Well, believe it or not, I never had even thought about wedding planning as a child. It was just never one of my dreams to have some big, extravagant wedding. I actually cringing a little right now.
1. You don't have a couple extra thousand dollars.
Even inexpensive weddings typically climb past $1000 after you break down all the real expenses. Even if that's spread over time, could you and should you have used that money for something else? We skipped the fancy wedding and reception and put the money toward our first apartment and the baby we were expecting. Instead of entering into marriage with some extra debt, why not take that money and apply it toward something like a first home, student loans, an emergency fund, etc.
2. You don't like to ask your friends to pay for your wedding.
This one drives me a little crazy. I've never understood the, "Want to be in MY wedding? Yeah? Okay, I'll need X amount of money for your bridesmaid dress for MY wedding." I know not every wedding works this way, but it seems to be more and more common, especially when people are trying to save money. If that's the case, see point 1!3. You might get divorced.
Ouch! That one hurt, didn't it? Divorce rates are crazy high, so it's possible, but let's hope it's not probable. Anyway, dropping a couple thousand dollars on a wedding only to get divorced in a year, two years, or five years seems crazy!
I see your point. Weddings are insanely expensive nowadays when you can buy personalized almost everything and people top each other with how much they are spending on their wedding. They are spending their family's money too. That is one big issue for me.
ReplyDeleteI think this is great. I did want a wedding but we kept it low budget. I feel like our society is a little bit obsessed and crazy about weddings these days! I'm hoping to do a vow renewal as well because I do kinda feel like staying together is more worth celebrating. Great post.
ReplyDeleteYeah I hope to celebrate staying together someday! It's just not that important to me right now.
DeleteThese viewpoints are certainly interesting! I am planning our wedding for March and none of these have ever crossed my mind. However, I am a total girly-girl and have planned my wedding from start to finish since I was 5 haha
ReplyDeleteThese are some really good points. I've seen some wedding things from the States and everyone seems to drop 25-50k on a wedding with barely a second thought. It seems very extravagant to me!
ReplyDeleteThese are valid points, but I'm one of those girls who has been planning for awhile now and I actually work in the wedding industry. I have friends that are getting married and have spent over 30k on the wedding--I'm just as baffled as you. Hello, I could put a hefty down payment on a house with that (which is actually what my bf and I are saving for BEFORE we decide to get married). I cannot imagine spending THAT much money on a three hour party!
ReplyDeleteI hope I should have read this post before I took the plunge. But I can totally relate to what you are saying. EXPENSIVE is one word to describe it.
ReplyDeleteI also never dreamed of a big wedding. But I am also not married either. I have shared with friends that have felt the pressure to have some big elaborate wedding or to invite certain people because their parents have known them forever...this is YOUR day to celebrate however you want. Bump everyone else. Easier said then done but something worth remembering.
ReplyDeleteI do think too many people get caught up in what everyone else wants, unfortunately.
DeleteI find now-a-days weddings are not about the couple. We threw a massive party and only invite the people we like, no extras. The day was filled with things we liked and that's it. It still cost more than I would have liked but I don't feel it was a waste. I wish more people would do what they would love instead of what society dictates. Great post
ReplyDeleteAs someone who is on her second marriage, this is spot on.
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