While reading the newspaper yesterday, I came across this section about how weddings are planned differently these days. The column describes about many people are moving towards hand crafted and unique wedding cards that tell the story about the couple, themed weddings, expensive wedding trousseau, pre wedding photo shoots etc.. etc....Oh, did I forget the food menu and the wedding venue!!!
It is quite amusing to read about how people are investing so much time and money in going into all these details and wanting their weddings to be unique. At the end of it, Iam like why are they doing all this. What are they trying to achieve by doing this - show off to people that they can afford to do this, status symbol, peer pressure.
I have seen weddings that have a long guest list, elaborate wedding invitations cards, grand venue with all those expensive decorations, the different ceremonies, expensive clothes and jewelry, elaborate food menu.
In 70s and 80s, the wedding invitation cards were just one page paper in the traditional yellow/pink color. The weddings usually took place in the bride's home and between 9 to 10 am in the morning. The wedding feast was the afternoon lunch and included traditional food items. The whole point of the feast was for the guests to have a hearty lunch and give their blessings to the couple.
These days, the wedding invitation cards are looked at as a status symbol. They come in different colors, themes, two to three page cards for each ceremony. Some are even custom made to suit the tastes of the couple.
The venue are usually grand venues decorated with flowers and what not... I don't even want to talk about the big guest list, the wedding trousseau and the food menu. The different varieties of food items on the menu for each occasion, the stalls that are put up for candies, pop corns.... Think of the big fat indian wedding. :)
The other thing I feel is silly is the practice of including the bridge and the groom's education qualification, the firm they work in, their designation in the firm. They don't stop there. They also include the education, designation of the parents, siblings and close relatives. And of course the big hoardings that they put up in front of the wedding venue with the bride and the grooms' education qualification added. It is so funny on how obsessed people are with the education qualification.
It seems like one big event to satisfy everyone's ego. All this drama for a very simple reason - a ceremony that brings two individuals together. That is all it is.
After being to so many such weddings, I am so much determined that mine should never be planned like these. If I get married, I would want a very simple wedding with just a very small crowd in a very small venue (probably a temple or at home). Plan for a simple traditional hearty lunch for the guests. No grand wedding dresses or jewelry. No other ceremonies except the actual wedding. A simple one page wedding card - the traditional yellow/pink paper card.
The beauty of those old traditional weddings can never be found in these new fancy weddings. Am I being cynical here?? Am I someone who does not know how to have fun? Who said you cannot have fun in a simple traditional wedding? In fact the bonding in those weddings were more than what we have in weddings these days. Families came together to cook wedding feasts, to help with the preparations. Weddings were such an intimate affair those days.
One of the best things to come out of this Covid situation was simple weddings. Due to government restrictions, many families chose to have simple weddings with just a very small crowd. I was quite happy to read about it. However, I do know that people will resort back to the old ways when these restrictions are pulled off.
Alas, old habits die hard!!!!
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