In Bangladesh, wedding ceremonies have grown to a whole new definition. In today’s society, it has become an affair of glamorous functions and frivolous spending that largely states the status symbol -- perhaps an influence of the colourful, make-believe Bollywood weddings.
Whatever the reason, the rising demand for such grand wedding ceremonies has assisted a lucrative industry that didn’t exist previously.
Today, a wedding ceremony comprises of the wedding planner, the photographer, the dress designer, the makeup artist, the caterer, and many others.
Amidst putting in excess money, time, and energy on planning several luxurious events, is the focus lost on more pressing matters for a newly-wedded couple?
Weddings are joyous occasions that bring families together. At the same time, families of the bride and groom have to face the burdens of a financial strain that the events may bring in. The cost of the jewellery, the venue, clothes, and food are just the preliminary expenses, along with many others.
The guest list contains people the couple probably has never seen or has barely known. The menu has now extended to fuchkas, ice cream, and other sweets along with the main dishes that ultimately result in wastage of food.
It is a time when we get to dress extravagantly, enjoy to the fullest, and celebrate the beginning of the couple’s married life. Then again, it is also a time when we are comfortably two hours late to an event that enables a reasonable amount of disigenuous socialising.
Although, the wedding ceremonies are intended as a joyous celebration of the newlyweds, is it possible to reduce the wastage of food, money, and the anxiety it brings along?
Often, the parents of a 24-year-old girl in Bangladesh are highly concerned with finding her a groom. And they are normally far more willing to spend on their daughter’s wedding than on her education. Isn’t it is much more vital to invest in the daughter’s higher education rather than on several social events?
A more strictly and economically planned wedding will enhance the opportunities of using the money in a much more efficient way that has a long-term impact. Maybe it is time we modified our traditional ways and allowed the bride and groom to make independent choices of conducting the wedding ceremony.
Young couples who would prefer a modest and economically friendly wedding should be allowed to do so. Due to social and family pressures, such ideas are ridiculed and not taken into account.
For a newlywed couple, starting a family can be financially tough. Instead of spending wastefully on the wedding, perhaps it could be used to secure the couple’s future. It can be used to save for higher education or to purchase a house or a car.
There are many cases where families take out loans to pay for these extravagant wedding ceremonies that put a financial strain at the beginning of their new lives together.
Although unconventional, starting a new life by doing charitable work can also be a great option that gives a profound meaning to the new beginning. At the same time, instead of spending a lot on the wedding, the couple could go for an adventurous honeymoon -- exploring life, making memories, and visiting places.
Weddings should not be an event of constant worry and anxiety that ultimately leaves everyone fatigued both mentally and physically. Perhaps it is time we slightly modified our customs to fit a more financially efficient and waste-free celebration.
It is understandable that the idea of “adequate” varies from person to person. Then again, having the ability to spend doesn’t mean we should ridiculously spend on things that really don’t matter in the long run.
Perhaps it is time we discarded extravagant wedding ceremonies as a status symbol, and started humbly celebrating new beginnings.