The General Election Thread

[Gervase]

Dream on!
Oddly, it's one thing I would have expected from the Tories, what with the cost of moat repairs and the like...

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Dream on!
Oddly, it's one thing I would have expected from the Tories, what with the cost of moat repairs and the like...

Oh, the Lib Dem candidate in our recent by-election had a moat too, I'm sorry to say. I'm even sorrier to say she personally was such an obnoxious, arrogant, rude cow when I met her in relation to a II* house she wanted to buy (thank God, she hasn't, the estate agent felt the same about her and sold it someone who doesn't want gold taps) that I have considered breaking my 20 year long party allegiance this time. I won't, because gossip has it that the party too have noticed that she's electoral anthrax.

 

[Flyfisher]

This week's Private Eye contrasts the £150 a year tax break for the married with the £20,000 that the average British wedding apparently costs (really? :shock: yet another good reason not to get married)

These average wedding costs are crazy! It must be a modern development. I reckon ours was much less than £1000 (I recall the wedding licence was £26!) and was cobbled together in just 6 weeks after we had our offer accepted for our first house, together with a deposit from our parents that we could have spent on a lavish wedding. Proper church do, small reception and someone in the village made the cake. Then back to our new home and no honeymoon.

These days, people seem to go mad and blow everything on the wedding before they've even got anywhere to live (OK, an exaggeration, possibly). My nephew got married last year. Lovely do, all the trimmings and a Carribean honeymoon. It must have cost at least £10k, perhaps even the £20k 'average' - I'm not really up to date with such things. One year on, they're still trying to save a deposit to buy their own home!

A couple of years ago, a good friend celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary. Like us, he'd had a modest wedding and no honeymoon so decided to make a big thing of their 25th anniversary. They hired a country hotel for the weekend, renewed their vows, partied all weekend, helicopter'd to the airport and flew first class to Barbados for two weeks. He reckoned it had cost just over £30k but, as he said, the kids had left home, the mortgage was almost paid off, so he could afford it. Fair enough, I suppose, and certainly a better set of priorities, but still a lot of money.

We celebrated our 25th in much the same way as all the others. I forgot and we stayed at home. :roll:

 

[JoceAndChris]

I'm sorry to enter this very gentlemanly (and fascinating) discussion of politics but I really can't let the attack on expensive weddings go uncommented on. With all due respect, I think some of you are focusing just on the price and not on the life experience. Our 25 k wedding and honeymoon was worth every penny and I'd do it again tomorrow even though we are still paying for it. Amongst the delights of it were 3 weeks travelling in Thailand including staying in The Four Seasons Chang Mai, which must surely be one of the most breathtakingly lovely places in the world, as well as giving much-needed support to Stragglethorpe Hall, our beautiful Elizabethan, and completely private, venue. The dress (3k) was hand stitched in Rome over 9 months, it's the loveliest thing I own. And then there were all the hours and hours of designing jewellery with pink diamonds, and picking and planning everything, and getting to go shopping all the time - how could you deny a girl that? And the photos! (Another 3 k) They're amazing, actually much more precious to me now than the dress.

What is life if not building memories?

 

[LadyArowana]

I'm sorry to enter this very gentlemanly (and fascinating) discussion of politics but I really can't let the attack on expensive weddings go uncommented on. With all due respect, I think some of you are focusing just on the price and not on the life experience. Our 25 k wedding and honeymoon was worth every penny and I'd do it again tomorrow even though we are still paying for it. Amongst the delights of it were 3 weeks travelling in Thailand including staying in The Four Seasons Chang Mai, which must surely be one of the most breathtakingly lovely places in the world, as well as giving much-needed support to Stragglethorpe Hall, our beautiful Elizabethan, and completely private, venue. The dress (3k) was hand stitched in Rome over 9 months, it's the loveliest thing I own. And then there were all the hours and hours of designing jewellery with pink diamonds, and picking and planning everything, and getting to go shopping all the time - how could you deny a girl that? And the photos! (Another 3 k) They're amazing, actually much more precious to me now than the dress.

What is life if not building memories?

That sounds lovely. We did ours in about 5 weeks for almost nothing ( well except my engagement ring :lol: ). My husband as he now is, was offered the chance of an interesting job in Tokyo and it was a big rush to get it done. So it was a signing ceremony at the registry office, family were quite appalled. I was more concerned with organising a container to ship furniture etc and train someone at work to take over.

Well, after that little girly interlude, we return you to your regularly scheduled political discussion.

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol: But before they go back to politics, can I just say that as I know you're a jewellery designer I am imagining something really wonderful as your engagement ring.

 

[LadyArowana]

:lol: But before they go back to politics, can I just say that as I know you're a jewellery designer I am imagining something really wonderful as your engagement ring.

