Copyright (c) 2010 Stephanie Lopez

Recently while in casual conversation I overheard someone talking about how she knows of a couple who spent $25,000 on their wedding and then it happened to be annulled less than a year later. She went on to comment about her quaint little beach wedding that cost only $3000. Possibly you are thinking that this is a terrible and depressing thought and how tragic it is to contemplate a marriage ending before it has even begun. I hate to see marriages dissolved, but I think that there is a bright side and a happy ending. This situation portrays the signs of the times and what is really meaningful.

It's becoming more and more popular to stand up and be frugal. When there is financial uncertainty people tend to hold on a little tighter to their dollars. It's important that even when things are more stable to still be smart with your money; whether in wedding planning or life in general. Do your own research and make your dollars stretch to their fullest length. Even if people think you are being a cheapskate don't hesitate to hold your head up high. The moral is that it doesn't matter how much you spend on your wedding, or how extravagant it is; it matters that you are celebrating two people coming together to make a commitment.

Is it really possible to have a nice wedding for only $3000? Of course it is! I can speak from experience, because mine was less than that. One brilliant option is eloping. There are plenty of all-inclusive resorts that have entire wedding experiences planned to the "T". They take care of all the little details from the witnesses to the marriage certificate. On the other hand if you are wishing for a more local setting there are venues that can work with nearly any budget. The décor can be obtained through renting, borrowing and using some creativity and craft skills. Try thinking outside of the box and not necessarily expecting what you find in all the popular wedding magazines.

Be certain that you are in love with your fiancé and not in love with the idea of getting married. Imagine your lives in 30 years; do you find yourself content and willing to be with the same person for all of your life? Treat your marriage commitment as though it can't be dissolved so easily. Don't let the pressure of society or loved ones make you think something that you aren't already. Getting married solves no unresolved issues that aren't already addressed before arriving at the alter. In most cases adding the stress of long term commitment to an already unhealthy relationship can spell sure disaster.

No one wants to think about separation, annulments and divorce while they are planning their wedding. The truth of it is that we all know that half of all marriages will end in divorce. In order to prevent yourself from becoming another statistic try to be the kind of person that you would like to marry. Don't sell yourself or your fiancé short.