Recently, while talking with a friend of mine about her upcoming wedding, we got on the topic of overall cost. She confided that her initial budget was nowhere near what the wedding price is actually ending up, and in my head I thought, “Wow…like, $3,000?” (don’t judge, I’m not yet married). Without me even asking though, she said, “We had originally hoped we could do it all for $5,000, but it’s actually closer to $10,000!”
Oh…
And then it occurred to me; I’ve never asked anyone how much their wedding cost! It’s financial information, so I’ve always thought it was rude to ask. So I did some research, and found that what I consider expensive ($5,000) is actually quite frugal in bridal terminology. Turns out, the average cost of a wedding (minus the rings and honeymoon) is $26,542. Ouch.
Then it hit home. That’s double the down payment my boyfriend and I are attempting to 
save for our first home, plus it’s about $10,000 more than his yearly salary (he’s a baseball coach). Add that to my incredibly lucrative income as a writer (note the sarcasm), and the idea of spending $26,542 on anything is completely out of the question. Heck it takes some serious time to convince myself to spend $18.00 at Perkin’s on a Thursday night. Let’s just say any visions of myself wearing a stunning masterpiece of a gown, gracefully sashaying through a gorgeous, flowered garden evaporated into thin air. I am poor. This wedding will never be.
Time-out. This post is really starting to sound like a pity-party, no? So let’s evaluate: do I really think the size and extravagance of my wedding has anything to do with my future happiness? Probably not. I doubt my marriage is going to be doomed from the start if I choose to serve burgers and watermelon slices instead of filet minon and an endive salad with shaved truffles. I’m also sure our first dance will be just as meaningful whether the song is played by a band, a DJ or an Ipod.
And what’s more important: that the flowers are the exact shade of pink or that I’m marrying the love of my life? What will I cherish more: photographs of a three-tiered wedding cake or my adorable niece stumbling down the aisle as the flower girl? And as much as I’d love a gigantic chocolate fountain (yes, I am 12), I’m sure its presence at my wedding is not crucial for my future happiness.
So if you find yourself struggling to justify spending your entire life savings on one day, think about the important things. The fact is; the chance of a marriage surviving is not determined by the amount of money spent at the ceremony (Kim Kardashian, anyone?). Take a deep breath, and realize this is going to be a spectacular day, with or without the chocolate fountain.
