You are dreaming of a dream wedding but you are not sure if you can afford it? Caroline Hodges is sharing her thoughts on the “need” of having always excessive and expensive fancy weddings…
Getting married has been something that many of have long dreamed about since our childhood. Whether it was reading fairy tales or finding a potential suitor in the playground at kindergarten, the idea of marriage has always been there in the back of our minds.
So when it comes to the big day itself, why does it have the potential to turn into such a stressful and costly ordeal? Have we, in fact, got the whole concept of what a wedding should be wrong? And are we investing much more time and money than necessary into our big days?
According to figures, the US alone has over 60 billion dollars pumped into the wedding industry every year.
Source: srentertainment
The average couple may have to sacrifice holidays, homeownership and hobbies in order to put money aside for their big day. Once you factor in the venue, the dresses and suits, the catering, the rings and the photographer, you’ve merely touched the tip of the iceberg with regards to all the things to organise and all the costs to dish out. Next come the flowers, bridesmaids dresses and suits for the groomsmen, the cars, table decorations, the honeymoon, confetti, invitations, DJ, hire and well, the list goes on.
However, what if we were to take away all of these small novelties, and bring back the idea of a simple wedding between two individuals who love each other surrounded by their families and friends? Are all these added details and costs really necessary in making us happy?
And when we look back on our big days in twenty years’ time, we will remember how lovely the placeholders were or will we remember laughing, dancing and being surrounded by our family and friends?
It’s a well-known fact that if you put the word “wedding” in front of any noun, the price is likely to triple: wedding dress, wedding rings, wedding cake.
We’re willing to pay for it though, aren’t we?
This is our day, our one special day, and we’re going to make it the absolute best.
The good news is: a wedding doesn’t have to empty your bank account and leave your brain full of money woes.
You simply have to consider the things that matter.
Some great ways to do this are through reusing dresses or suits or even hiring them just for the day. After all, we’re unlikely to ever wear them out and about! In a world with more technology and apps than we can keep track of, we could also reduce paper waste and costs by designing our own invitations and thank you cards online and sending them out via email. And what about the catering? Well, we can attempt to support local businesses that grow their own produce and consequently, reduce costs related to importation and food waste too.
When it comes to the pre-wedding bachelor and bachelorette parties, we could simply organise a fun night out with our friends in the city where we all live, it’s not always necessary to jet off on a warm city break for four or five days. When all is said and done, we have great fun with our best friends wherever we go!
So when it comes to planning your big day, take a step back and a deep breath. Don’t let the emotions and the money overwhelm you. It’s your special day and however, you decide to do it for yourselves, you’re doing it right. Are your loved ones going to be there? Are you going to be happy, laughing, and running on a high all day? Are you marrying that amazing person you want to spend the rest of your life with?
If the answer is yes to all of the above, you’re bound to make it a day to remember!
