On weddings and capitalism

Planning for the upcoming nuptials has made my entire family edgy. My brother, the groom to be and steadfast peacemaker of the bunch, snapped at me Thursday morning even after I told him I was having chest pains. He apologized a day later.

I really do not understand why weddings have become such grandiose events. In any other instance, do people host large gatherings, spending considerable sums of money, to mark the beginning of years of hard work and compromise? Is it really that special to have "found someone?"

I wonder then if the wedding tradition has been entirely over taken by an elaborate marketing scheme designed and refined by the best and brightest of this capitalist society. Rather, perhaps these grand scale celebrations are a result of young women's last stitch efforts to have one final party all about them. Really, the speculation could continue forever. And as with most things, I suppose it is likely a combination of many factors.

A majority of this phenomenon is likely to be driven by a need to keep up (or perhaps even outrun) the Joneses. And capitalism would fail to be capitalistic if companies neglected to fill a demand in the market.

Even so, I am really at my wits end with this process. As much as I would like to sit on my high horse and forever swear off grand celebrations with 350 of my bestest friends, I cannot say with absolute confidence that I too will not fall victim to the sensation. Honestly, I believe I am a bit too cynical and a lot too practical for fairy tale weddings. And maybe, just maybe, this is why there is so many ruffled feathers the week before my brother's tri-city "I Do's."