Happily Never After - Wedding Day Debt

Spring-time usually ushers in the season for weddings in any given year and this year is not an exception even with the recent financial crisis. However, there is a new development which may stir the course of many new marriages towards ‘the rocks’ from day one.

The wedding custom mostly used in the western world comes from the following poem:

“Something old, something new

Something borrowed, something blue

And a silver sixpence in her shoe.”

“Something old” symbolises the continuity of the bride’s family from the past one onwards. “Something new” stands for optimism and hope for the bride’s new life ahead. “Something borrowed” is usually an item from a happily married family member or friend. The item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her family and friends. “Something blue” symbolises purity. Blue used to be the most popular colour for wedding gowns in centuries gone past. As for the “silver sixpence in her shoe” this represents wealth and financial security for the new family.

With all that said, it seems new couples people capitalise on the “Something Borrowed” part of the wedding poem above. A recent report suggested taht the number of people borrowing to pay for their wedding has soared by 43% in the past 12 months.

The wedding day is supposed to be the beginning of a new life together for a couple, why start the married-life with debt?

“It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.” Marrying the one you love is a blessing but doing it with debt is sorrow. Believe me debt is sorrow because it will steal both your time (your life) and your money (in interest payments). Instead of using your money to prepare for the future together you will be using it to repair the mistakes of the past i.e. the debt incurred to pay for the wedding day.

If you don’t have the money for a ‘big’ wedding, go for a simple and affordable one. Don’t let the ‘happiest day of your life’ became one you will look back at with regrets. You don’t have to be like the proverbial “Joneses” to have a good wedding and on the other hand, having a one-of-a-kind wedding should not cost the earth.

If 'push comes to shove' and you still need to borrow, make sure you borrow in the cheapest way possible; you can afford the payments and you can pay all back within one year.

Remember that the wedding day lasts for only 24 hours but the marriage itself is for a lifetime. Don’t allow your story to end “Happily Never After” because of wedding day debt.