However, experiencing all the wedding planning with her and ultimately, that “big day,” I was also drawn into the whole wedding craze. My boyfriend even noticed the change in how often I started discussing our own future wedding, how I would want it to be, etc.

After the wedding experience, I would say that I have become rather “wedding neutral.” I realize that weddings can be a huge racket, absorbing your entire salary for a day that literally flies by. However, I also believe in the importance of having all my friends and family together to celebrate my union with my partner (especially since our families live in two separate countries (mine in Canada, his in Germany). In the end, when we do eventually get married, I think we will probably have a “DIY” wedding, as described by ‘Cousin.’ Low key and simple, focussing on the most important part: friends, family, love!
And leaving out the ‘fluff’: expensive 5 course meals, the over-the-top wedding dress, limousines, etc etc…By keeping our focus on what is most important to us, I am confident we will not fall into the ‘wedding trap’ but manage to have a wonderful day with family and friends (and saving enough money for the honey moon, down payments, etc).

Thank you for the book review! I will definitely have to check it out after my current read (“Reclaiming the F Word”)!

@ Dollyann — I wish I had 28K right now…but it’s really sad that that’s the average (and the book explains that this goes way up depending on the neighborhood…so there are 100K weddings out there, etc).

That’s awesome that you checked this book out. I really recommend it, it was actually perversely fun reading about other people’s outrageous weddings.

P.S. I’m sure you’ll find some equally introverted writer type someday and you can live in apartments next door to each other, writing the next great novel or something. Just make sure the wedding doesn’t bankrupt you! ;-)

Frankly, after witnessing my parents’ marriage, I don’t ever really want to be “united” with someone like that. Sure, I’d like to feel “true love” or whatever you call it, but at this point in my life I’m skeptical if even that will ever happen. I’m starting not to believe in the permanence of relationships, and I’m such an introverted person that I need tons of space. So, if I were in a long-term relationships with somebody, we’d probably have to have separate apartments or something.

But, anyways, I’m glad you reviewed this book. I actually checked it out from my library over the summer, but I never got a chance to read it. Now, I’m more inclined to check it out again. Hooray for another addition to the reading list! :D

Is there really a need to spend more than 1000 bucks? I think not!