Nearly everyone imagines getting married one day. Some girls create a Pinterest board with the perfect dress, venue, and bouquet, while others don't. Regardless of the amount of thought put into it, the majority of people picture having a grand white wedding with all their friends and family--just a happy time. But aside from the obvious fear of commitment and attention, one of the scariest parts of a wedding is paying for it.
Sources state that the average wedding costs $38,700. This includes the cost of an engagement ring ($5,000), the ceremony and reception ($29,200), and a honeymoon ($4,500). To put this into perspective, according to the U.S. Census, the average household income in 2018 was $63,179. That means on average, couples spend over 60% of their annual income on a single unrecurring event--and that's being generous considering the fact that new couples make less early on.
As Didion criticizes the commercialized nature of American culture, she exemplifies with a classy tradition turned trashy. Yet, we can also condemn the other end of the spectrum: extravagance. Though a bride sharing her veil with five other women shows nonchalance for a special commitment, spending hundreds of dollars for the perfect one demonstrates unnecessary obsession for an over-glorified ideal.
But of course, I'll probably be just as guilty as anyone to spend an overwhelming amount of money on this institution. I tell myself, "I can save money" or "I don't need this," but in fifteen years I'll probably succumb to the pressures of upgrades and glamour too.
Sources state that the average wedding costs $38,700. This includes the cost of an engagement ring ($5,000), the ceremony and reception ($29,200), and a honeymoon ($4,500). To put this into perspective, according to the U.S. Census, the average household income in 2018 was $63,179. That means on average, couples spend over 60% of their annual income on a single unrecurring event--and that's being generous considering the fact that new couples make less early on.
As Didion criticizes the commercialized nature of American culture, she exemplifies with a classy tradition turned trashy. Yet, we can also condemn the other end of the spectrum: extravagance. Though a bride sharing her veil with five other women shows nonchalance for a special commitment, spending hundreds of dollars for the perfect one demonstrates unnecessary obsession for an over-glorified ideal.
But of course, I'll probably be just as guilty as anyone to spend an overwhelming amount of money on this institution. I tell myself, "I can save money" or "I don't need this," but in fifteen years I'll probably succumb to the pressures of upgrades and glamour too.
I really like how you looked into the costs of weddings as another way to explain capitalism for special ceremonies like those.
ReplyDeleteI love how you researched into the exact cause of weddings in America, especially spending tens of thousands of dollars on one day. I like how flipped the narrative of what we talked about in class to question extravagence and how that plays a role into the capitalism. Good Job!
ReplyDeleteI like how you included the costs of weddings and how people spend nearly their whole income on one single day. Even if we criticize this notion, we most likely will go down that road inevitably someday, so it's kind of impossible to escape the capitalism.
ReplyDeleteI loved your statement of Didion showing a "classy tradition turned trashy" because of capitalism. Shocking how much a wedding costs these days!
ReplyDeleteI really like how you said that even though big weddings are so romanticized and unnecssary, many still do it. Truthfully, I'll probably succumb in the future the same as you.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting look into weddings! Though we often criticize or look down on the amount of money spent on a wedding, sometimes it's nice to splurge on a once in a lifetime opportunity.
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