 TITLE: Should We Buy a House or Have a Wedding? CONTENT: Buy the House and Skip the Wedding\n----------------------------------\nAnd yet, buying a house is an appealing option. Although no one can predict how the housing market will go in the future, the difference between spending on a wedding and spending on a home is tangible: In one case you get a beautiful day and a meaningful rite of passage, but in the other you get real property you can live in for years. A home of your own is also an investment that can pay off down the road if its value grows.\nBefore you choose buying a house over paying for a wedding, make sure you're prepared for the long-term financial commitment. No question about it, getting married is also a massive commitment—one that's practical, spiritual and ideally lifelong. But buying a home is likely to be a decadeslong investment, and there can be real financial consequences if you don't pay your mortgage on time or you decide to sell before you've had a chance to build equity. You'll also be managing the costs of owning a home, which means paying for upgrades or repairs, insurance, maintenance and more. Maintaining a healthy emergency fund is just the first step in preparing for the financial unknowns that can come with home ownership.\nAnd though you aren't required to splurge on a fairytale wedding, if you forgo a big celebration in favor of putting down roots in a new home, you should have a wedding alternative that makes you both happy. That could mean putting off your wedding for a few years, going off to a romantic location and eloping, or staging a small but beautiful event with just a few close friends and family. END