Well, J.Lo and Marc just banged a Louie onto Splitsville Road, which is not unfamiliar territory for the couple (this is her third divorce and his second, respectively). According to 2009 data published by the CDC, folks are divorcing at half the rate they are getting married! Say “WHAT!” Actually, the report acknowledged that only 44 states and D.C. contributed data, so presumably, the divorce rate could be significantly higher. Research also shows that second, third, fourth…(you get the point) marriages, have an even lesser rate of success. So really, should it be one and done or cynically put, why get married at all?
The average wedding runs about $27,800, reports popular wedding site TheKnot. After touring local Philadelphian wedding hotspots, The Westin, Sofitel, and the Hyatt at the Bellevue, where the average plate runs anywhere from $137 to $200 (excluding 20-21% gratuity fees, 8% sales tax, and Philadelphia’s lovely 10% liquor tax), it’s easy to see how quickly those reception dollars add up. Now, if you want to jazz things up a bit and add on an extra carving station, few more hors d’oeuvres, and a sexy martini bar, congratulations, you’re now around $300 a plate! Seems like an awfully lot of money for things not to work out, right?
$27,800…let’s see…pay off some credit card debt, down payment towards buying a home, a new car, a couple shopping sprees, 401k, traveling – there’s about a bajillion other things we could do with that money – so why do we return to picking out 8 hors d’oeuvres, 2 carving stations, salmon or sea bass, chocolate mousse or French vanilla butter cream, white or ivory linen, band or DJ, real or silk flowers, etc. etc.? My answer: I don’t know!
There’s something about throwing a party that just pushes all of our “feel good” buttons. Of course weddings are supposed to be about the joining of lovely and committed people; but really, let’s be honest…it’s also about the food, the booze, the music, and the memories – all of which come with a price tag.
When I started writing this, I thought about my own current frustrations with wedding planning and questioned, what if things really don’t work out. My only advice is this: life goes on and there is always a new adventure to be had. We make decisions that are simultaneously a little bit right and a little bit wrong in hopes that while we are making them, they were more right for us at the time. I’m sure in J.Lo’s and Marc’s case, getting married wasn’t always the wrong decision and I’m sure there were moments when they were blissfully in love, happy, and dedicated. Perhaps their marriage lasted only 7 years…but that’s still 7 years!
Need advice? Have a question about sex, sexuality, relationships, or otherwise? Feel free to email Cassie with your questions, concerns, rants & raves @ sexgurucsw@gmail.com. After all, she IS your SexGuru!
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