Ann, you would so not be in love with an elaborate reception if you had girls and had to plan (and pay for) the wedding. With all of those wedding shows many brides (and some grooms!) go overboard on weddings and receptions, and huge rings that they can't afford.

Our last daughter was married 5 years. Yes, there were tears when mom said, "No, we're not getting the most expensive invitation. After the event, people just throw them away!" A wedding seems to bring out the two-year old in everyone.

My husband said, "If we had one more daughter I'd give her the money allocated for this and let the kids plan their own wedding."

We are happy the children wanted to get married, and it may be their fabulous day in the sun, but for the rest of the world it was just another (yawn) reception.

Add on to my first comment--our last daughter is STILL married, has one child with another on the way.

She was married FIVE YEARS AGO, not "5 years."

She now understands that the wedding wasn't the highlight of her entire life.