Making decisions in a wedding daze

DURING the past month two of my primary school mates have married their sweethearts.

I’ve been a guest at both, and it’s got me thinking how I approach my own nuptials.

Followers of this column (if there are any) will know for me the wedding discussion is somewhat premature as I’m still entangled in online dating.

Nonetheless, I love weddings.

At the very least it gives me a chance to put on a suit, and it’s always clear love is in the air.

There’s something extremely pleasing about seeing a mate who I’ve grown up with — and got up to a fair amount of mischief with — get married.

Attending weddings as a single guy is not only an exercise in how much I can drink but also self-assessment.

In the days since the most recent wedding on Sunday, I’ve asked myself: What age should I get married? How much do I spend? How many people should I invite? Where and when should the reception be held?

It’s also important how my partner would answer these questions. I definitely want to get married in a church. Faith was a big part of my upbringing, plus I’ve already got a pretty good idea of the priest I’d like to officiate at my wedding. Reception-wise I'd want to get the speeches and other formalities over early so everyone has more time to let their hair down. A conversation with my mate who got married in January revealed his wedding spend was north of $30,000. A wedding is a momentous occasion but essentially you’re paying for others to have a good time. I’ve got no problem with that but I can’t help think the money could be better spent during the initial stages of what I hope is a lifelong union.

Do I travel and really live life with my partner before getting married?

Or do we use the money we would spend on a wedding to set up our financial future?

My mates married in style but not in a way I’d consider over the top.

There was no grand displays of wealth or 400-plus people on the guest lists.

I’ve given myself the yardstick of my oldest child being 18 years old when I turn 50.

So with that logic I’ll have to be married and have a child by 32 years old.

So I’d better get moving in the next four years.

Until that time I’ll get going — one online swipe at a time.