decrease of the bridezilla?

With the ever-over commercialised V-day looming large, I couldn’t help but smile when I read in today’s Sun that marriage is down. Yes, fewer Brits are tying the knot, apparently levels of meringue dressed brides and their matching grooms have been steadily decreasing since the 1980’s. Last year, according to Office for National Statistics 2008’s weddings totalled a mere 231,450.

Hmm, I find this hard to believe. Not only am I the Maid of Honour at one wedding this year but I’m also invited to a further three. Everywhere I turn, people are getting hitched, or at least it seems that way.

Needless to say my MoH duties know no bounds, I am at the brides beck and call 24 hours a day, I’ve learnt words I never knew before like favours… these are a thank you to the guest for deigning to come to the wedding, apparently a three-course meal and free bar doesn’t quite scream thanks anymore. My very own bridezilla has so far sent me three different links to different favours to go with her theme. Hang on, there’s a theme? Now, I don’t want to be a man about this, but it’s a wedding, don’t you just rock up in a white dress say a few I do’s then party on down? No, I learnt you do not do this, you need a theme and you need to colour coordinate your future husband to the colour of the flowers you choose. Poor guy, he is now but a mere accessory to a rose, or a tulip or a lily....

So anyway, these favours came in at a cool £160. I just can’t get my head round it, £160 for something people are going to stand on, lose or not even bother taking home. I try to communicate this to my friend but receive the bride death stare, more deadly than your run of the mill stare I can assure you, so I just nod and pick the one I know she’s already ordered.

The favours are just the tip of the dwindling savings account iceberg, there’s also ‘the’ dress, the bridesmaid dresses, grooms man outfits, flowers, food, drink, entertainment, invites, cars, phew! Denise Knowles of relationship experts Relate says, “We’re in a period of transition. Couples are choosing to spend their money on a house or starting a family rather than give a big wedding.” I don’t blame them, a wedding is equal to some third world country's debts!

What happened to love making the world go round, nope it’s nothing less than a £15000 savings account now, it’s one day people. One day, a fact I keep telling the lovely bride, she shrugs and says, “I know but I want it to be nice, I don’t want people to think we’re stingy.” Is that what a wedding has become, a couple not only proving they love each other and will commit to each other in front of all who are dear but also "surprise, we have also secretly won the lottery"?

I’m beyond happy for my friend (I have to say that in case she reads this) but I want her, and every other bride to know that when it comes to your wedding, we're there for you, to celebrate for you and to feed you shots of champers!
Remember, the people who mind don't matter and the people who matter don't mind.