Being female or male has nothing to do with how someone views getting married. I am female and I am appalled at these extravaganzas I see promoted in our culture. I got married in front of a judge, with no fuss and no muss. The important part is what happens afterward. We, as a culture, have socialized our girls from their earliest ages to dream about their "big day," as if that is the nadir of their lives, instead of teaching them how to be complete human beings all by themselves. We need to change that, now.

Let's not put down the bride who wants a wedding where she wears a ball gown and feels like a princess. I felt that way before TV reality shows (before TV!), before going to any weddings, and without ever playing with Barbie type dolls. It's too bad that people go crazy, spending thousands of dollars on this sort of event, but they think it will be the most wonderful day of their lives together. It might just be.