I didn't design it myself this was before I started doing my own things and worked in a much more serious profession. So I just went in and pointed and said "no, not that one, the one next to it with the larger stones". Start as you mean to go on I say! I think prices have fallen in real terms though as equivalent money would get a bigger rock now, not that I would trade in/ up, and I do wear it all the time.

We must away to our duties now though, before the gentlemen return to their thread and turn into grumpy old men at finding it hijacked. I think that it will be the one thing that both sides will agree on, NO GIRLY STUFF in our politics please, :lol: .

 

[MdB]

So I just went in and pointed and said "no, not that one, the one next to it with the larger stones".

I remember having a conversation along those lines....

 

[Nigel Watts]

I'm not sure what my wedding cost. My wife's dress (purple and gold - in India white is worn at funerals) was hand made in a boutique in Beauchamp Place in Knightsbridge was the most expensive thing (about £3k I think). The engagement ring - an antique emerald and diamond cluster from SJ Phillips, the best antique jeweller in London, was quite a bit less than that. The ceremony was at Finsbury Town Hall for a small group of old family friends, followed by a reception at the Institute of Chartered Accountants - an Edwardian baroque gem in the City - then a night at Hartwell House Hotel. A week later we had a party for some other friends in a smart restaurant in Kensington before jetting off to India (we travelled First Class but only paid an economy fare - my firm wanted me back a day earlier which required an upgrade to business, which they paid for - then Air India upgraded us to First), a huge reception at the naval mess in Bombay (my wife's cousin was then a Commodore in the Indian navy), arranged and paid for by my in-laws but it would not have been not expensive in UK terms, followed by an inexpensive honeymoon in Goa, Mysore and Bangalore. I would be surprised if the whole thing came to as much as £10k and in spite of the extravagent touches it was well within our means at the time. If we had been harder up we could and would have done it for much less.

 

[LadyArowana]

A week later we had a party for some other friends in a smart restaurant in Kensington before jetting off to India (we travelled First Class but only paid an economy fare - my firm wanted me back a day earlier which required an upgrade to business, which they paid for - then Air India upgraded us to First), a huge reception at the naval mess in Bombay (my wife's cousin was then a Commodore in the Indian navy), arranged and paid for by my in-laws but it would not have been not expensive in UK terms, followed by an inexpensive honeymoon in Goa, Mysore and Bangalore.

Did you get to arrive on a white horse for the party in India ? or is that only if you are having a traditional ceremony ? ............ Much more fun discussing weddings than who's got the biggest deficit :twisted:

 

[Nigel Watts]

You are right that the traditional thing is for the groom to arrive, clad in a gorgeous robe and turban and bearing a sword, on a white horse or elephant, preceded by a brass band. I wore a navy double-breasted Aquascutum blazer and grey trousers and was driven through the streets of Bombay in an offical Indian Navy Ambassador car (looks like a Morris Oxford) complete with light on the top and flagpole on the front, driven by an enormous uniformed and turbaned Sikh chauffeur.

There was no Hindu ceremony. I am not sure if this would even have been possible. My wife is a Brahmin and I, as a non-Hindu, am presumably the equivalent of an untouchable or some other form of low-life.

 

[wobs]

As I posted a few months ago, we got wedded at Swinton Park Hotel. Despite such lavish surroundings, it was quite a modest overall cost. Only 19 of us to feed etc, no official photographer (everyone took camera anyway, and the Canon 450 has a remote control for that shot of everyone).

Brides dress was under £200 which was amazing, rings were fairly cheap. Wifey did a jewellery design degree and doesn't like jewellery with gems in.

My outfit was from a goth shop, and have since worn the trousers to a pirate party, and the jacket worn for nice meals out (eg. 6month anniversary)

Two cakes as it was two days. First was £38 from a local chocolatiar in Hull, and the second was made by my Mum (she did a cake decorating course, which has probably paid for itself many times over, over the years).

Evening do (about 100 people) was at Black Sheep Brewery the following evening, which meant that everyone had a weekend away in Masham, and we met up with friends and family during the two days while walking around the village. It was fantastic.

Guests were told no pressies, but to provide their favourite recipe so we can have a folder of recipes to try that they love.

Honeymoon in Ambleside in a cottage with the ubiquitus wood burning stove.

We look back at it all and marvel how fantastic it all was. Exactly how we wanted it.

Well below the average cost.

Edit: I should add that it is very easy for costs to get out of control, as you get tempted by all sorts of ideas and extravagances ("its just for one day so why not.....". Also, you say to a company the word "wedding", and you're suddenly that person who isn't afraid to spend lots on your special event on those extras. Avoid wedding mags, and don't let family dictate what gets decided.

 

[LadyArowana]

There was no Hindu ceremony. I am not sure if this would even have been possible. My wife is a Brahmin and I, as a non-Hindu, am presumably the equivalent of an untouchable or some other form of low-life.

