Big fat Indian weddings

Indians, including Parsis, do not know how to enjoy themselves. They believe in spending more and having bigger crowds at their weddings. Though I am a wedding photographer by profession, I see no sense in this. Most of the time the couples stand on the stage, shaking hands, accepting greetings and gifts, thanking guests, followed by group photographs which involve hardly any creativity.
If there is a gathering of 500 persons one does not get the time to even speak to dear family members. Why have so many guests? I have seen that in some sophisticated and well-to-do families the guests are divided over four days: wedding ceremony only on the first day, reception from the bride’s family on the next, reception from the groom’s family on the third day and a reception for friends and colleagues of the couple on the last day.
Everyone spends money, but they want to economize by having everything at the same time and venue. Guests cannot even eat at leisure and everyone goes home dog tired! RUSTOM HAVEWALLA
rustomhavewalla@gmail.com

The editors reply:
Aside from the expenses, organizing and attending four receptions is daunting, not to mention exhausting.