Marriage or Mortgage: How to Have Both

Netflix’s latest series Marriage or Mortgage is mildly infuriating. Mildly, because it’s like HGTV meets TLC, and who doesn’t love to binge a good reality show? But infuriating because it continues to support the biggest myth of our time, which is that you have to spend a fortune to get married.

If you haven’t already watched it, the 10-episode series features engaged couples who have saved up for their future and are now faced with a conundrum of how to spend their funds: on their dream wedding or their dream home. It’s hosted by a wedding planner and a realtor, who playfully compete for the couples’ funds. The realtor finds a home that checks all the couples’ boxes and the wedding planner pulls out all the stops to create an over-the-top wedding.

Spoiler alert! After its premiere, thousands took to social media in shock at how many couples chose the wedding over a home.

This mindset of only being able to afford one or the other is one of the most common misconceptions to date. And it’s simply not true.

Let me say it loud and clear: it is absolutely possible to plan the wedding of your dreams without spending all your savings. You can create a wedding experience that is simply the best day ever and still have the funds to buy your dream home. You can have a marriage AND a mortgage.

How can you have both? Elope.

Eloping doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your dream wedding. Yes, you can still invite your parents and friends. Yes, you can still wear your dream dress. Yes, you can still have awesome photos. Yes, you can still have an amazing after-party. Heck, you can even have the ranch fountain if you want.

Eloping gives you the freedom to design your wedding day from start to finish. It also gives you the flexibility to do so in a way that is affordable, so you and your partner don’t have to begin your life together with wedding debt hanging over your head.

Whether you have a private elopement with just you and your partner or a small wedding with your loved ones, you have plenty of options.

Here are some of our favorite ways to have your dream wedding without breaking the bank (or spending your house fund!):

Backyard Wedding

Probably one of the most convenient and affordable options, a backyard wedding allows you to get as fancy or as casual as you want. Depending on the season and location, you can have a completely natural backdrop or add minimal decor to the setting. String some cafe lights overhead to keep the party going through the evening. Use plants as centerpieces and bring the bar outside. Who knows, maybe you’ll buy your dream house and have the wedding in your new backyard — the epitome of having a marriage and a mortgage!

Elope Now, Party Later

If celebrating with friends and family is really important, considering eloping, then having a bigger party later. You can have a big backyard party, a BBQ in a park, or go away to rent a big cabin and party with your friends all weekend.

This is a great option for those who don’t want to wait to get married but want to save up for a big bash with all of your loved ones.

City Hall Ceremony

Who says City Hall ceremonies can’t be romantic and glamorous? Of course, you can get married in your own city. You can also go somewhere totally new or somewhere meaningful to tie the knot. City Hall doesn’t mean a boring and stuffy setting either. Some places have an absolutely gorgeous City Hall, like in San Francisco.

Have your short and sweet City Hall ceremony, then go off to celebrate at a restaurant or by doing one of your favorite activities together.

Destination Wedding

A destination wedding doesn’t have to break the bank. It can be as extravagant or simple as you choose. Maybe you go to Hawaii or the Florida Keys to have a white sandy beach ceremony. If the mountains are calling, you can go to Colorado or Idaho. Maybe the desert is more your vibe and you go to Moab or Las Vegas.

It’s basically being on vacation, but you also get to marry your person. Plus, a destination elopement is also the perfect way to go straight into honeymoon mode.

Adventure Elopement

For the free spirits, the explorers, and the wild ones. Consider an adventure elopement, where you and your honey hike into a remote location surrounded by nature. It’s truly one of the most affordable ways to elope, as you have no decor or guests to accommodate. These are some of our favorite elopements because they are so reflective of the couple. Not to mention the photos are pretty epic!

At the end of the day, your wedding day is about you and your partner. It’s the start of your life together. If spending thousands of dollars on that day isn’t what you truly want, give yourself permission to honor that. It is totally possible to have a wonderful wedding and buy a beautiful home where you will build your life together.

Get in touch with us to learn how to bring your wedding dreams to life, without breaking the bank.

Written by Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. As an expert in the field, she has been featured on Martha Stewart, Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.