The important thing about weddings (Lose the wedding butterflies, 22 September) is not to confuse them with marriage. The latter is when two people (of whatever gender) show their love and commitment to each other by signing a register – all that is legally required. Weddings are where a horrendous amount of money is squandered on a load of overpriced tat accompanied by meaningless flummery, at the end of which … they sign a register.
Ian Mackillop
Ilminster, Somerset
• Who needs Theresa May to form trade deals with China when we are advised by the Guardian (How to save money on everything supplement, 23 September) to “buy online from China”?
Rachel Meredith
York
• In Lithuania after the fall of the Soviet Union, they took down the statues of Lenin and put them in a park to act as a reminder and as a museum. Perhaps a suitable park could be found for all the contentious examples here (Letters, passim). You could call it the Park for Problematical People on Podiums.
Jerry Stuart
London
• The mention of Anne Coates as editor of David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia (Letters, 22 September) reminds me that her brother, the animation producer John Coates, told me that it was she who persuaded Lean to include the famous wide shot of Peter O’Toole and camels riding over the horizon in the final cut of the film.
Roger Mainwood
Wivenhoe, Essex
• Prominent at many meetings (Letters, passim) is the bearded tit, usually brambling on.
Lesley Kew
Polmont, Falkirk
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters
