# The madness begins (wedding expectations) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 6, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-madness-begins-wedding-expectations/471472 "2008-11-06T16:58:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-madness-begins-wedding-expectations/471472/41 "2008-11-07T17:32:10Z")
Thinking of registering and getting wedding gifts, we had two households getting blended, too, but it’s surprising all the cool things you could use when you get that registry gun in your hands. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sundrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sundrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sundrop)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-madness-begins-wedding-expectations/471472/42 "2008-11-07T17:32:18Z")
My wife and I got married when we were both in our early 30s, a couple of years ago. We got married in jail. We had originally planned, after moving in together, to have a small, simple ceremony, but it kept trying to turn intoa major event thanks to parents and such. So we decided to go to Town Hall and have the magistrate do it. I called my mother on a Sunday evening and told her we were getting married the next morning at 9AM sharp and she was welcome to come watch. We went to town hall and discovered the magistrate was working over at the jail, so the whole group walked acrosst he parking lot to the jail. I knocked on the magistrate’s door. The magistrate said, “Can I help you?” I replied, “Yes, I’m here for a life sentence. Can you marry us?” and indicated my bride. She laughed and did. It’s been bliss ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-madness-begins-wedding-expectations/471472/43 "2008-11-07T17:36:06Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I agree that there’s something nice about being open about having gotten married. That’s what the party would be for… (also because I love to give parties). I was thinking we’d display a copy of the marriage license or something. I just _so_ don’t want people hovering around me on the day of the actual marriage. And I want to plan and execute the party by my own self. I’m good at it. > > The relatives are all within four hours’ drive, except my parents, who chose to move farther away and now have a ten-hour drive. I do have friends all over the country, now, but I’ve never travelled to see their weddings and I certainly don’t expect them to travel to see mine. I am thinking of sending party invitations to family and local friends, and announcements to everyone else. I mean… just being invited to a wedding across the country sends me into a confused tailspin. I don’t want to make anyone else worry the way I’ve worried. I mean… Seinfeld was right. “Nobody wants to go to your wedding”. We zipped off to Vegas for a couple days (on the hush) and threw a party in our yard the following summer. It was fun and in keeping with our low-key plans. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-madness-begins-wedding-expectations/471472/44 "2008-11-07T17:52:55Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > NAF, I think you ARE me. I have been called worse. 😉 > [@](#): > > Bottom line–it’s your damn day. Have the celebration you and your fiancee want. QFT and whatnot. Do what makes you happy, no one else will be able to tell you how to be happy, so don’t listen to them. It’s your marriage, not theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-madness-begins-wedding-expectations/471472/45 "2008-11-07T18:20:32Z")
But… But… What about Ice Sculptures? ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-madness-begins-wedding-expectations/471472/46 "2008-11-07T18:29:20Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > But… > > But… > What about Ice Sculptures? NO! They are expensive and messy and never look as good as you want them to. No ice sculptures for you! ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-madness-begins-wedding-expectations/471472/47 "2008-11-07T21:19:23Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > NO! They are expensive and messy and never look as good as you want them to. No ice sculptures for you! What if you let the guests carve them? (BYO Chainsaw, of course.) ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-madness-begins-wedding-expectations/471472/48 "2008-11-07T21:24:34Z")
> [@WF\_Tomba](#): > > What if you let the guests carve them? (BYO Chainsaw, of course.) Well as long as it’s BYOC, then it wouldn’t be nearly so expensive. And the mess is really just water…and every reception could use another group activity or two. Ok, ice scupltures back in! The wedding part can probably even afford a few smaller chainsaws for the little kids. I see nothing at all that could go wrong with this plan. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-madness-begins-wedding-expectations/471472.md?page=2)