I read a depressing stat today on CNN;
The average cost of a wedding climbed to a record high of $35,329 last year, according to The Knot’s 2016 Real Weddings study. That’s up 8% from the 2015 average.
Every 6 months or so, my wife and I high five each other and reaffirm that NOT having a wedding was one of the best ideas we ever had.
Don’t get me wrong, I like going to other peoples weddings, but my wife would have hated having one of her own.
Generally I am all for the whole spend money on experiences not things. However, it seems to me that most people go through mounds of stress and expense for an event that never quite lives up to expectations anyway.
Think how much cheaper it would be to spend a few hundred dollars on a high quality photo shoot post nuptials to commemorate the moment in time and then maybe even have your friends or family out to a large nice meal at a good restaurant to celebrate the event.
Under $1k and you have the two things that really last from a wedding anyway, the pictures and the memory of a get together in celebration of your marriage.
My wife and I took the money we would have spent on a wedding and used it for a down payment on our first house. A house we sold 3 years later for $100k profit mind you (not a stud, it was 2005, hard to not make $ in real estate).
Our wedding took place at the Justice of the Peace for $55, license, transportation (‘L’ rides), first rings (sterling silver) and post nuptial Snapples included.
Look some people dwell on their wedding day from the time there are little, but don’t have one because you are ‘supposed’ to have one. There are plenty of conventional wisdoms that are also smart money plays. Big weddings are not one of them. Stay thrifty my friends.
Me and the Mrs.
Othala Fehu 
We were quite happy to have a budget wedding as well. Not as frugal as yours, but it was a lovely budget church wedding =)
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I feel the same way!! I never grew up wanting a big wedding…of course, come wedding time I fell subject to my moms wants for the big day particularly with having my large family there to witness. In the end we compromised with a small wedding of 60 people and spent about $4500 total on the day itself. Not too bad, considering, but more than necessary being we divorced a few years later! Now my mom and I laugh and say what a nice day it was…and it was, but that money sure sounds better to me right about now!! 🙂
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Just FYI, your 3 part series on the rise, fall, and reemergence of your financial/personal life was the inspiration for me do my 4 part ‘Our Story’ posts. Thank You
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Aww, thanks! It’s hard to be honest with yourself let alone the rest of the world but I found it really helped me to get it all out. I’m glad it helped you too!! 🙂
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