While I understand the appeal of a wedding and the focus it places on the couple's love for each other and the future they will share, it's not for me. The planning process and the thought of being the center of attention for an entire day causes me more stress than enjoyment. Additionally, there are numerous other ways I would prefer to allocate the funds that would be spent on a wedding. Here are a few examples.

1. A European Vacation

I would rather spend my money on a grand honeymoon trip across Europe than on a lavish wedding. Imagine sipping wine beneath the Eiffel Tower, taking in the beauty of the Parthenon in Athens, indulging in pasta in Rome, and lounging on the beaches of Barcelona. These experiences will be far more memorable than a fancy four-course meal that will be forgotten the next day, clothes that will never be worn again, and a cake that no one will eat. The world is vast, and there's so much to explore, so I would much rather invest in these unique experiences.

2. A Down Payment On A House

Since we plan on spending our lives together, we will eventually live together and hope to buy a property instead of wasting our finances on rent. However, accumulating a reasonable down payment for a house requires time and dedication, and it will certainly take much longer if we spend the next five years repaying a 20K wedding debt.

3. A Custom Built Library

My dream has always been to have a personal library, complete with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a sliding ladder, similar to the one featured in Beauty and the Beast. By avoiding the expense of a wedding, I can fulfill this aspiration and have plenty of extra funds to purchase all the classic books that are still on my to-read list.

4. A Whole New Wardrobe

I'll no longer have to settle for basic clothing from Old Navy or H&M. By utilizing the funds that would have been spent on a wedding, I can now purchase high-quality items such as $150 jeans or that leather jacket that has caught my eye. Furthermore, I am confident that everything I buy will be well-worn, unlike a $4000 wedding dress that would have only gathered dust in the back of my closet before being donated.

5. A New Car

The expense of an average wedding is ample enough to purchase a new vehicle with all the latest features. I don't require anything extravagant, just a car with practical features like power locks, satellite radio, and good gas mileage. Owning a car will eliminate the need for public transportation and allow me to go on road trips with ease. Additionally, not having to select my grocery purchases based on what I can carry home makes owning a vehicle more practical than having a wedding.

6. Paying Off My Student Loan In Full

Paying off my substantial student loan through installments gives me the impression that I'm not advancing financially, and it appears that I will most likely be paying it off for the remainder of my life. However, if I could make a single large payment and never have to think about it again, I would be thrilled. It begs the question, if I can afford a grand wedding, why can't I afford to pay off my debt first?

7. A Robust Savings Account

The sensation of saving money has always been gratifying to me. Observing the balance grow consistently and having a financial safety net in case of unexpected situations outweighs the trouble of developing a budget. Furthermore, putting money aside for something I genuinely desire gives me a sense of achievement. However, a wedding isn't something that I'm enthusiastic about, so I'm not going to cut expenses in other areas simply to save up for one.

8. Hair Cuts And Color For The Next 20 Years

I'm someone who enjoys pampering my hair. I indulge in visiting quaint, boutique hair salons where they offer a relaxing scalp massage while washing my hair. Even if it means paying a high price for a simple haircut, it's one of those things I'm willing to splurge on. If I have a huge wedding debt to pay off, it would significantly affect my hair budget, and that's something I'm not comfortable with.

9. A Live-in Chef

Why spend money on one catered meal for 200 people when I can have numerous catered meals for myself in the convenience of my home? Just imagine the amount of money I would save on dining out!

10. A Donation To A Worthy Charity

There are many people and causes in the world that require my thousands of dollars more than I require an extravagant wedding. At least that way, I would be making a difference by assisting someone instead of falling into debt just to be the focal point of attention for a single day.