On Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:59:31 -0400, "Nancy Young" >
wrote:

>George Shirley wrote:
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>> That's funny. Not to open a whole new can of worms, but
>>> I think it's considered bad form to bring the gift to the wedding,
>>> it creates a whole huge logistics problem getting them home.
>>>
>>> I know, now I'll hear about all the places where wedding gifts are
>>> opened as part of the festivities.
>
>> Last wedding I went to here in Louisiana was also the first one I had
>> gone to here. There was a table by the door of the huge room where the
>> reception was being held that was for gifts. There was a money dance
>> with both the bride and groom participating and actively soliciting
>> money gifts.
>
>I'm happy I never ran into the money dance, I'll tell you.
>I didn't do the garter thing, either. I guess I'm just not a big
>fan of weddings to start with.
>
>> The parents of the bride spent over $20K on the wedding and reception
>> and they are not wealthy people. The mother of the groom, a
>> professional seamstress, made the wedding gown for the bride and the
>> tuxedo the groom wore (that was a good part).
>
>That's wonderful (the clothing). It's certainly not difficult to spend
>that much on a wedding, I think that's the starter price around here
>with many corners cut. Big business.
>
>> The hordes of people invited to the reception ate up tons of food in
>> short order, many got falling down drunk and were obnoxious. DW and I
>> went home almost immediately with no apologies. The wedded couple were
>> married in the Diocesan cathedral which costs an arm and a leg to use
>> even if you are a parishioner there.
>
>Geez. You wouldn't think the church part would be the expensive
>part. But then, I guess it would. Not to start a war, but the Catholic
>church was the most difficult part of my wedding, wound up with
>a nice Methodist church.
>
>> All in all it was a display of simulated wealth for some reason and of
>> the tendency of some people to make asses of themselves. The bride and
>> groom have split the blanket at least twice since that time two years
>> ago and most of us, including the grooms parents who are dear friends,
>> are making book on how much longer the marriage lasts. I guess I'm
>> just really old-fashioned in my views.
>
>Yeah, people get married for a lot of reasons, many of them wrong.
>If they can end it before creating a lot more misery, it's probably for
>the best.
>
>nancy

I'm sure the current generation would not have liked our wedding. We
did not have it where both families lived, but where the minister I
wanted to officiate lived. I made my dress and Mother's dress. I am
sure that my MIL made her dress and my SIL's dress. I had one
attendant. Her parents were dear friends and I had known her since
the day they brought her home from the hospital.

There were about 20 people there, all people we knew and loved. I
don't think the church cost us anything. The minister and organist
were given a stipend. We had the church's regular florist do the
flowers and they remained for services the next day. The organist
told us where to get the cake, one that was good to eat.

We sent announcements after the wedding. We received gifts from
people who actually wanted to give us something. I may have
registered my china, silver and crystal but don't remember getting
any.

BTW the wedding was in 1962 and we are still married.
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)