If you own a social media profile, you may have noticed a spike in shiny, sparkly engagement rings popping up on your newsfeed. It's engagement season and in a few short months, we'll be transferring over to wedding season. Wedding season has become like a holiday for so many young women in the world today and the most prevalent thing I've noticed is just how much times have changed, especially for weddings. I don't mean to sound negative by any means, because getting married is supposed to be a happy time in a person's life, but if we're being honest, there are some huge differences and not all of them are for the better. So here I've compiled a list of the problems that exists with modern-day weddings.

1. Let the judgement/rumors/comparison drama begin! As much as you may want to think it won't happen to you or that you may be the ultimate top dog, it's simply not reality. From the moment that ring is put on your hand, slowly, but surely, everyone will start giving you their opinions such as "you're too young/haven't been together long enough," and of course there will be gossip about how big/small your engagement ring is and if the proposal was "lazy." (Sidenote: If you were blessed with a public proposal, prepare for the shade to be put on extra thick, because apparently some people believe that you can't possibly just want to share a special moment with your loved ones, you were clearly only looking for attention, right?)

2. Everything is EXTRA SUPER expensive. I'm not even joking when I'm talking about expense and it affects every single aspect of a wedding. The sad part is, the price is only high because people know it's for a special day and that most times all caution on money is thrown to the wind because every girl wants her "dream" wedding. For example, a regular set of sparklers is normally less than $5, but "wedding" sparklers can cost you up to $20 for just small 10 count boxes! Oh, and bridesmaid dresses? Those can cost around $200 EACH for most current styles, but for a normal dress that looks similar and just as nice can be found for $30 to $50. You would think businesses would cut brides some slack, considering their own dresses can run up into the five and six digit prices.

3. Being forced to deal with people you don't know or don't like. Here's the ultimate problem that lies with that whole "as two families become one" thing. With wedding guests lists that can be as large as 250 guests for some non-celebrity weddings, there are going to be people on that list who you wish you didn't have to invite. What if the way your second cousin picks at his bellybutton in public is so humiliating that you can't bear the thought of inviting him to the wedding? Why are there 50 people whose names you've never heard, but your mom insisted on putting them on the guest list? Families are great, but as the guest list gets longer, it becomes less about sharing a happy day with those closest to you and more about hoping these strangers will get you that dining set you wanted off you're registry.

4. It's an emotional rollercoaster from the proposal until the day it's over with. It's so frustrating how one minute, nothing is working out the way you wanted and everyone is being selfish about everything, and then the next minute, your groomsmen gives your groom a pat on the back and expresses his excitement for the wedding and it makes your heart swell to 50 times its size. Normally that emotional rollercoaster is fun, for some people but for brides who have other life stresses such as college or children, it's not a welcome addition. The one plus-side to this is if you conquer it, you'll know you can handle anything!

5. Engagements/Weddings create tension between the brides to be and her circle of single friends. As much as they might try to be happy for her... the thought of their own futures of possibly being single forever can cause some bitterness. If you're the bride, just try to be polite and ease up on the "bragging" about your current relationship status, this will be easier on both of you and the future of your friendship. *Sidenote: If you're friend is being so jealous that they are at the point of downing you or talking bad about you to others, then this person is not a friend you'll want to keep around.

6. We can get so caught up in the "perfection" of it all that the true reason for the celebration is lost. Pinterest and bridal magazines have been known for being the go-to places for wedding "inspiration," but it's also where brides can get so caught up in making everything perfect that the wedding has now just become about the decorations, the food, the fight for that celebrity inspired cake, than it has the actual marriage. I see more and more brides documenting their honeymoons on social media WHILE IT'S HAPPENING and checking "like" counts. If that's the case, you're definitely going about it all wrong. Get off the phone and just be in the moment already. If not, you're relationship could be off on a bad note before it even really starts.

So now that all the problems have been addressed, let me be the first to say that weddings are still great. They can bring people together and create irreplaceable lifelong memories as well as be a beautiful day. If you or someone you know is getting married, try to keep everything as stress-free as possible. Don't worry about making the feature in your favorite bridal magazines or being the envy of all your friends, just be happy and remember that at the end of this crazy, special day, your life will be changed forever. The overall phrase to take away from this entire article is that it's about the marriage, NOT the wedding.