The average cost of a wedding in the US is somewhere around $30,000 and has been growing each and every year. When it comes to the budget for your wedding, you might be faced with some pretty difficult decisions. For a day with so much sentimental value, it is hard to look at things with a really practical eye! You might have trouble justifying cutting your costs, and decide that going into a bit of debt is worth it to you so that you can have the day that you desire. On the other hand, you might take a cold hard look at your numbers and decide to stick to your budget no matter what. Money is a very personal matter, and ultimately, the decision is going to be up to you! Here I’ve come up with some arguments that you might not have thought about.

When It’s Worth It

I’ve found that as I talk to married couples they usually say that getting married was the end of one chapter of life, and the beginning of a new one. After marriage people tend to feel like they have “settled down” a bit, and have a  lifestyle that supports career and family more than their single days did.  With this in mind, it makes sense to go into debt for your wedding. You are about to hunker down and work for a while, so of course you will be able to pay off your credit cards and loans! This mindset is especially appropriate if you or your hubby is just starting up a stable career with a promising outlook. You might not have money now, but you sure will in the future!

Yet another reason to go into debt is that you will remember your wedding day for life. Do you want to look back on an event in which you cut every corner possible, or do you want to look back on a five star day that was exactly as you’d always dreamed it would be? Going into debt for the items that are most significant to you makes sense when you look at it this way. Say you’ve been dreaming of your wedding day since you were a little girl. If you make that day happen, it might be worth it to you to pay it off for the next ten years! You’ll savor the memory forever, and it will be completely worth it to you to do what it takes to pay it off later.

When It’s Not Worth It

Going into debt for your wedding is not worth it if you tend to stress and worry about what you owe. You’ll be waking up with the money sweats each and every night, and start to resent your special day! Your wedding should be a positive experience that leaves you feeling loved, secure, and excited about your new life. In addition, don’t go into debt if you have no idea how in the world you will pay if off afterwards. Many couples who spontaneously overspend as the expenses rack up regret it immediately after. Think about your budget decisions really consciously, and don’t do anything rash. When you plan ahead, there are many ways to save money and stick to the essentials.

There are definitely times when going into debt to pay for a wedding is a good idea. If you truly value your big day and the memories you will be creating, than by all means buy the things that matter to you. You can look through wedding photo albums or play your first dance song each time you sit down to send a payment to the credit card company. But for some of us, going into debt is a really bad idea.

Are you happily considering going into debt for your wedding, or do you think it is a NO WAY scenario?

Share your opinion in the comments below! Let our community know so that we can all make smarter money decisions!