So, I was hanging out last night with FI and his best friend, who is the last of the "gang" to not be married, just bought a house, he closes next month. I was jokingly hassling him about when he was going to marry his girlfriend of 5 years, she is one of my BM's. So he's like, well we have to wait a few more years, I dont have $5000 to marry her. And im like, you mean, for a ring?? And he's like, no I have to pay her dad that much if I want to marry her. So we thought he was kidding, but he was dead serious. So I said, wait, you're serious?? He said yeah, actually it could be anywhere up to $10,000. His girlfriend was born here, is "American" as can be, but her parents are from a foreign country, they live here in NC. I was shocked and disappointed, secretly. I know he really wants to marry her, and I know she really wants to get married to him! Anyway I am disappointed because I think she should stand up to her parents and say, im sorry, but I love this person, i want to marry him, he doesnt have an extra $5000 laying around. None of my business of course but I think they need to put each other first, and forget everyone else. How ridiculous.