I had a pretty elaborate Sweet 16 party compared to the average American, but it was considered very modest by my community's standards. For some reason 16th birthdays are very important for the Indian-American community and though I wanted a very simple event, my parents found it hard because they had so many family and friends that wanted to come and it was considered insulting not to invite a lot of people. We held it at a restaurant and I don't know how much it ran, but it likely was pretty expensive. The sad part is that most of the adults that came hardly knew me, but it is a society thing so everyone felt the need to come.
Don't get me started on Indian-Americans. Their Sweet 16 parties for girls are more elaborate than some Indian weddings.
Agree with the first sentence, suprised at the second. The Indian weddings in my family are way too elaborate and expensive, and the kicker is that the favorite thing for people to do afterwards is talking about anything that sucked..."speeches were too long, not enough Johnny Walker Black, ___ was put at the wrong table...."
If I ever do get married, I will not be doing an elaborate wedding. My parents are welcome to throw me a wedding reception if they want, but it will be their choice and responsibility as the only purpose of such events is to show off.
Aha! You have the JW-crowd, not the Famous Grouse or Chivas Regal or JD. Worse are those who expect Single Malt Scotch.
Yup, Indian weddings are a chance to invite business connections, etc. And a mega-bitch fest to point out negatives on food, other people's clothes, the weather, the caterer, the staff, the groom and bride didn't smile, they didn't properly respect so-and-so...
My wife and I were lucky that her parents paid for the wedding and dinner, and my parents paid for the reception and dinner (different days, different guest lists). There was no formal seating and it was a buffet, traditional Kenyan-Indian style. With 10 years coming up in December, and having bit by the real estate bug, my wife and I sometimes feel we should have taken the intended wedding expenses, or even half, and invested it in a Lazy Portfolio.