Reflection 1: Runaway Brides—Why American Weddings Are So Expensive

Americans spend some $40 billion on weddings annually. Luckily for us, we have a well-oiled wedding industry only too eager to help us spend our money. And while they readily offer us all the accoutrements for our special day, what they really sell is dreams. Thus, the rise of the Instagram and Pinterest-fueled "Fairy Tale Wedding" in America has coincided with ever more lavish and elaborate ceremonies. Budgets be damned, the contemporary American obsession with weddings has led to ceremonies that often emphasize status over substance. In fact, the average cost of an American wedding now hovers around $30,000. But can the earnest American wedding be reclaimed? How can we  forgo the trappings of status and refocus on the sanctity of a couple's union?

Also, to get a sense of what your own wedding might cost, feel free to try this Wedding Cost Calculator.

Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion:

• "Why are Weddings So Damn Expensive" (Vox)
• "More Couples are Taking on Debt to Have Instagram-worthy Weddings. Here's How Much it Costs to get Married in the US" (Business Insider)
• "There’s Actually a Good Reason Why Weddings Cost So Damn Much" (HufPost)
• "Twenty-five Women Share Who Paid for What at Their Weddings" (Refinery29) 
• "I Canceled My Wedding Because I Would Rather Have the Money" (Glamour)
• "Guest at a Wedding? Here's How Much Attending it Costs You (USA Today)

Required:

• MLA Style
• Approximately 300 words
• Works cited

Due: Wed 2.5