Would you spend $74 million on a wedding?

An Indian businessman is under fire for spending an estimated $74 million on his daughter’s wedding and rightly so because that is so wrong on so many levels. It doesn’t matter if it was his personal money, which I doubt because I read that he happens to be a former State Minister. Excuse my cynicism but I think we all have a good idea where all that money he spent came from. I’ve been to a few lavish weddings, by our standards and none came close to that $74 million wedding that had gold-plated invitation cards and so many other trappings. The cost of the bride’s wedding dress and jewelry alone would feed millions of starving families in countries like South Sudan, Central African Republic and in fact India itself for years. Like I said, it’s wrong to waste money like that and it’s usually people who didn’t earn it who don’t think twice about ”wasting” it. Do you think Bill Gates or Oprah Winfrey would spend that much on a wedding? I don’t think so and personally, I know I wouldn’t, even if I were that rich. I think the most I would spend on a wedding is $10,000 and even that would take some convincing. In my opinion, all you need is a good venue, good food and maybe music. That’s it. I don’t know why people waste so much money on the wedding instead of say, buying a good house or saving it for their children. I stopped wasting (and yes, bear with my repetitive use of waste because that’s what it is) my money on people’s weddings and if you’re not a close relative or friend, I’m not contributing to your lavish wedding. In fact, I just might stop attending “Begging Meetings” where we are coerced into contributing our hard-earned money so the bridal party can enjoy Limo rides and 20-tier wedding cakes only for the guests to have a tiny slice! There’s also a growing trend in the form of destination weddings where the couple opts to have their wedding in exotic locations, usually way out of town if not out of the country and expect their family and friends to foot travel and accommodation costs. If I know you and you’re planning to do this, please don’t bother sending me an invitation, even a gold-plated one because I won’t come. Years ago, I actually enjoyed attending weddings. It was simple, low expectations and no one called you out on what you wore or the gift you gave. Today, it’s all about who ordered their outfit from the UK and wedding presents that cost more than most people’s rent. There are couples who don’t even bother to save for the big day, knowing that gullible relatives and friends will dig deep to make the wedding happen. I don’t know if it’s a strategy or not but every time I receive a wedding budget, all the “smaller” items are always “covered” and somehow, you’re expected to go for the big ones like video coverage or drinks, all of which are usually at inflated rates. Well here’s what I usually do. I give what I think the bride or groom-to-be deserve, depending on our relationship. It’s my money after all.

Lifestyle

Would you spend $74 million on a wedding?