Yah very right and I can actually feel what you are saying Punabi Rose…the guilt is really bad, the whole wedding function, clothes, jewellry, shoes, makeup, dowry and then to top them all giving gifts to the immediate family (that SHOULD include gold besides expensive clothes) the groom and clothes to 22 uncle aunties from MIL side and 35 uncle aunties from FIL side! it all gets too much!!
In our family we only give gifts to the immedite family not the whole khaandan but my fiance told they do so in their family. I told him to provide the list (bcoz frankly I cant memorize how many they are!) my MIL called and said that ‘if you dont have it in your family you dont have to do it, hamaray tau hota hai… apki merzi hai…’ this was a reply I couldnt interpret whether she wants us to do it or not, I have chosen not to do it!!