How We're Splurging

Do you remember when I talked about the things Mr. M and I decided to forego?  Well, I thought it might be fun to share where the biggest portions of our budget are going.  The best part about saying no to some items is that it gives you the freedom to say yes to what’s most important to you.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, our community, faith and the marriage covenant we’re making will hopefully be the focal points of our day.  So, here are our biggest ticket items and the elements of our wedding I’m most excited splurging for:

Our Photographer.  Mr. M and I want to remember this life-changing day for the rest of our lives.  Our wedding will be a monument of sorts that we will look to remember 1.) why we chose to marry one another and, 2.) that we’re in this for the long-haul, “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”  Our photos will be a reminder of the promise that we made to one another.

Our pastor.  College was a transformative time for me as I processed who I am and what I believe, and worked through some past relationships that I had experienced and observed.  Throughout college, a local pastor and his family walked with me through this season of life.  This same pastor is friends with Mr. M and mentored him some through college.  Suffice it to say, when it came time to ask someone to officiate our ceremony, we knew we wanted to ask him.  We knew that he would speak directly and meaningfully to us as couple, and that he would capture the essence of what we believe about marriage.  Our pastor has since moved south, but we decided we wanted to fly him up for our ceremony (and gift him an honorarium) to officiate our ceremony.

Food.  I’m a firm believer in the power of food.  A friend of mine once described it as an “equalizer,” meaning it creates a shared experience for people to have a context to engage one another.  We’re looking forward to serving our guests appetizers, a good meal, and yummy cupcakes for dessert.  We think this will be the “fuel” for the party, and it is a way that we can practically love our community.

Like I said in a previous post, these aren’t “right vs. wrong” decisions but “right vs. left.”  Mr. M and I have tried to make decisions about our wedding that will take us the direction we want to go.  I think the key to being a budget savvy bride is knowing who you are as a couple, and having the confidence to make decisions that are consistent with your values.  If that’s how you plan your wedding, you’ll find your day will be perfect because you’ll be thrilled with what you have versus focusing on what you said “no” to.