Planning a Wedding – Part 1

Are you planning a wedding?

Weddings have become big business. An online study reports that the average cost is now around $33,000, and over half the couples surveyed went over budget. Influenced by Pinterest and Instagram, magazines, blogs, and more, plans can easily get out of hand. Your wedding is a significant moment in time, but it’s just one day in your life. Once married, you will share many days together, Lord willing. While barns, beaches, and destination weddings make great social media posts, there’s beauty in church weddings, where couples are celebrated by the congregation in a setting conducive to worship. Some churches have fellowship halls for a reception, an outdoor pavilion, or space to set up a tent. I’ve officiated a home wedding and one in a park. Both were beautiful, and the couples were spared great expense. Receptions held in venues not typically used for weddings can also be less expensive. Just make sure you understand the rules for catering, and read the contract in its entirety before signing.

It’s important to renew your heart and mind with an eternal perspective of your wedding day. Choose simplicity over stress and financial margin over debt. It’s a matter of stepping back in order to think realistically. Spend time focused in prayer. Make peace with what you can really afford. Give thanks for your future spouse, and ask the Lord to be at the center of all your plans. Make your ceremony a special time to worship Him as you dedicate your lives to one another.

And if you’re stressed out over credit card debt, Christian Credit Counselors can really help. They can create a debt management plan specifically for you. For more information, visit online at crown.org/ccc.