Unconstitutional
I think a regular living expense budget is a huge part of people's everyday life. In my humble opinion having a budget makes you responsible. Every Sunday morning I sit on my bed, open up our online checking accounts, bust out my calendar, and I revise and edit our home budget for the upcoming week. It's my ritual.
With that being said I have a little confession......
(Clears throat for dramatic suspense) Ahem - -
We do not have a wedding budget.
"WAIT!!! WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?"
I know that you are gasping and clutching your pearls!!!
I guess when I introduce it like that: "oh having a budget makes you responsible!"
It does seem a little crazy to say "oh and by the way I don't have a budget for my wedding."
Hear me out first, because there is a method to my madness.
I'm pretty much a walking, talking, living, breathing, human oxymoron slash anomaly. On the outside I'm "All American," straight laced, polished, and put together.
But my inner self is more free spirited, creative, artsy kinda like a Lisa Bonet meets Solange Knowles:
When I talk about my wedding to people and they find out that we're kinda 'winging it,' they are VERY shocked. I do have a wedding planner, and a lot of family with a lot of great ideas. But for the most part this wedding is kinda like my "creative expression."
Yeahhh that "creative expression" quote was pretty cheesy.
But what can I say it's the truth. This wedding is my very own "creative expression." And I take full ownership of it because "The Fiance" only checks in when it's absolutely necessary. This fool had the nerve to say
"when is the wedding October 31st?"
Then here I go, "NOOO!! Babe' that's Halloween the wedding is November 8th, November 8th, NOVEMBER 8TH!"
Then here he goes, "oh yeah because my vacation starts on November 9th!"
REALLY!!!??!?!
How did that Beyonce song go???
BUT, I digress.
Back when I was doing the 9-5 thing not having a budget was a little easier. I would put a few coins to the side, and whenever we wanted to get something for the wedding we just got it. It really was that simple. If we couldn't afford it we would wait until we could afford it. Or we would find something comparable that we could afford and purchase that instead.
When I have conversations about my wedding with others they ALWAYS ask about things in relative relation to price. It really is ASTONISHING how interested people are about how much a person spends on a wedding. I had to catch myself because I was starting to get caught up in the whole price thing on a few occasions.
It's hard to not get caught up in the wedding price wars, because people make you feel bad, guilty, and/or, dare I say it, irresponsible if you're not counting the price of every envelope and stamp you purchase.
Not having a budget for our wedding doesn't mean that we're not being smart about how we spend. I prefaced this post by stating that every Sunday I revise our home expense budget. I'm the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of this household. I know what's coming in and what's going out. So after revising our home budget if I see that we have an extra $80 bucks lying around we may forgo a romantic evening in exchange for an upgrade on the invitations.
We unintentionally made the decision to not have a budget. After hiring our wedding planner, going through the motions of securing a date, then changing the date, we decided to stick with the "go with the flow" theme and not have a budget. Why? This is where I differ from a lot of people. Why, well because I never put a price tag on experiences.
In closing, while my wedding appears to have a 'running tab' I would not make a case encouraging other brides to ditch their wedding budgets. I also wouldn't judge a bride who told me she didn't have a budget. The whole "wedding" "marriage" experience is just that your personal experience. There is not right or wrong way to get married or have a wedding. We're all just trying to do the best we can, and keep our sanity.
Sincerely,
The Anti-Bride
Twitter: @theantibride
Email: theantibride2013@gmail.com
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