NATION

NATION

Average cost of wedding is $30,000, author says

NEW YORK — The average cost of a wedding today is $30,000, and lavish engagement parties are increasingly popular, according to Katherine Jellison, author of “It’s Our Day: America’s Love Affair with the White Wedding, 1945-2005” published last month.

Elaborate weddings are a recent phenomenon, Jellison said. It wasn’t until after World War II that Americans had enough disposable income to marry in such a formal fashion.

“There is a message out there that this is how it ought to be,” said Jellison. “While there are some that look at the lavish wedding as socially irresponsible, in general, most see it as a sign of social status. Everyone wants to prove that they are more than just middle class.”

More than 80% take ‘mental health’ days off

NEW YORK — Feel like you’re going crazy? Maybe you need a day off.

More than 80 percent of employees admit taking “mental health” days from work to recover or recharge, according to a poll conducted by ComPsych Corp., which provides corporate counseling services. Almost a third said family and relationship issues were the cause.

When asked what would likely cause them to take a breather, 20 percent said it would be stress related to work and 12 percent said they would take time off because of lack of physical energy. Boredom and lack of motivation accounted for 5 percent of those who would take an unplanned day.

The online survey polled 1,036 employees of ComPsych’s company clients.

Associated Press