Thanks for the comment. I agree with the jobs part but i just want the marriages to be taxed so that those extravagant marriages give an extra revenue for the government

Well lets not forget the expensive marriages, give employment to many.
Say your logical rich marriage, where Rs. 50L is spent.
They are spent on Halls, Lighting, Music, Food & liquor.
Imagine, nothing is spent. This will well be in the stock market or in HSBC wealth management…. so let rich people spend more… that will create jobs….

Nice article though you erred in the calculations using 50 lakhs instead of 5.

As somebody who has been through one of these processes let me tell you what are the thought processes (if you can call them such) behind such extravaganzas.

First of all, the parents would like all their friends and relatives (well wishers) to bless their child. This is intrinsic and instinctive. I am sure that on your brother’s wedding day a thought must have passed through your mind that nobody should bear ill will towards your brother on that day. I myself remember giving money to a eunuch, the only time I did so, on my sisters birthday. The tendency of people therefore is too err on the larger side while inviting (for fear of inviting ill will). Its only money.

In the upper upper echelons there is this thing about showing off. But the fear of ill will is there too. Remember the brouhaha about the Bachchan marriage? They did it well, but with a heavy heart.

Secondly, you would like to give your friends a treat for your marriage. As would your wife like to give hers. Let us say each of you have 5 groups of 5 friends. Do you really want to go out 10 consecutive days? Remember the marriage treat has to be close to the marriage else the charm is lost. A reception addresses this issue.

As an aside, a few comments on your website if I may. It is very well designed. The only irritant is I wish you would allow the registration of an email id once so that it need not be repeated.

First of all Thanks Subbu for commenting on this post. I was dejected that nobody commented this post. Of Course I am not married. When my brother’s marriage happened, my friend’s father told him ” You see, everybody do this mistake in their life time. But realise that its a mistake only after 25 years.”

I hope its true. This post was outcome of a strong anger against the waste of money in lot of marriages. I am trying to make my marriage as a different affair altogether.

Actually, I always used to think why the guests at the marriage are smiling and laughing. Then when I got married I realised that the actual joke is on the couple.

Marriage tax is a good idea. lets see if it atleast saves a few good men from the life imprisonment.

Cheers,
Subbu