Perceptions

We went shopping for wedding rings yesterday near our place. There is this boutique that our friend recommended us. When we reached the place, there was a couple ahead of us. The boutique owner was discussing with the couple on the design of their wedding rings too. It took quite a while before they were done. It was our turn. We asked if he spoke English and he was shocked. He asked how long we have been in Denmark. My fiance replied, "For about a year for me."

"Oh! You should have learnt how to speak Danish. It is easy. You can learn it within two weeks!" replied the boutique owner.

I was skeptical. As a foreign language learner, I know it takes more than that to really learn a foreign language up to a level which can be used to converse in informal settings. Nevertheless, I give him the kudos for being such a patriotic and nationalistic Danish.

Back to the whole episode of the wedding rings. We told the boutique owner that our ROM date is on 22 June, and we would hence need the rings latest on 21 June. He was perplexed!

"Isn't it a little late now?" he asked with his eyes wide open. His jaws were almost falling off. Imagine that! A middle-aged man with a cute little beard and moustache with his mouth and eye wide open.

"Yah. It is." We replied and smiled as sweetly as we could.

"Well, let's see what we can do. Are there any designs that you have in mind?" he asked.

We picked out three designs which we liked and asked how the entire process worked. The boutique owner informed us that we can tell him what kind of customizations we want and he can do it for us. We checked out the price and the minimum that he was willing to go was 6500 DKK. Initially, he quoted us 8000DKK. That is equivalent to SGD 2300. It is way out of our budget. So we said that we would consider and get back to him.

It dawned onto me how different it is between the Danish and Singaporeans. They placed huge and elaborate importance on the wedding. I believe most couples would want their weddings to be the perfect one. The most lavish that they can afford, the most elaborate, the most glamouraous, the prettiest and the most handsome. For that one day...

Well, logically, wedding day is one of the milestones of a person's life. One is about to embark on the journey of setting up a new family. It also marks the day one's parents can treat one like an adult and not like a child.

For Singaporeans, the focus is more on the procedures and ceremony, and I think the money, that matters more. I have come across many who treat the wedding banquet as a form of monetary transaction. I have also come across many who treat the wedding banquet as a sign or signal that seems to proclaim the wealth and fame they have accumulated. I do not like that. In fact, i abhor that. I feel disgusted. Weddings are meant to be joyful occassions. Pure joy. How did we tarnish this beautiful part of our lives?

Other than a few, whom I know do not see weddings this way, the rest, sadly fall into this category.

Or maybe have I perceived it wrongly or inappropriately? Maybe things are not the way I see them to be....

Anyway, gotta go.... Edinburgh... here I come!