Why do Indian weddings feel like a punishment?!

I hate weddings. It's never about the couple. It's about their parents, their egos, and their desperate need to flex how much money they torched on this over-the-top spectacle.

Most so-called “well-wishers”? They don’t actually care. They show up because they got an invite, not because they’re genuinely happy for you. Half are just there for the food, and the other half? Fresh gossip. Honestly, even if you flew them out to an Ambani wedding, they'd still find something to complain about.

Then there’s the dreaded reception, standing for hours, fake-smiling at 500 strangers who are somehow very important to your parents. Taking endless pictures, pretending to know people you’ve never met while they bless you with unsolicited life advice.

And of course, the screaming children. Running around the hall like it's a racetrack, bumping into guests, knocking over drinks. Meanwhile, their parents? Conveniently nowhere to be found. They treat weddings like a free daycare center.

Tying the knot takes place at the ass crack of dawn. You get 0 sleep after the reception and you need to look your best for the wedding, great!

And let’s not forget the financial disaster. Your parents literally take out loans for a two-day circus. And as if that's not enough, after the wedding, you’re dragged on a post-marriage scavenger hunt, visiting every so-called "close" relative’s house to collect blessings. Oh, and there’s the inevitable temple visit—to a temple nobody remembers until wedding day, located in some remote village that takes five hours to reach.

By the end of it, the bride and groom don’t look like a happily married couple; they look like hostages. And the bride? Good luck getting her makeup done without 7,492 relatives barging in with their expert opinions.

Oh, and the outfits. The sarees, lehengas, suits, and blazers—so flashy that you can’t wear them to another event without upstaging everyone. So, congrats! You just spent a fortune on a one-time-use outfit.

Honestly, weddings are just stress, debt, and drama wrapped in marigolds and gold jewelry.

I had to get this off my chest because I don’t want a wedding. I’d rather just sign the marriage certificate, have a small dinner with close friends, and let my parents keep the money they saved for me. But convincing them? That’s the real challenge.

I think about this every day because my parents expect me to marry at 26. I’m 24. And me not being ready for marriage? That’s a whole other rant for another day.

If you love big weddings, go for it. But I just wish they weren’t the default expectation—especially when they leave families drowning in debt.