I am a Columbus Bride, about 100 days from our wedding, and in the thick of the final detail preparations. In the last week we have finalized items for our cake, ordered invitations, purchased bridal party gifts, and more. It seems that as our to-do list dwindles, so do our bank accounts...
In my line of work, I encounter individuals living well below the poverty level on a daily basis. I was spending time with one woman who mentioned that she and her now-husband were married recently and spent about $500 on their wedding. While that is a large chunk of change for this family (and me..) I was flabergasted- mostly because while I feel we are cutting corners everywhere in regards to our wedding planning, everything is THOUSANDS, not just a few bucks here and there.
Now obviously the events are not comparable, but it did get me thinking about how the wedding industry is meant only for the elite. The upper middle class, and frankly not even that.
In meeting with vendors, I can't tell you how many times I was told that people would not meet with me because my budget was too low, or would tell me that they cannot do what I want because of my "limited" budget. Mind you, we are spending a small fortune on this day and have been prepared to do so all along...so their version of a limited budget does not even begin to align with my idea of a limited budget.
I guess what I am pondering, is why this is. Weddings are now an entire industry, billions of dollars are poured into the industry every year. And while I am certainly a contributor to that, I worry about the message we are sending to people when the cost of these items are so high. I'm not sure what that means, to have the majority of the country to not have access to having a wedding, in any sense of the word.
I am just not sure if that sits right with me... mostly because I am so excited about my wedding and how it will all come together, but I also feel so conflicted about perpetuating a cycle of pushing down the poor to be poor and building up the rich to be rich, so to speak. And I worry that if people like me are continuing to be willing to pay these unreasonable prices, then they will continue to rise, continuing to separate who can and cannot have this experience.
In my line of work, I encounter individuals living well below the poverty level on a daily basis. I was spending time with one woman who mentioned that she and her now-husband were married recently and spent about $500 on their wedding. While that is a large chunk of change for this family (and me..) I was flabergasted- mostly because while I feel we are cutting corners everywhere in regards to our wedding planning, everything is THOUSANDS, not just a few bucks here and there.
Now obviously the events are not comparable, but it did get me thinking about how the wedding industry is meant only for the elite. The upper middle class, and frankly not even that.
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| Just to give you an idea of average costs here |
I guess what I am pondering, is why this is. Weddings are now an entire industry, billions of dollars are poured into the industry every year. And while I am certainly a contributor to that, I worry about the message we are sending to people when the cost of these items are so high. I'm not sure what that means, to have the majority of the country to not have access to having a wedding, in any sense of the word.
I am just not sure if that sits right with me... mostly because I am so excited about my wedding and how it will all come together, but I also feel so conflicted about perpetuating a cycle of pushing down the poor to be poor and building up the rich to be rich, so to speak. And I worry that if people like me are continuing to be willing to pay these unreasonable prices, then they will continue to rise, continuing to separate who can and cannot have this experience.
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