I used to be the girl who wanted the big wedding, the dress, and the confetti and fireworks. I wanted to have 100-plus people in attendance, a big bridal party, the most amazing bachlorette party, the big and beautiful engagement ring, the classy reception with the most expensive caterer. I wanted it all.

I wanted the wedding.

I didn't consider that I would have to make sure that the people in attendance were there for me and my husband. I didn't think about how many people I would be friends with the day I got married to have them in my wedding party. I didn't think about the time that goes into planning everything and consulting my husband because I wanted what I wanted. I didn't care what he or anybody else would say or wanted.

It wasn't until I got older and started dating that before the wedding, I have to make sure I can:

It's no secret that marriages have seen a huge decline in the recent decade. In 2010, married couples make up less than half of all households - compare that to the 78% of marriages in the 1950s. The divorce rate is at an all time high - about 40 to 50 percent of married couples in the United States divorce. Many people, typically couples fresh out of college, are more focused on getting married because they got engaged in college that they don't focus enough on stabilizing their careers and making sure that they are in fact ready to get married and not just plan a wedding.

Anybody can plan a wedding, but only two people can get married and make the marriage long lasting and love filled. It takes work and as a product of a divorced household, I am willing to put more work into my marriage than I am into planning my wedding. My husband and I could get married in our backyard surrounded by 10 people and I would be okay.

You can always have a wedding, but the real work is within the marriage. Communication is the biggest key to having a successful marriage. A wedding can go as smoothly as possible, but it means nothing if you and your husband fight three times a day every week after that wedding. Then, you'll be looking at an annulment.

Now, couples are getting married young, typically before the age of 24 - this isn't to knock those who are absolutely head over heels in love with their partner. Sometimes, younger couples have children and want to be married so their kids can grow up in a house with both parents or the couple wants to have children early so they enjoy their later adulthood lives. There are circumstances to where they want to get married young and that's okay! Whatever the case may be and if you are one of those couples, I wish you nothing but the best and I hope you have the happiest and love filled lives together.

But to the rest who are watching their friends fall in love and get engaged, understand that 9 times out of 10, you aren't dreaming about finding a dream guy - you're dreaming about the wedding.