THERE was a period of time a few years ago when it seemed most weekends, all year round, were taken up with weddings. Aside from the astronomical bill for the bride and groom, weddings are a costly business.
Guests have to stump up for the stag and hen do's, the gift, the night (or two) in a hotel, and even flights must sometimes be budgeted for.
In the 2000s, we attended weddings in California, Spain and Ireland. We even spent one New Year's Eve in a castle.
Each also had a long weekend event beforehand (with more flights and hotel stays involved), with hens and stags in Las Vegas, Barcelona and Dublin.
The American trip was particularly epic. We went for a month, starting in New York, before flying on to Cleveland (where my sister was then living), then on again to San Francisco.
After a few days catching up with the rest of the wedding party (who'd flown in from all corners of the world) we drove in convoy to Las Vegas for the hen and stag parties.
Then there was a ten-day reprieve, during which husband and I road- tripped our way up the Pacific Highway, before celebrating the nuptials in a winery north of Sacramento.
The credit card bill for that particular wedding was eye-watering.
Even weddings closer to home involve costs. A weekend camping in Wales? Once you've factored in beer and activities, it's still not a cheap option. A night out in Cheltenham? With afternoon tea, a cocktail-making class, slap-up meal and lots of booze, followed by a night in a budget hotel, the costs soon add up.
This weekend there's another wedding to celebrate. But this time, the costs will definitely be minimal.
All the guests are camping in a garden, and we're all helping to buy and make food for the guests.
There are no new outfits to buy or hire as we're in fancy dress. Yes, fancy dress. And with strict instructions that all items should be homemade.
The hen and stag do's will be the night before. We're having a barbecue, for everyone, no matter what the weather.
As for gifts, these particular friends have flown in from their home in Thailand to celebrate, so they don't want anything they can't carry.
They actually married 18 months ago – so this is just a big old wedding party. There may yet be vows said and rings exchanged, though. One of our Californian friends has been ordained a minister in The Church of Dudeism, so apparently he's officiating. Aside from being the cheapest, this may yet be the most exciting wedding of all.
Source: http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/exciting-wedding/story-16520111-detail/story.html
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