Im going to try to keep this as much to the point as possible. My future Husband is wanting to elope.
We have been planning for a wedding next October. He is a police officer, and there was a recent shooting of a young officer that has him very disturbed. Last month I also had a close friends boyfriend taken from her in a crash, and he has seen her mourning.
He is afraid of dying before he becomes my husband. He is afraid of being on life support and his family not honoring what he and I have discussed. He is afraid of something happening and us losing our house, since it is in his name. And to be honest, I have all the same fears, especially lately as Ive had to approach death more realistically.
So the two options weve been discussing are Eloping, and just using the money we would be using towards a wedding to pay off our house and start a family sooner. or to take out a loan and get married in 6 months instead of 13.
I mean really, its just one day. a party really... should I really spend all that money?
then again, a wedding lets me walk down the aisle, and have the pictures, family to come to town, the memories, and as stupidly enough I really want to wear a wedding dress.
We have already decided on a living will and legally making me his POA, but we are pretty set on expediting this. What do you think? Is it dumb to take on a debt? should I suck it up and get eloped?
We had a discussion on it tonight, and he has left it to me to decide. We decided we would discuss it again in a few days when we have had the time to really weigh our options.
Re: Practical vs Ideal (elope???)
That being said, you can move up your wedding if you want, but I wouldn't take out a loan for a party.
I really want to reapproach the conversation when his head is in a more positive way. A therapist would be a great idea, I can try to look them up, im not sure where to start, but im sure google can help me there.
That being said, I agree with not taking out a loan. You are under enough stress and no need to add to that!! I also agree that getting married won't assuage any fears you or your DH may have about dying and dealing with all of the financial fallout of death. We kept our finances separate after our marriage (and have a prenup), but to secure things in case of a death, we had a living trust put into place a year prior to marrying. It lays everything out and we didn't even need to be husband and wife.
I am currently living with stage 4 metastatic cancer. Chances are I have four or five more years - maybe more. It is in God's hands. I have already set things up for my husband and adult children's future. There will be no panic decisions when I die. I'm going to die the way I choose. If I get hit by a bus tomorrow, my plans are ready.
If the two of you are at all religious, I suggest you find a good, supportive church. Facing the future is part of what religion is FOR!
You have more than two options. If his issue is simply that he wants to move the wedding date forward, that can be solved without going into debt.
Have a traditional wedding. You wear the white dress, walk down the aisle, have the pictures, etc.. Have it in the daytime, and serve a brunch. (Half the cost of an evening dinner reception!) An afternoon ceremony with sandwiches, cake and punch is even cheaper, and very traditional. The most expensive part of a wedding is the reception. You don't need to have a full dinner with open bar!
I agree with everyone else that a wedding isn't treatment for anxiety , but it sounds like the only thing stopping you from eloping is a pretty dress and family, and you can have those pretty cheaply. No invitations, music, flowers , photographer, wedding party needed.
If you do want to speed up the wedding, but don't want to sacrifice the big, traditional party, there are lots of ways to do it. I planned my first wedding in 3 months for only a few thousand bucks. We had a sit-down dinner reception in a hotel ballroom with awesome food and an open bar and all that. Get creative with your date -- off-season weddings will save you money. Friday nights will save you money. Find a used dress on www.oncewed.com or eBay or Craigslist (mine was a big, beautiful Alfred Angelo ballgown, brand new with tags, which I found on eBay for $75). The dollar store is a wealth of cheap decor options. There are ways!
But I agree with pp's that you need to address legal and mental issues that are causing you to move the date. good luck.
These rules are not difficult.
1. Invitations must include both persons who are in a committed relationship. You can't invite just half of a couple.
2. People who are invited to your ceremony must be invited to a reception afterwards, on the same day, preferable immediately after your ceremony. You MUST provide food and drink at the reception, at least cake and punch, depending on the time of day. Nothing wrong with pizza or burgers, either. This is a way of thanking your guests for attending your ceremony.
3. You must hand write a thank you note to each person who gives you a gift, ASAP.
Notice that these rules say nothing about a white dress and veil, open bar, dancing, bouquet tossing, or any other wedding TRADITIONS.