The world is pushing for more emphasis on the wedding and less emphasis in the marriage. In this episode, Gary and Christy talk about the ceremony which usually starts a marriage and ask, “Are weddings worth it?” The average cost of a wedding is around $30,000. Engagement rings, dresses, decorations, locations, and so much more are involved in weddings. However, while preparing for the ceremony, do we lose focus on what we’re celebrating: the beginning of a marriage? Is the couple prepared for their life together? Will the wedding put them under a financial strain before their marriage even begins?

When considering whether a wedding is “worth it” (i.e. a ceremony that’s aligned with the values and principles God commands us to follow – you know, true spiritual worth):

• Remember the amount of money spent on the wedding is not a measure of the couple’s love for each other.
• The wedding day is about commitment – of the couple to Christ and to each other. It’s not a competition to showcase our wealth and try to impress others.
• Christ should be the focal point, not a footnote.
• It’s an opportunity to showcase God’s love

Finally, for married couples who have an opportunity to influence engaged couples, let’s encourage future spouses to focus on God and the marriage. Sometimes we think engaged couples aren’t focused on the marriage because they don’t talk about it as much as the wedding. Is it because no one asks them about anything except the wedding?

Links

• “Keeping Up With the Joneses” https://thelightnetwork.tv/bountifuls1e9/
• https://www.moneyunder30.com/how-to-have-an-awesome-budget-wedding
• https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2501480
• https://www.moneytalksnews.com/slideshows/survey-reveals-the-10-biggest-wedding-regrets/?all
• https://blog.marketresearch.com/the-wedding-industry-in-2017-and-beyond
• https://www.americangemsociety.org/page/diamondasengagement