Two things happened on my recent trip back to New York. One- I attended a wedding, Two- I got to have a couple beers with Dennis. Result = blog post. (Disclaimer – this post was inspired  by Dennis rather than the wedding) Regardless what the Fed, or Greenspan or the Dow says…we’re still in a recession. In this age of skeleton crews and meager plates, the business of love is still booming. According to most resources, the average US couple spends just over $20,000 for their wedding – twenty…THOUSAND…dollars, according to the US department of Health and Services that amount is just under the poverty threshold for a family of four. And this is just the average – of course with anything someone has to go big. With weddings able to skyrocket past the 100k mark one has to wonder…what’s the point?

Perhaps its my rational economic mind speaking here but I don’t see much sense in spending a healthy house down payment, or a decent half years salary on one day to celebrate this event. What really gets me is how commercial the institution of marriage has become. With vows like “…in sickness and in health” (which with health care in America, might be wise to invest in a health fund rather than a wedding) and the ever hypocritical “…for richer or for poorer” (most likely the latter after this party!)

Marriage should be about the love of two people devoting their life to each other, not the matching platinum napkin rings and your choice of chicken, beef or fish.

What to do? Dennis mentioned a great point. We both love the idea of Micro-anything. Tasks put on a small localized scale to achieve efficiency – the micro-wedding was born. In these tough times couples need to take a good hard look at their special day. Does anyone REALLY have 60 cousins that need to come? And I bet you don’t even like your uncle Larry… who isn’t going to give a good gift anyway- so why bother? Bring your wedding down to size. The micro-wedding would not only be cheaper, but also simpler. Locally outsource the tasks, invite local friends and only close family. Make your wedding focus on the real purpose – love. The wedding will never make the marriage, and make it so its death…rather then debt that causes the couple to part.

"I do...have my checkbook"