This is a topic romanticized so much in literature and
movies, that every little girl is almost forced to have rosy ideas about that
day when she will tie the knot. Starting from the dress, the ornaments, the
decoration and of course the whole arrangement has to be grand. The focus on
the event becomes so acute that the love which has brought the two souls
together into holy matrimony is left behind. The question I wanted to ask in
this article is not one that would be particularly favoured by the multi-million
dollar wedding industry. What do women want? A grand spectacular wedding or a
meaningful marriage. If one can afford the huge expenditure and also acquire
truthful vows, then it’s the best combination. But what happens in most cases
is an extreme burden taken by people especially the parents to put up a nice
show in order to please a society which either does not care or mostly envy the
splendour. So why is it necessary to spend all the money just to feed the
insatiable appetites of gossip mongers and critics whom you cannot please no
matter what you do. The ostensive pomp and show most often than not point
towards the hollowness inside.
A relative of mine had once told me that after her marriage,
her parents were so much in debt that after retirement, they were left
with almost no savings. She confessed that she felt very sad about how she had
wanted the grand celebrations. While pouring her heart out, she added with a
wry smile that not one person who had been a part of the wedding had come to
help her father when he was admitted in a hospital after having a massive heart
attack.
Yesterday, while reading “little women” by Louisa May
Alcott, I came across the part where “Meg” the eldest of the March sisters is
getting married to Mr. Brooks. There the author has beautifully described the
flower ornaments and the elegant but simple dress that Meg was wearing. The
most impressive part is how the family had contributed personally to put
together the modest arrangement and made it look splendid with their refined
taste and bountiful love. Above all the lovely couple and a merry and caring
family made the occasion so extra-ordinary that even their wealthy relative
“Sally Moffat”, remarked about the
beauty of the event somehow feeling very satisfied.
This satisfaction is something which can be only
accomplished by true feelings and doing things without stretching your limits.
No matter how much the jwellery advertisements try to fill our minds that
without gold and diamonds no wedding ceremony is complete, the greatest
happiness lies in the ornaments of love and care from those who are our near
and dear ones. Even for those who can afford the display of wealth, it is
better to spend money in things which are more important. Sometimes too much
wealth creates a vacuum in the soul.
