April 25, 2005

• Sad. Very sad.
• oh yack. But you know, whatever makes them happy.
• "Hi welcome to Walmart" "I'm sorry, I did't hear you sir" "Oh, Chinese mail order brides?" "Yes sir we do, aisle four next to the detergent"
• Being currently caught in the middle of the arrangements of a close relative's upcoming wedding, I was almost tempted to forward this URL. Ouch $$$$
• For the Walmart PR department, manna from heaven.
• I thought it was sad when a relative registered her bridal shower gifts at Wal-Mart. I mean, come on--it's your wedding. You can aim a little higher, just for that one day. :(
• Gee, where's the honeymoon? Oh thats right, WalMart has free RV parking! Heck, the Camping Department might throw in some freebie implments for a fun-filled night out in the parking lot...
• Of course they had to get married at Wal-Mart. They were locked in.
• I'm torn. On one hand, a Walmart wedding isn't much of anybody's idea of a class affair. On the other, nearly every wedding I've ever attended was a hugely overwrought waste of money and nearly as tacky in the other direction.
• TP - maybe they're thinking it's a good deal for their guests? I know of a recent wedding that was registered at Target. That's not that much different, all social stigmas aside. Basic housewares, etc. At Wal-Mart, however... Well. I wouldn't, personally. But I'm all for breaking out of the standard mold. If it means something special to them, then that's their lookout.
• I could say something different strokes for different folks-y. But I'll say what I really think: Some people are morons.
• TP - maybe they're thinking it's a good deal for their guests? Maybe. But just because you register somewhere doesn't mean people HAVE to buy you something from there, you know? I mean, I certainly didn't get their gift at Wal-Mart (nor from their list, for that matter). And knowing the people involved, I really think that's just the extent of the consumerist ambition. Which, I guess, if consumerist ambition is not to be lauded anyway, you might as well go cheap as expensive...I dunno. It just seems under-selling oneself, to me. I don't have a point really.
• I am getting married in October. Anyone who gives me a gift that is not on our list is going to get it sent back to them filled with urine.
• Gift Nazi! Get him, boys!
• Part of the concern with gifts from Walmart is the quality... there's some ideal vision of getting gifts for a couple that will last and not just meet a momentary need. Plus it is the only time in some folk's lives when they will have a chance to start with new household goods. Why not start with something nice that will (and here's the crass bit you've all been waiting for) outlast the marriage? In any case, I'll be sending bernockle a urinalysis kit with best wishes for their future happiness!
• I am getting married in October. Anyone who gives me a gift that is not on our list is going to get it sent back to them filled with urine I forsee a best-selling coffee table book popular with the bachelor market.
• A scrumptious potluck spread awaited the bride and groom, along with the three-tier wedding cake... Had I been the lucky couple's wedding planner, I might have suggested an elegant Krispy Kreme cake to better fit with the bridal bargain theme of the nuptials.
• ...wait, I didn't catch that in the article. A potluck? Does anyone do that? It's not inherently a bad idea if one is doing the offbeat thing and has friends who are great cooks. But in context...
• I don't personally know anyone who's done a potluck wedding reception but there seems to be a good amount of advice online for someone who wants to attempt it. Oh, and this wedding couple had a potluck picnic celebration. Maybe it works best with a very casual wedding.
• I really wanted to have a potluck reception, but it was nixed by the inlaws (somewhat to the relief of my mother). They did offer to pay for the reception, however - otherwise it was potluck or out of luck. (We're both grad students). It wasn't just the money, though. I genuinely like potlucks - the food is always really good, usually better than just about any catering I've ever had (and yes, I have had good catering, as well as lots and lots of bad). It's much more homey, and there's always so much more variety, too. It does help to have a church hall, or some similarly non-professional venue, as no professional hall will let you do that; not even the university hall we are getting married at would let us bring in our own food. My inlaws thought it would be tacky to ask people to bring food - but how is it more tacky than expecting gifts? I just don't know if I really want to live in a society in which family and friends getting together with food to share love and festivity is tacky, but setting up registries and asking for people to bring toasters and kettles isn't, while you break the bank on crappy roast beef to feed them, isn't.