Should we have a wedding or start life together debt free?
Jessica asked:
My fiance and I are beginning the steps to planning a wedding. We have budgeted $6,000 for the event. We have additional that could be used if needed. My concern is that combined we have about $11,000 dollars in credit card/medical debt. Do we say the heck with it and have the wedding or go to court house and pay off most of the debt??
My fiance and I are beginning the steps to planning a wedding. We have budgeted $6,000 for the event. We have additional that could be used if needed. My concern is that combined we have about $11,000 dollars in credit card/medical debt. Do we say the heck with it and have the wedding or go to court house and pay off most of the debt??
January 8th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Get married at city hall for 20 bucks and pay off your debt
January 11th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
You don’t have to spend that much on a wedding. Have a simple ceremony and serve cake and punch. It is much better to have a down payment on a house or pay off your debts. Don’t throw it away on a wedding that will be over in a day.
January 12th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
My opinion: Do a low cost wedding, and throw a big party for your 5th anniversary.
There’s an article in the Southwest Airlines in-flight magazine this month about a woman who threw a party for 50 guests and only spent $100, while buying everything at a 99 cent store.
January 15th, 2010 at 2:54 am
It really depends on what is most important to the both of you.
Personally, I’d go for the debt free start. You could always have a little small back yard wedding with very little expense as a compromise.
The fact you ask the question leads me to believe a part of you thinks it would be nice to have the debt free start?
January 17th, 2010 at 11:26 pm
It really does depend on what is the priority in your life. My suggestion is to go to city hall (the license is about $60, a ceremony in LA, CA. is $35) and go to a nice restaurant with the people who are closest to you afterward to celebrate, then use the money you saved to pay down that debt. You want to give your marriage the best chance at succeeding, and money problems from the get-go is not a good way to start off your marriage.
You could also opt for a small chapel wedding.. I’ve seen some for 300 in Vegas, and still have a nice dinner afterwards and save money, but either way, the debt needs to be paid down. Good Luck!