Reflection 3: Runaway Brides—Why Are American Weddings So Expensive?

Annually, Americans spend some $40 billion on weddings. Lucky for us, we have a well-oiled wedding industry only too eager to help us spend our money. And while they readily offer us all the accoutrements for our special day, what they really sell is dreams. Thus, the American "Fairytale Wedding," fueled by social media and celebrity culture, has become ever more lavish and elaborate. Unsurprisingly, one-third of 2019 surveyed newlyweds reported that they slid into debt as a result of their wedding costs. The contemporary obsession with weddings has led to ceremonies that emphasize status over substance, but can the American wedding be reclaimed? Can Americans forgo the trappings of status and refocus on the sanctity of a couple's union?

 

To get a sense of what a wedding might cost you, feel free to try this Wedding Cost Calculator.

 

Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion:

• "This Was the Average Cost of a Wedding in 2020" (TheKnot)
• "Here's What to Do When You Can't Afford to Attend a Wedding" (Martha Stewart)
• Being Invited to a Budget-busting Wedding Costs Americans in More Ways than One" (BankRate)
• "This is How People Really Feel about Attending a Destination Wedding—and It Totally Makes Sense" (Real Simple)
• "How To Plan a Frugal (Not Cheap) Wedding for Less Than $4,000" (TheSimpleDollar)

Required:

• Approximately 2 pages
• MLA Style, including parenthetical citation and works cited
  

Due: Thu 9.14-Tue 9.19 (via Canvas)