On Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:58:52 -0400, "Edwin Pawlowski" >
wrote:

>
>"Goomba" > wrote in message
>> I think it comes from lower socio-economic groups who tried to help poorer
>> couples set up house, not unlike a mutual aid society. Not the same thing
>> as these days where people should be working and self sufficient before
>> marriage. It was survival then, now it is greed. Tacky as hell too.
>>
>
>Going back many years, that dollar was probably a big portion of the wedding
>gift. Weddings used to be a celebration of the marriage with friends and
>family, not a grab for gifts and fancy meals.
>
>I just read in the paper that the "average" cost of a wedding now is
>$28,704. I can't imaging working the next few months just to pay for a
>wedding, mine or my kids. The son of our friends just divorced and later
>remarried and still owes on the first wedding.

I heard that figure on a radio show a few weeks ago. In many parts of
the country that's 1/4 of the cost of a starter home. I don't
understand it. I was talking to a neighbor lady who's just become a
widow. She was talking about how they'd spend money over the years.
She said they'd paid for 4 college educations because that lasts.
They'd not contributed to one wedding because they don't last. Good
advice and we'll be following it.

Lou