By Brea Gunn
Okay, okay…I’ll admit it. I’m a reality TV junkie. I LOVE watching the train wrecks, drama, and outright ridiculousness that has become entertainment. Sometimes, though, a show truly hits a chord. I was watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians and stumbled upon the episode where Kris is pushing Kourtney and Scott to get married … But they don’t want to tie the knot.
This may seem strange to you, but it really irked me that their mom, Kris, was pushing the issue. Now, I’m all about weddings. It’s what I love to write about, talk about and blog about, but sometimes weddings are not the best thing. Take Kourtney and Scott, for example. If her mom wants a commitment, why not have a commitment ceremony instead of a wedding? You can still have the dress, the big bash and the DJ without ending up with a legally binding piece of paper.
Take a look at some other celebs that have kids and aren’t married … Johnny Depp (together with his partner for more than 10 years, he has 2 kids) and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (together for more than 5 years and they have six (right?) kids) … And both couples are very comfortable in their relationships.
And then there are the celebrities that have gotten married after they have kids, like Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz, and Britney Spears and Kevin Federline. Now, they’re separated or divorced.
So where’s the middle ground? And more importantly, what does any of this have to do with us ‘normal’ people? I think that weddings are fantastic, and I love every single one of them, but they’re truly not for everyone, as I think the Kardashians (among others) have shown us. So when do you know it’s right?
If you can’t imagine the rest of your life without your love’s best and WORST features, then (more than likely) you’re probably on the right track with the wedding plans. But if you’re happy being your semi-single self, consider a commitment ceremony or party to celebrate a milestone year in your relationship instead.
Sure, Mom may be upset (even famous moms want to plan their daughter’s weddings), but I think that if you sit down with her (do not take a page from Kourtney on this one) and calmly explain your choice, then chances are she’ll be on board … especially if you let her plan a party.
Brea Gunn is a monthly contributor for Cupid’s Pulse and writes for a Hudson Valley weddings site for real weddings, reviews and inspiration from local wedding business resources.
