Let’s be real. I know a lot of students are going to get married while at ACU or right after graduation. We can talk honestly here. We’re all in this together. Say it with me. Weddings. Cost. Too. Much. Money.

According to The Wedding Report, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. was almost $26,000 in 2017. In the Austin-Round Rock area, which is where I’m moving after I graduate, the average wedding cost was about $29,000. That sounds pretty insane to me. My fiancé and I are trying to do the whole thing for under $10,000 and paying for it ourselves.

Currently, my fiancé has a full-time job (in Austin) and is working in a booming career field. When I graduate, I could be struggling to find a job in the first place. That puts us in a predicament – he might have to be the sole provider – which is not ideal in a city like Austin. Planning a wedding is already stressful enough, not considering all of the different transitions we’ll be going through.

Why do weddings have to be so expensive? I think that tops the frequently asked questions by couples everywhere. Women pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for a dress they wear once (or twice, depending on whether you decide to take wedding photos before or after the fact) and then store it away for Lord knows how long. You and your partner rent a venue for the special day that could cost thousands of dollars as well.

Weddings should be special- I agree with that. But spending thousands of dollars on them should not be what makes them special. Weddings should be focused on you and your future spouse. Not on the flowers that sit on the tables for hours and look wilted by the end of the day – or the food the couple decides to serve.

As far as I know, nobody looks back on someone’s wedding and says, “Man, they had disposable napkins during the reception instead of cloth. Yikes.” No. They say, “Wow, that wedding was beautiful, what a special day for everyone.”

So, fellow students getting married, if you and your future spouse are paying for a wedding by yourselves like I am, don’t be afraid to look for more affordable options.

When I say, “more affordable,” that doesn’t have to mean, “cheap.” My fiancé and I were able to cut down on wedding costs by choosing to have it on a Monday, because it sliced the venue price in half. We also chose to have it in the morning so we don’t have to serve alcohol – which was another costly thing.

And for my fellow students getting married and receiving financial help from family members or others, don’t take it for granted. Make sure they know you appreciate their help. My previous advice also applies here – don’t be afraid of more affordable options.

At the end of the day, no one is going to care whether you had disposable or cloth napkins. They’re going to care about you and your spouse and what a beautiful day it was for everyone.