I love that she thinks that the guests are supposed to pay for the wedding. I know that weddings are expensive, but unless she's inviting 200 people, 35K is ridiculous.

I love that she thinks that the guests are supposed to pay for the wedding

Right? Like the guests are going to a theme park or somthing, and have to pay admission.

35K is ridiculous

But She Herself Is Planning A Wedding (Its Not A Big Number Really)

I think your gift is the sound system for the reception.

>Most of them talk about $10-14 dollar a plate weddings- So I guess their cheap gift is OK.

I think it's a social class thing- like they don't know any better.

This answer cracked me up. This woman apparently thinks it is high class to expect a lot of valuable gifts!

I love that she thinks that the guests are supposed to pay for the wedding.

I would have loved to have written back my reply card with a bill for the dress I had to buy to attend the wedding and tell her she'll get her gift when she pays off my seamstress.

That Yahoo page is hysterical! I love how class lives in different places--the woman who states that you absolutely must get an expensive gift spells "break" "brake."

And I love how the original poster prefers the answer that...well, doesn't tell her anything new. Truly valuable, that.

I have a wedding to go to in just over a month. It'll be something over the internet off their registry (I do remember reading somewhere it was tacky to mention the registry with the invitation, but where else would you?) just as usual. In fact, the point under debate will be if I go in on it with another guest, if any.

the answers crack me up.

Not as much as this letter I saw in the paper lying around in the office kitchen. Something tells me this couple won't last until the bonds come due.

DEAR ABBY: I am recently married, and every night my husband "tells" me when it's time for us to retire for the night. This can be anytime from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. If I tell him - which is not often - that I am ready for bed before he is, he gets upset. However, if he is ready to go to bed, and I tell him I'd like to finish a book I'm reading or watch a little more TV, he gets upset.

When I try to talk to him about this, he says that married men and women should go to bed "together," period! But Abby, it is always on his timetable. What about mine? Needless to say, we have both gone to bed angry. How do we deal with this without both of us getting angry and resenting each other?

Tired of Being Tired, Des Moines, Iowa

Also, re bonds:

Savings bonds are redeemable long before they reach face value.

Yes, they generally start at 1/2 of face value and increase based on how long you hold them, until they reach their full face value.

whoa, who gets married on a Monday night?

She is a stage manager, he is the master electrician. Both working in theater. Monday is the day o rest for actors, and vast majority of theaters are dark that night. Since most of their friends work in the biz, it's a safe bet that everyone could attend. Plus, it seems, the venue where the service/reception is was HAPPY to rent it on a Monday. To the point where the bride was getting advice "o, you want to try xxx for the cake, they are much tastier and half the price" and "try the house wine, it's a fraction of the cost, and tasts just fine, especially if you are not wine connoisseur" (which they aren't). She was like "wow, I told them I'm on a budget, and they turn into free wedding planners. It's GREAT!"

As for the sound system. Real basic. Couple speakers on sticks so they can plug an iPod in. Small afair. Like 50 folks or so I think she said.

I love that she thinks that the guests are supposed to pay for the wedding.

Also -- and I know this question reveals my white trash heritage in its full glory -- how is a guest meant to find out how much the reception costs per plate? Without being utterly tactless, that is?