Money, money, money...

According to the "American Weddings" survey from The Fairchild Bridal Group, the average cost of a wedding will reach as high as $30K. Some people may find this figure a bit shocking, but when you consider such factors as inflation and increasing energy costs, it is no surprise that walking down the aisle is more like walking down the plank of bankruptcy (okay, a bit exaggerated), but you get the point. Nevertheless, some people look at such lavish spending as being socially irresponsible or downright selfish. Let’s take their view for a moment. Yes, there are millions of starving people in Africa and in America, as well. Yes, there are more sensible ways to spend money besides putting down $2000 on flowers that will die after the wedding, $300 on favors that will be given away to guests, and $5000 on a gown that will only be worn once. From a third world perspective, it certainly looks profligate. On the other hand, there are others who believe that weddings are special occasions worthy of spending. This is not to say that you should hire elephant rides as Nicole Richie plans to do, but perhaps spending a little more money on weddings merely equates to making one’s special day truly memorable. In a nutshell, if a couple wants to splurge, let them. Who are we to judge?