What does a Perfect Wedding Cost?

Recently I experienced something that I am sure we all have at one time or another. I was surfing the internet catching up on the latest wedding blogs and industry news when I came across something that made my blood boil! I knew going in that I probably wasn’t going to agree with most of what an article reviewing a wedding expo would have to say, but it didn’t stop me from being surprised when this piece published by The Atlantic suggested that many couples feel that if they don’t spend enough on the perfect wedding, the marriage is not a good one and won’t last!

The article doesn’t necessarily agree with this point of view. It simply highlights that for many couples this is a real belief. One that is instilled in them by both their families and the wedding industry itself! It’s something that truly makes me angry largely because it is not even remotely true! I’ve spent a great deal of time researching the link between divorce rates and wedding costs. I am confident that I have proven spending more on your wedding puts you at a greater risk of divorce.

Time, Money & Stress of a Wedding

Aside from the fact that research shows that spending more on your wedding can heighten the chance of divorce, in my latest book BIG Weddings SUCK! I also cover many other reasons why it is a good idea to downsize your wedding both in terms of size and budget!

When couples are constantly bombarded with statements like the one above suggesting that their wedding is not right if it didn’t cost upwards of $25,000 it starts to impact them negatively. My book is full of stories of young couples on the brink of bankruptcy, separation and even nervous breakdowns all because the wedding industry has them believing that they need to have a stereotypical ‘perfect’ wedding day! My question is, why? Who gets to decide that one wedding matters more than another? My answer is no-one! All weddings matter #AllWeddingsMatter regardless of the number of guests or the price of the wedding cake!

Is The Perfect Wedding a Myth?

This misconception that the perfect wedding is one that costs a small fortune and has a huge guest list is putting many couples off marriage altogether. Some feel obligated to get into debt in order to live up to societal expectations. Others believe they cannot afford a wedding at all and put it off. This is a worrying concept. No couple needs to feel that they cannot marry just because they don’t have $25,000+ to spend! I can point you in the direction of plenty of very nice all-inclusive wedding elopement packages for under $2500!

A budget wedding is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, you certainly won’t be alone in turning your back on a big wedding! An increasing number of couples are doing the same. Going back to the piece in The Atlantic, it also states that many of the couples attending the wedding expo were looking for ways to cut costs because they just don’t have the money it takes to have that so-called perfect wedding!

If you want to know how to plan the perfect wedding without breaking the bank, check out my new book BIG Weddings SUCK! the Alternative Wedding Planning Book available now on Amazon!

By Dave Westfall , the Alternative Wedding Planner