Making the Case for Intimate Weddings

My girlfriend and I aren’t fans of big weddings. In fact, she expressly told me that she would rather have a simple ceremony and have a nice dinner with a small circle of family and friends.

We’ve never bought the idea of weddings being some sort of culmination. We’ve been living together for close to five years, and for me, being with that special someone is more important than getting a fancy wedding.

We’re cheapskates of some sort. We’d rather spend money on stuff we like rather than spend a ridiculous sum of money trying to impress people. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on food, an event venue, etc., we’d rather spend our hard earned money on things that are truly valuable to us.

My girlfriend says that she couldn’t stand the idea of being the center of attention, even for just one day. I, on the other hand, detest things that run for over half an hour. I can’t ride in a car for over an hour. I hate lining up inside the bank. I hate relinquishing control of my time.

As it turns out, we’re not alone in our aversion for traditional wedding ceremonies. What are the advantages of getting married at the courthouse?

For one, there are considerably fewer things to consider. You do not have to spend hours or even days making choices — caterers, venues, motifs, guest list. And along with that, you do not have to deal with the opinions of other people, no matter how well-meaning these are. Essentially, you’re in control of all your choices.

Next, you do not have to fork out a small fortune for the wedding. I asked a friend of mine how he managed to save enough money for his wedding. He told me that he asked most of our friends and his relatives to pitch in money to cover some of the expenses for the wedding. But even after that, he and his girlfriend still had to pay a huge sum of money to get the wedding they wanted. Imagine spending all that money for a vacation or even for investment instead.

Finally, the more intimate the affair, the more memorable it will be. I guess my girlfriend and I want our own wedding to be our personal milestone shared with people who truly matter to us and not turn it into an unnecessary spectacle or a showcase of our financial capacity.