Splurging on Wedding Expenses

Among the brachos recited at a wedding is the brachah “Shehakol barah Lichvodo”, everything was created for His Glory, whereby we thank Hashem for this celebration at which there are numerous people present. Indeed, in the Chumash we find that many people were invited to a wedding celebration, as simcha, joy, is greater when there are lots of people in attendance. At the same time, it is important to ensure that weddings are done properly and modestly. On the posuk, “Ve’hatzneia leches im Hashem Elokecha”, walk modestly before Hashem your G-d, Chazal, our Sages, tell us that this refers to hachnasas kallah, bringing a kallah, bride, to the chuppah, wedding canopy. Rashi states that this should be done b’midah na’ah, with an appropriate measure, in a decent but modest manner, and not excessively. It is written in Sefer Chasidim that one should not slaughter a deer for a wedding feast because it is considered extravagant, and a problem of bal tashchis, wastefulness. Chazal compare weddings to Matan Torah: Hashem chose to give the second set of luchos quietly in a tznius’dige manner, without fanfare—unlike the first luchos, which did not last. Therefore, whereas a wedding should be done beautifully and with many people present, it should be done in a sensible manner, in a way that does not squander unwarranted funds. Any extra money should instead be given to tzedakah, charity, in the zechus, merit, of chosson and kallah, the groom and the bride.

https://halacha2go.com?number=192

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.