I can see why people love the idea of a big white wedding - it

In the words of Lucy Punch, we hear the voice of one who sees beyond the glitter of spectacle: “I can see why people love the idea of a big white wedding—it is a day when they are the centre of attention and get to wear a beautiful dress. But that sounds awful to me because that is like getting ready to walk down the red carpet.” Here lies a truth often forgotten: that the grandeur of a big white wedding, with its gowns and rituals, may dazzle the eyes, yet for some hearts it feels like a burden, a performance staged not for love but for the crowd.

The red carpet, a symbol of fame and scrutiny, reveals her meaning. To many, the day of marriage should not feel like parading before the world’s gaze but rather like stepping quietly into sacred union. She contrasts the intimacy of love with the spectacle of ceremony, warning us not to confuse the approval of the many with the joy of the beloved. For true love does not demand applause; it demands only authenticity.

In history, consider the tale of Marcus Agrippa and Julia, daughter of Augustus. Though their union was celebrated with imperial splendor, Agrippa himself was a man of simplicity, preferring the life of a soldier and builder to that of a noble on display. The pomp of Rome did not define their bond; rather, it was his steadfast loyalty and quiet strength. So too does Punch’s vision remind us that marriage need not be gilded with noise—it may be greater when cloaked in simplicity and sincerity.

Her words hold wisdom for those who feel trapped by the weight of expectation. The beautiful dress, the center stage, the endless rituals—these may indeed bring joy to some, but to others they obscure the very heart of the matter: the joining of two souls. Just as the ancients taught that the truest offerings to the gods were not the grandest sacrifices but those given with pure intention, so too is the truest wedding not the most extravagant but the most honest.

Thus let this lesson pass to future generations: do not measure love by the splendor of its ceremony, nor by the admiration it wins from others. Love is not a stage, nor is marriage a performance. It is a covenant whispered between hearts, a bond invisible to the crowd yet unbreakable before heaven. Seek not the red carpet, but the path where two souls may walk without fear of judgment, clothed not in silk alone, but in truth.