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My family tends to go for really simple weddings, since we're usually paying out of pocket (Dad not being able to handle this month's finances, let alone take on even a moderate wedding) and none of us being very... um.... Paula Dean about the concept. While I agree that the commercial sounds pretty horrific, it's somewhat equivalent (though perhaps less well thought out) to what each of my sisters and I did when we got married.
When I got married, Mr. Pcat and I had the wedding at home, because no hall or church (not that we're the type who belong in churches) would let us bring the 4 footed children. We ordered the cake from a local baker, but it was a basic 4 layer genoise with whipped cream roses - no frosting. Catering for 10 was by the local Japanese restaurant and sushi bar - a platter of mixed sushi, maguro butsu, chicken teriyaki, rice, various vegetables. I arranged my flowers myself, after getting them at the floral market loose. My dress was something I've worn occasionally since then; I bought it from a local ladies' haberdashery. Mr. Pcat wore his good suit. I think the total cost of the wedding, including invitations, thank yous, witness gifts, and etc. was under $1000.
My sisters both married from home as well; one got married out of her husband's brother's house in Texas (P), and the other (D) married out of P's house after P was transferred to Fort Campbell, KY. P ended up serving cheesecake for her wedding (she got married in July, and regular cake seemed too warming), D served my grandmother's chocolate buttermilk cake and pumpkin pie. Neither of them had traditional wedding cakes, although P had the cheesecake set on pedestal cake plates in layers and they did put a bride and groom in spun sugar on the top. P bought her own cold-cut trays; she was an assistant manager for Albertson's at the time; the deli did a lovely job for her. My mother and my grandmothers made D's refreshments because my sister was married at Thanksgiving, so they had the traditional dinner. P wore a linen summer dress with lovely lace; D wore a cream velvet evening dress.
I guess for us, the events of our weddings had far more to do with creating a lasting bond than with having expensive, flashy trappings. For all three of us, none of whom are church-goers, the idea of the long white gown with the crinoline had long lost its glamor; both of my sisters were in Rainbow (the Masonic young women's service organization) and found both hoops and crinolines to be evil creations of sadistic men; I have done Renaissance reenactment and have worn farthingales. None of us have any respect or care for our father, so there was no hope for a tearful, Daddy's girl thing. There was never a worry about a Bridezilla with the three of us.
Having not seen the commercial, I have no idea what the point is - whether it's to day that Hy-Vee can provide the basic needs so that the wedding can be the focus, or what. But simple is becoming more common, especially as fewer people have the funds to put on a big wedding without going deeply into debt. Of several friends who have married in the last three or four years, only one has had a big wedding, and she now regrets it. The rest either had a luncheon or dinner at one of the local restaurants, or a small reception at home. Most were first time brides, but (and this may be the key) all had cohabited and I think with cohabitation, the demise of the big frilly wedding is coming.
In my opinion, as long as the wedding cake isn't made out of twinkies....
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