@BroDrillard @WashedOutGundamPilot @poastoak Slight disagreement: rings are supposed to be expensive as a safety net for women. If there's an emergency, it's a compact, portable chunk of wealth she can sell to get out of trouble, or support the family, etc. And if she gets divorced or widowed, she can sell the ring and use it to get her footing or set up a new house. The rule for men is it should cost "two month's salary", because you are essentially giving her 2 month's living expenses as a cushion (or parachute). Modern expensive weddings are absolutely a status symbol though. The traditional wedding is held in a nearly-free communal building (church or social hall). The big elaborate or event weddings are aping political weddings of nobility and royalty, big events that were necessary to display the familial/political alliance. They are literal fairy tale fantasies you go into debt for.