"Clearly, something has shifted in how Americans think about marriage." –peter hoh

Why is it the less we value marriage, the more we invest in the wedding?

One thing that has changed is the cost and length of engagements. The average cost running upwards of over $30,000 taking upwards of two years to plan here in Massachusetts.

Marriage is now anti-climatic and weddings are ridiculous.

On average my peers marry in their late 20s or early 30s here in Massachusetts, have achieved education, career, good credit, health insurance, many are living together, and joint home ownership all WITHOUT the rights of marriage in Massachusetts. When they get engaged it’s not about the marriage, it’s about the wedding.

For the next 18 months to 2 years the center of their universe is the wedding. Just this weekend, I was informed that a couple I knew pushed back their wedding a full year because the reception hall they wanted was booked for the weekend they desired. *face palm* So marriage is something more then legal rights, because women are willing to put off walking down the aisle for the perfect day.

Still the idea the children should be born within wed-lock, paternity and fatherhood are assumed in this scenario and someone has to put together all the baby furniture together, because all these newlyweds start trying to have a baby soon after. I wish though, the old potluck at the hall would just be as socially acceptable. I’m sure we could all cite backyard receptions for couples with long lasting healthy marriages, and expensive weddings that ended in divorce a year later.

Note: The term Bridezilla was first cited in the Boston Globe in 1995.