I have always found Ganesh to be fairly forgiving on his requirements. When we were going through the difficult process of buying our house one of my Hindu friends suggested we should promise him an offering ( since he is known as a remover of obstacles ) in the event of a successful outcome. We had to go as high as, if I remember correctly, 4 coconuts, before we managed to exchange contracts. We honoured our promise at 2 different temples, much to the amusement of the other devotees. I like to cover all bases with religion, just in case. Although the re-incarnation thing is a worry, I wouldn'y mind returning as a rat at the special temple in India, but what if I ended up in Joce's garden and was tempted by that tasty morsel she had put out ?

Two cakes ......

:mrgreen: I never thought of that, what a great idea! maybe it's not too late....................

 

[piper]

You are right that the traditional thing is for the groom to arrive, clad in a gorgeous robe and turban and bearing a sword, on a white horse or elephant, preceded by a brass band.

Mmmm. If that's the traditional way in India, then the traditional British wedding takes place in Westminster Abbey or St Paul's cathedral, and is conducted by the archbishop of Canterbury.
Let's keep in mind the other 99.9999999999% of the population shall we?

We had a Quaker wedding - very simple, though everyone present signs the huge certificate, which is nice.
However a young relation of mine had a spectacular wedding at Bamburgh Castle a few years ago, where the groom, complete with sword, and the best man did arrive on horses, riding along the beach. There were Llamas there too, for the procession down to the reception.

 

[Flyfisher]

Let's keep in mind the other 99.9999999999% of the population shall we?

:lol: :lol: :lol:
Yes, nothing like a bit of perspective.

I've got nothing against lavish weddings, parties, holidays etc, I'm just surprised that some people seem to put a lavish wedding as a higher priority than buying somewhere to live at a time when, typically, budgets are more stretched than in later life. Still, each to their own.

Having said that, we don't really do any milestone celebrations in a big way and generally subscribe to the 'unbirthday' philosophy.

 

[wobs]

We had the option of having the rings being delivered by owl during the ceremony, as they have a number of them on site. We didn't bother, although the best man was disappointed.

I like cheese, but you can have too much.

But like I said, emotionally one can be rather vulnerable in wedding preps to spend lots on extras "to make it extra special".

 

[LadyArowana]

We had the option of having the rings being delivered by owl during the ceremony, as they have a number of them on site. We didn't bother, although the best man was disappointed.

I like cheese, but you can have too much.

But like I said, emotionally one can be rather vulnerable in wedding preps to spend lots on extras "to make it extra special".

OK, so now I officially want a do over :mrgreen: , two cakes and an owl to bring the bling !

 

[Matt Green]

I've got nothing against lavish weddings, parties, holidays etc, I'm just surprised that some people seem to put a lavish wedding as a higher priority than buying somewhere to live at a time when, typically, budgets are more stretched than in later life. Still, each to their own.

Alas, if the decision was there's alone. We would have been content with a small do and a larger deposit, but then the in laws were paying, and the in laws wanted a specific guest list and were more than a shade irritated at the larger numbers of family on my side at the same level of relation. Long story short, and to drag the topic into Period Property: Stowe Landscape Garden in the Temple of Concord and Victory; stretch mini; rings from the Birmingham Jewelery Quarter; affordable attire and my aunty made the cake.

The engagement ring came from an antique shop in The Lanes and did cost a months wages, although given I was working in building conservation at the time I couldn't afford REAL cubic zirconium.

Matt

 

[Nigel Watts]

You are right that the traditional thing is for the groom to arrive, clad in a gorgeous robe and turban and bearing a sword, on a white horse or elephant, preceded by a brass band.

Mmmm. If that's the traditional way in India, then the traditional British wedding takes place in Westminster Abbey or St Paul's cathedral, and is conducted by the archbishop of Canterbury.
Let's keep in mind the other 99.9999999999% of the population shall we?

I admit that the elephant is a rarity but the horse and brass band thing is much more common in India than you might think. When a second cousin of my wife got married in Delhi in 2009 there were four events on different days - culminating in a grand reception at the Taj Mahal Hotel next to Sonia Gandhi's house. On the day of the ceremony (the third of the four events) there was indeed a brass band, the groom wore indian gear and turban, but arrived in a car. We missed the ceremony which took place at about 3 am, long after most guests had left including us. Astrologers determine the auspicious time. Ususally bride and groom's family astrologers cant agree, but for some reason after they have been paid generously for extra astrological research (which seems to be more difficult and hence more costly the richer you are) they always seem to be able to agree a time.

Ganesh may be forgiving, but what about Shiva, who is further up the pecking order for Kashmiri Pandits?

 

[LadyArowana]

Ganesh may be forgiving, but what about Shiva, who is further up the pecking order for Kashmiri Pandits?

We get along better since I gave up regarding Nandi and his domestic cousins as something to snack on, and anyway a bit of discipline for the ignorant is no bad thing :lol: