I will be the first to admit I have no clue how American weddings come to fruition. Kris and I did not have a wedding, even though we did have the money in the bank. Because we were in Helsinki, Finland, and on an extreme timeline, we got married in a courthouse in downtown Helsinki.
That was in 2006. I immediately went on a 2-year unaccompanied tour to Japan. In 2008, I returned to Kris and we moved to Arizona. We quickly started to build our own home. I used the money we had saved up as a down payment on the house in Arizona. I did not use my VA Loan because I had cash. This is important because I used my VA Loan to buy my next two homes in 2017 and 2020.
All this to say, I am glad circumstances forced Kris and I not to consider having a wedding. Being able to buy our first home at age 26 and 23 (me and Kris) was a great start in our marriage. I believe it started us on the right path. Even though 2008 was a horrible year to buy, this home still generates income for us.
I am not going to argue the importance of having a wedding. It is very important for both sides of the family to show support and unity towards the new couple. I just do not understand some of the other extravagances that come along with new age weddings. My rule of thumb would be to own a home or use the money as a down payment. What is left can then go towards the wedding. Owning a home will actually contribute more to a couples’ overall success than a wedding. Again, I am not trying to offend anyone. But as a 39-year-old, I have been to weddings where the relationship still leads to divorce. As Kris and I approach 15 years of marriage, the thought of renewing our vowels someday, on our own land, is way more exciting than having a wedding in 2006.
One of the best weddings I saw recently was from a buddy of mine. Because of COVID, he and his bride got dressed in wedding attire. They both had children from prior marriages. They literally all got dressed up and took pictures in front of their brand new home. They walked down the sidewalk together and took some family photos. I think it was an amazingly sharp wedding and proved the point as to what is really important.
Disclosure: I am not a financial advisor or money manager, and any knowledge is given as guidance and not direct actionable investment advice. Please research any investment vehicles that are being considered. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
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