DH and I were at a wedding yesterday and were actually talking about the very same thing. Times have changed and there is so much pressure on young people (only my opinion) to have a perfect wedding.
The bride had hardly left the church when the photos were all over Facebook.
The first thing I noticed was that a large proportion of guests were friends of the bride and groom and only a few were relatives or friends of the parents. This is how they wanted it. It was lovely to see these young people having such a great time. Their energy was boundless and the couple had all the people they cared about around them, not some old fogies they had never seen in their life.
My friend and I were reminiscing about our own weddings and laughing at how we had become the old aunties in the corner. (However, I think we were more glamorous 
).
When we got married 40 years ago, we had to ask all the great aunties (there were no great uncles), aunts, uncles, distant relations whom we had never met, etc, leaving no room for our friends. We were under great pressure from our parents, not to upset anyone. and only had a few friends at night due to the expense. Nowadays most youngsters have who they want at their wedding.
Yesterday's wedding was in the middle of nowhere in a very expensive venue. The fact that it was so remote meant that coaches had to be hired to take guests from the church an hour away to the castle, which added to the coast. It also made it difficult for guests who were driving in the snow on country lanes in the dark. The buses got stuck and blocked the road.
The bride and groom asked for money, instead of presents, as they had everything they needed. We would never have dared ask for money, as it was thought to be rude.
Most presents we received were items like an ironing board, iron, pillowcases etc. My nephew was married a few weeks ago and had a John Lewis gift list. I was gobsmacked when I read it. One of the items was a £350 barbecue.
What I would say was excellent about the wedding is that there was planner who had coordinated the whole event, taking the pressure off the young couple. My planner was my mother telling me it was her way or no way. 
I wonder if today, young people get so carried away with the show that they forget significance of the day.
I think I have turned into an old fogie.
