But, here I am today, writing a post about why having a wedding makes sense. Actually, not only does it make sense, I think it’s one of the most valuable and illuminating experiences you can possibly have with your partner.

Planning a wedding serves as a good litmus test for some of the most important things you two will address throughout your relationship:

Reason #1: Weddings are ridiculously expensive

The more logical solution would be to take a small number of guests out to nice dinners to celebrate your marriage, so you could actually enjoy the extended company of those loved ones. Not only would you be able to celebrate your marriage in a way that only this particular set of loved ones can offer, but you’d also probably save a lot of money as... See more

It really struck me then that a wedding is not about you nor your partner – it’s about everyone else. It’s to celebrate the impact your loved ones have had on your ability to grow together, and reaffirming the investments in one another’s Happiness Portfolios. Sure, you might only get to spend 2 minutes with each guest during the course of the... See more

Do our friends support our growth, both individually and collectively?

Reason #2: Weddings reward egocentric behavior

Weddings seemed like an antiquated rite of passage, implanted into the mainstream consciousness by greedy corporate interests. Through our need for social approval, this manmade ritual became the ultimate status symbol, being conducted by couples across the world to satisfy the expectations of parents, friends, and society in general.

I like to call these moments time investments, and this is when you dedicate sustained periods of time to certain people or endeavors that bring you long-term satisfaction. The return you get from this investment does not come immediately, but more so as a consistent, ever-morphing route toward happiness from spending your time intentionally. When... See more