The Cost of a Wedding

For most people, once they have found the person they want to spend the rest of their life with, the next step is to get engaged and plan the perfect fairytale wedding. If you are one of those people then you probably know that before getting to that perfect fairytale “I do” moment you have to spend lots of time planning it and lots of money to get every little detail just the way you always imagined it.

Getting married and having a big wedding celebration is a big expense for most couples. According to The Knots 2017 Wedding Study the average cost of a wedding is $33,391. If you live in South Florida that average costs jumps to a whopping $40,634! To foot the bill some couples go into debt and some do not. But regardless of how you fund that fairytale wedding, if you have access to $40,000+ you should consider buying a house instead and here is why…

A Wedding Does Not a Marriage Make

Despite all the planning that goes into creating those perfect moments and unforgettable experiences, a wedding does not a marriage make. Two people, you and your partner, who love and are committed to each other are going to make the marriage.

You deserve the best possible chance to make your marriage work. Instead of paying for an expensive wedding party, and possibly going into debt, invest in your most important asset, a home. The wedding signals the beginning, but the home is where your marriage will bloom and grow. So doesn’t it make sense to re-think the wedding, at least for now, and prioritize your future together?

I am not suggesting you not get married, I am suggesting you think this through, and plan not just for one day you will spend together but for all the days you will spend together.

You can still celebrate your nuptials in a less expensive and more creative way.  Once you have built up some equity in your home and perhaps even added some investment properties to your portfolio, celebrate your success in life and marriage with the big wedding bash you always wanted.

More Great Reasons To Buy a House Instead of Having a Big Wedding

Here are some more great reasons you should hold off the wedding and buy a house instead:

• You can live in the moment, but you won’t live the rest of your life in your wedding.  You can live in a house. In fact, it is the only investment in which you can live.
• The wedding will cost you, the house will make you money.
• If you buy a house, you avoid the stress of planning a big wedding, at least for now!
• Getting married does not require a wedding. Get married in a way that celebrates you as a couple and that does not break the bank.
• You can always celebrate your marriage with the perfect wedding after you have forged a life together.
• If you have to go into debt to pay for your wedding you may actually be putting your future at risk. Money is one of the main stressors in a marriage.
• If for some reason the marriage does not work, instead of walking away with marital debt, you can sell the house and walk away solvent.

Break The Rules! Have the Wedding When It Is Right For You

There is no rule about when you can and should have a wedding. There is nothing wrong with celebrating it after a few years, perhaps even with your children as participants.

I have two dear friends that met in their 20s before they had careers and home. They secured their future first and then had a big, beautiful wedding in Florence, Italy and their little girl was their ring bearer. It was amazing!

Don’t get caught up in the what is expected of you and when, if buying a house is the right thing for your marriage then dare to be different and lay the foundation for a secure and stable future first. Have the wedding when it is right for you!

First Time Home Buyer Resources

Click here to download my free e-book : What You Need to Know Before Buying a Home

Join my Facebook Group for first time homebuyers and connect with Luiza and I and other first time home buyers. Let’s all talk about how to make home ownership a reality!

Happy Home-Buying!
Désirée Ávila

Désirée Ávila was an award winning teacher for 10 years and has a doctoral level education in Educational Technology. Désirée is now a licensed Florida Realtor and Real Estate Influencer committed to a high-level of professionalism and to helping others with their real estate endeavors through education. Désirée is a lifetime local resident and is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, French and Italian.