American weddings are
insane. A friend of mine has loaded parents, and they shelled out $50,000 for her wedding a few years ago. It was nice, but nowhere near $50,000 worth of nice, that's for damn sure.
In addition to wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, other pre-events that are commonplace are an engagement party/wedding shower (used to be called a bridal shower, but we're all equitable about it now,) bridesmaids' luncheon... and of course baby shower if it's a shotgun wedding.
