"10 Compelling Reasons to Have a Wedding Despite the Costs and Efforts"
2018.01.26 published
It Costs Money and Takes Effort. Is a Wedding Really Necessary?
Organizing a wedding is extremely challenging. It costs money, it takes effort, and honestly, it can be a bit of a hassle.
You just want to live happily and modestly with your beloved partner. Yet, it’s hard to understand the purpose of having a wedding as a spectacle for so many people… Surely, there are those who feel this way.
Nevertheless, a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Beyond enjoying a happy day, there are benefits to having a wedding! In this article, we will introduce the merits of holding a wedding.
The Benefits of Having a Wedding ① A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity for Important People to Gather
A wedding allows you to invite important people in your life and spend the day surrounded by your loved ones.
There aren't many opportunities to gather your parents, siblings, relatives, friends, mentors, and colleagues all in one place.
It is said that there are three occasions in life when many gather for you: “when you are born, when you get married, and when you pass away.”
You obviously don’t remember the day you were born, and when you pass away, you won’t be there anymore.
Therefore, the best chance in life to have your loved ones come together for you is at your wedding. If you miss this opportunity, you may never have all your dear ones in the same place, enjoying a pleasant time together again.
Even if you feel you do not want to have a wedding now or that there’s no need, gathering important people later on can be quite difficult. A wedding is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for your loved ones to meet all at once.
The Benefits of Having a Wedding ② Marking a New Milestone in Life
The second benefit of having a wedding is that it allows you to create a new milestone in your life.
Without a wedding, a new life may just begin without much fanfare. This is especially true if you've been cohabitating for a long time. After all, getting married can be done with just a piece of paperwork.
However, if you only submit the marriage registration and casually start a married life, it could lead to a life without a definitive structure. Until now, you have marked important milestones like school entrance ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, coming-of-age ceremonies, and company onboarding ceremonies. But when it comes to marriage, you have to lay down the tracks yourself for this new beginning.
Having a "wedding" as a starting point minimizes confusion, as there is a clear milestone to return to if needed.
The Benefits of Having a Wedding ③ Expressing Gratitude to Parents
Being able to express gratitude to your parents is another benefit of having a wedding.
Have you thanked your parents for raising you up till now? It's likely that only a few people actually directly express their gratitude, right?
A wedding can serve as a platform to show appreciation to your parents. For the parents, it is also a proud moment to see their grown daughter or son stepping into a new life. There aren’t many parents who would feel happy about "not having a wedding."
Your parents surely want you to leave some form of a memorable moment, even if it’s modest. They would see their daughter or son, dressed formally and stepping into a new phase of life, as a shining moment. If you can express even a few words of "thank you for everything," that may be the ultimate tribute to your parents.
The Benefits of Having a Wedding ④ Understanding Each Other’s Personalities, Values, and Financial Sense
Preparing for a wedding can be quite tough. However, this challenging preparation can help you understand each other’s personalities, values, and financial perspectives better.
In your previous relationship, you may not have had many opportunities to plan or act together for a common goal. Thus, a wedding is essentially a significant collaborative project for the first time.
Someone you thought was easygoing may turn out to be impatient, or a seemingly meticulous person may actually be quite laid-back. Additionally, you need to share what you prioritize in spending money on.
It's natural for disagreements about the wedding preparations to arise. However, because of those disagreements, you must communicate properly, allowing both of you to understand each other better.
Without holding a wedding, understanding values and financial attitudes can be difficult. For example, when buying a car or a house, or when having children, not knowing each other's values could lead to major conflicts.
The Benefits of Having a Wedding ⑤ Reevaluating Relationships
Holding a wedding can also allow you to reevaluate your relationships. There may be people you have casually interacted with until now, but planning a wedding forces you to think about each one intentionally.
Deciding whom to invite or not to invite to the secondary celebration can potentially change your relationships, for better or worse. The act of reevaluating relationships may not happen at all if you do not have a wedding.
You may wonder if it is really necessary to reevaluate relationships, but decluttering your connections is essential. Moreover, considering the people in your life can help you become more empathetic and build trust.
The Benefits of Having a Wedding ⑥ Understanding Family Relationships
Another advantage of holding a wedding is that it helps you understand family dynamics. You may not be familiar with each other's family relationships and, without a wedding, you might find yourself having to greet each relative individually.
Family relationships can vary significantly from household to household. Whether or not to have a wedding, it’s preferable to maintain those relationships.
If you're asked, "Why didn't you have a wedding?" it could be a bit awkward. Plus, understanding the boundaries of each family’s relations, as well as whether greetings are necessary, can be tricky.
However, if you hold a wedding, it clarifies family relationships. You can consult with your parents about whom to invite and inform those not invited through a "wedding announcement postcard."
Generally speaking, most people expect weddings to happen, and those who don't might be confused about how to offer their congratulations.
The Benefits of Having a Wedding ⑦ Avoiding Future Regrets
If you have a wedding, you are unlikely to experience regrets like “I should have had a wedding after all.” Even if you feel no need for a wedding now, in the future, when your friends are marrying off, or if you have children, you might find yourself thinking, "I really wish I had a wedding."
Most people hardly ever think, “I wish I hadn’t had a wedding.” Typically, regretting not doing something is more impactful than regretting having done it.
Therefore, if you have a feeling that not having a wedding might lead to regret later, it might be better to go ahead and have one since it's a unique opportunity.
The Benefits of Having a Wedding ⑧ Lowering Divorce Rates
It is said that having a wedding decreases the likelihood of divorce. Given that you receive gifts from friends and colleagues during the wedding, this can make it harder to impulsively decide on divorce.
While divorce might not be inherently negative, ideally, once you marry, you want to spend your life together with your partner as much as possible.
The happy memories from the wedding and the blessings from others, coupled with the financial contributions, contribute to a lower divorce rate for couples who have held a wedding.
The Benefits of Having a Wedding ⑨ Sharing Photos and Stories with Your Children
By having a wedding, when you eventually have children, you can share wedding photos and videos with them.
Have you ever seen photos or videos of your parents' wedding? Those who have would likely feel a mix of embarrassment and pride seeing their parents look so happy and in love.
By having a wedding, you can create similar experiences for your children. Additionally, when they say they want to have a wedding in the future, you can offer them advice, reflecting your life experiences.
The Benefits of Having a Wedding ⑩ Enjoying Happy Moments
The greatest benefit of having a wedding is the chance to enjoy happy moments.
Your dear ones gather together to celebrate and rejoice in your love and commitment. There’s nothing that compares to such joy!
Even if you are currently uncertain about whether to have a wedding, when you do, you are sure to think, "I’m so glad I had one!" There are many joyful experiences in life, but among them, a wedding can be exceptional in happiness.
While It Costs Money and Takes Effort, I'm Glad I Had a Wedding!
We have shared the benefits of having a wedding. While planning a wedding is brief, it requires a substantial amount of money, time for preparation, and can be a hassle involving many people.
However, the advantages of a wedding far outweigh the disadvantages. If you are pondering over your wedding, take time to reassess the benefits it offers. Consider whether this unique opportunity to celebrate with your beloved is necessary for both your lives.