Question for all of the recently married and even the rest of the group. We just started looking and are really astounded at the prices. Now, I can afford to have a big wedding, (without parents' help, but we can do it) but we want to buy a house, and a big wedding would set us back a year or so. However, now that I have seen a few places, I really want to have a nice wedding. I don't have a big backyard to do it in and we have at least 150 people on the list (cut down from 200). So I really do need a big place.
So. My question is: after the big wedding, and all of the planning, and the stress, and everything else, was it worth it? Do you feel it was money well spent, or do you wish you had used the money for a house? Do you feel like you would have always regret NOT having a big wedding?
Thank you so much!! Danielle
fallinlove04
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Re: Was it worth it?
i always thought that i didn't want a big wedding. then, by chance, i am marrying into a large family. our wedding will be much bigger than i thought that i would like. now that i am planning everything, i am excited about it. we were going to have it on a friday to help out, but we have a lot of out of town guests that it would be difficult for. we are having ours on october 23 at the fox hollow and compared to some other places we looked at they were reasonable on the price. you wil pay for many things no matter what the size is so if you can find a reasonable reception hall go for it. we are in the same boat as you about a house, but i am pretty sure that as the years go on i would have regretted not having my 'fairy tale wedding' good luck to you!!!! have fun planning.
jenny2penny
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Re: Was it worth it?
I am not married yet, but we were like you, and questioned the same thing. We ultimately decided we rather have a great wedding, and a house (we own) to go home to afterwards. So we cut our list down to the people who will always be in our lives (family and close friends, VERY FEW exceptions). It goes too quickly, but a lifetime in a house it more worth it in our eyes. We are seeing married couples do it more and more, but we rather not rent.
luvsun27
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Re: Was it worth it?
Luckily...I bought a house for myself before I met FH. But...do what you feel is right for you. Owning your own home is a fantastic feeling...and it lasts for more than 1 day, unlike the wedding. You can do both...you just might have to have a 'smaller fairytale wedding', but you can do it. Limit your guestlist to family and close friends only. Then...when you get your house...you can have a house-warming party and invite all the others to an informal get together in your new home! Good luck.
bridget&jimmy
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Re: Was it worth it?
I was going through the same thing so my fiance and I had found a house in our community that was selling under market value. So we decided we would go look at it and if this one fell through it was not meant to be right now. We also decided to get married in 2005 to give us two years to save. So we hope to save all the money for the wedding this year and be able to get a house next year. We also decided to get married on a Saturday day which saved us a boundle and to get married in an off month Novemeber. It is possible to do both it will just take some time.
Bridget
HappyEverAfter
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Re: Was it worth it?
DH and I got married in August, and I can honestly say that our wedding was worth every dollar spent and every hour of planning. We paid for a large portion ourselves, with some help from our parents. In order to have the wedding we wanted, we had a long engagement (2 years) and saved a lot, booked things on a zero percent credit card and paid them off monthly. It can be done, and taught us great lessons on budgeting, not to mention how to compromise-my DH did not 'get' the big deal about the wedding until our wedding day. Now he even says how happy he is that I made him spend all that money LOL. It was the best day of both our lives, and the memories of spending it with all our loved ones and friends are worth it. And thanks to budgeting for two years, we are now in the process of buying a house in Connecticut- so it can be done! Good luck!
Robeymuse
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Re: Was it worth it?
We thought about it. FH already owns his house so we are going to have a big wedding. Then after a couple of years, when we are ready to start of family, we will look into buying a bigger house. So it worked itself out and we didn't have to rent. Even through all the planning, I wonder if we should have just run of to an island....
curly2003
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Re: Was it worth it?
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VERY WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mlp924
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Re: Was it worth it?
I got married 9.5 years ago in a restaurant by a judge. We always said we would renew and do it right one day and here we are. I always regretted have a small informal wedding. Make sure you can live with your decision.
abridetobe04
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Re: Was it worth it?
For us, it turned that we buying a house and getting married int he same year and had to decide which was more important to us. After looking around and 'crunching the numbers', we decided that buying a home was more important to us. That doesn't mean you can't have a great wedding! After all the planning for a NY wedding, we decided 'what the heck!' and we are getting married on St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. We are inviting 40 of our closest friends and family and will be able to have a small reception, too! I can't wait!
MarcellaBella
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Re: Was it worth it?
IMO it was sooo worth it!! If I had more money, I would have spent MORE! =) I would do it all over again.
julybride44
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Re: Was it worth it?
After an absolutely gorgeous weekend wedding at the Harrison House and 3 lovely weeks in Fiji, we are now officially living on pb and j and $20K in debt.
Of course, I'm not working and in grad school, but I'm looking for work so that'll make it better.
It should take us about a year to pay our bills off.
Was it worth it....we'd both say yes. We loved our wedding, our honeymoon. Our families got to spend an entire weekend together and we paid for much of our bridal party to stay too (they are all in financail straights due to school and or recently starting families).
I say as long as it can be paid off in a year...it was worth it.
Dee7772
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Re: Was it worth it?
I had a big wedding and definatly don't regreat it. I would never change a thing. We just got maried this past Sept. and are actually starting to look for a house now. So it all works out. Who said you can't have your cake and eat it too???
yabbobay
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Re: Was it worth it?
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!
and the joy and memories of a wedding does not last just one day!!!
My wedding costs were equal to a down payment...but I don't care...I have the best memories and you cannot put a price on that...even knowing now that DH would get laid-off one month after our wedding and we struggled for a bit...I'd still do it!!!!
but I am sure that this is a very subjective question and you have to do what is right for you!!
jennbaby
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Worth it all 100% every penny!!
nrvbrd
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Re: Was it worth it?
I did not think I would say this, but absolutely YES!!!!
Tammy5-03
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Definitely. I don't regret a penny.
dawnie
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Re: Was it worth it?
Best day of my life......... WORTH EVERY PENNY!
Jola
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x
LIPrincess00
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Re: Was it worth it?
My FI and I decided to have a nice wedding and try to buy a house in the same year. We limited our guest list to 80people. I would have loved to have not limit to the people invited but we really want our house and if this is how we can do both then thats what we are doing.
