Making choices for memories

If I ever want to create a hub bub of comments, all I have to do is talk about wedding expenses.
Everyone has their opinion about this subject:

A wedding is too expensive, elope! -- Have you seen the price of plane tickets and a hotel lately?
Just invite fewer people, you don't need so many! -- That may be fine in theory, but until you have actually had to tell a future MOB that she cannot invite her cousins from Alaska, it is not pretty!
You don't need to serve them fancy food; ham sandwiches are just as good! -- Have you ate at McDonald's lately? Fast food is not cheap.

I could go on and on; all you have to do is read past blogs to know that opinions abound. The simple truth of it is, that weddings will continue on despite what people think. They are a source of happy celebrations that, for one day at least, bring families and friends together to love each other and hope that life does indeed have its perfect moments. Of course, not all weddings are created equal, but for the sake of argument, we will pretend they do.

As to the expenses? We have helped with weddings with budgets of only $1500. to weekend affairs with no price limit. Was one better than the other? Absolutely not, just different tastes and styles. If a couple hires a wedding planner, they are making an investment purchase. A good wedding planner will pay for themselves as well as look out for the best interests of their client. They will help negotiate contracts and find vendors that will give them the best and most fair service and product. In short, we should be saving the couple money while helping them create an event that expresses who they are together.

It is not up to me to pass judgment on what my couples spend their dollars on. I always ask them if they are going into debt to pay for this wedding. if the answer is yes, then we have a serious heart to heart and look for alternatives. Going into debt to start your lives together is never a good idea! On the flip side, spending your money on cigarettes, drinking over and above reason, buying lottery tickets, and $4.50 lattes is also not fiscally a wise use of your money. If I have the choice of spending money on making lifetime memories for friends and family verses a carton of smokes? I will choose the celebration every time.