - should take precidents in the wedding event. That is why I hated wedding packages. It's too mudane an affair to be anyway magical.
As for the symbolism of marriage - this is up to the people who perceive it. If people thinks marriage is about an excuse or just the way of life then well, so be it. However, consider the other unexplored part of marriage. The act of commitment, sacrifices of the person (in view of alimony which is unfair anyway) and the beauty of it all. There are people who are happily married for eons. It's the people themselves must understand the commitment and the want to commit that makes the symbolic representation of marriage so beautiful - If not it's just an empty shell.
I, sadly, have to agree that in today's culture and context, this latter symbolism of marriage may become an ancient folklore in years to come.
The bottom line is simple. Spend what you want. Do what you want. As long as the elders are happy. And most important of all, as long as the married couple is happy.
Because the most important take away here is this - Love doesn't cost a thing.
But securing happiness does.
My idea, not done, just place them there for 'seeing purpose'
My mehz executing it as the lil cow watches on.
