What Do You Mean You Can't Afford to Get Married?

A simple wedding ceremony outdoors.

One of the saddest things I hear as a celebrant is couples saying, "We can't afford to get married."

My heart sinks every time.

Not because weddings don't cost money—they certainly can—but because somewhere along the way we've been convinced that a wedding has to be a huge production with a designer dress, twelve bridesmaids, a luxury venue, a three-course meal and enough decorations to rival a Hollywood movie set.

If that's your dream, wonderful! There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting the big celebration with all the bells and whistles.

But here's the thing.

A wedding doesn't have to look like anyone else's.

Your wedding should reflect who you are as a couple, your values, your personalities and your budget.

I've been to weddings in beautiful gardens, on beaches, beside rivers, in backyards, under giant trees, in community halls and in places that held special meaning for the couple. Every single one was memorable because of the love being celebrated—not because of how much money was spent.

The truth is that weddings come in all shapes and sizes.

Want to stand barefoot on a beach at sunrise with just your closest family around you? Perfect.

Dreaming of a relaxed picnic wedding under the gum trees? Wonderful.

Would you rather spend money on a future house deposit, travel adventure or family goals than on chair covers and centrepieces? That's perfectly okay too.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing ideas for creating a beautiful wedding without spending years saving for it. We'll look at affordable venues, creative catering ideas, budget-friendly dresses, decorations that look amazing without costing a fortune, and unique themes that can make your day unforgettable.

Because getting married shouldn't be something you put off indefinitely because of the price tag attached to modern weddings.

Marriage is about making promises to each other.

The wedding is simply the way you choose to celebrate those promises.

And trust me—some of the most beautiful weddings I've ever witnessed were also some of the simplest.

Love doesn't have a minimum spend requirement.