It was late at night on a Tuesday like any other, but Hillary Byrd was typing on her laptop faster than ever to wrap up a project for her MBA. Next to her laptop, however, lay an open binder full of quotes, mood boards, seating charts and invitation designs. She sighed as she submitted her assignment. She had finished her schoolwork, but she still hadn't heard back from her dream wedding venue.
For students like Byrd, a 21-year-old business and administration graduate student from Leakesville and a 2026 bride-to-be, college does not stop wedding planning.
According to recent research, though only abut 6% of young Americans aged 18 to 23 are married, the rate in the South is higher, reaching 7.41% in 2023.
Getting married while in college is a choice that can bring joy but also intense stress. Studies show that married students report stress in time management and lower involvement in campus engagement. Byrd’s experiences show the three biggest challenges students navigate during this life-changing moment: money, time and mental health.
According to a Mississippi State University study, money is one of the leading causes of stress among student couples who are planning on getting married during college.
Byrd would spend her mornings and afternoons at work and once home, she would dedicate her time to budgeting and making plans for her wedding. Between books, tuition, rent and bills, the expenses seemed to add up faster than she and her fiancé could keep up with them. One night, while eating leftovers from the night before, the two made a plan. No more daily runs to the coffee shop for an iced coffee and a pastry, no more loaded teas and no more impulsive online shopping.
“We had to start budgeting and hold back on our daily treats; it was sad but necessary,” said Byrd. “My fiancé and I wanted to take care of most of our wedding expenses without loaning money or asking our parents to financially support us.”
While Byrd was budgeting to save for her dream wedding, another Southern Miss student took a different route. Logan Sexton, a 25-year-old senior computer science major from Ocean Springs, got married in May of 2025 at the Purvis courthouse.
After trying to plan a traditional wedding, he and his wife realized that the cost and the stress were too overwhelming for them at that time of their life. Instead, they settled on a budget-friendly solution and got married at the courthouse without a ceremony. This is not unusual, as many young couples are now simplifying their weddings to avoid debt, opting for courthouse ceremonies or elopements instead.
Sexton and his wife slept in on that morning of May 12, 2025, went to get breakfast and got ready in their wedding outfits. A white shirt and gray pants for him, and a light-brown dress for her. With so much excitement, they left for the courthouse, and 30 minutes later, they were officially Mr. and Mrs. Sexton.
“We didn’t want money and stress distracting us from living our moment,” said Sexton. “We signed our paperwork, had a friend take some pictures of us, and later went to eat a burger at Mugshots. I will never forget how happy I felt. It was so us.”
Time also becomes an issue when wedding planning in college. Byrd would wake up
early every morning to contact venues, bridal dress stores and florists. Getting quotes and
comparing prices was part of her daily to-do list.
“I am so lucky I was not working full-time yet,” said Byrd. “Planning while still in college was stressful, yes, but it gave me purpose. I was able to focus on the details I wanted without delegating tasks to others.”
Byrd’s family and friends were also involved in the planning. They helped with what they could to alleviate some of the stress from her shoulders. Her classmates and professors were also supportive.
“I remember them being a little surprised when I told them I was going to get married,” said Byrd. “However, both the students in my classes and my professors were so happy for me. I felt supported in my decision.”
Other than cost and time, emotions play a big role in wedding planning at a young age. Byrd recalls how she would sometimes feel overwhelmed by every detail she had to plan. Sometimes it was hard to maintain a good balance between being a diligent student and a happy future bride. But it was in times like this that she realized how lucky she was to have a strong support system there for herself.
One day, while on the phone with a catering service, she felt overwhelmed. The options
were so many, the prices kept rising and other deadlines were quickly approaching. She paused, took a deep breath and put the phone on mute for a second. Her fiancé promptly stepped in, taking over the conversation with the lady on the line, and settling a good deal for their reception catering.
“It takes a village,” said Byrd. “I genuinely don’t know what I would have done without my loved ones. They helped me so much, both emotionally and logistically. I am so grateful for them.”
Sexton lived stress in a very different way. For him and his wife, getting married at the courthouse was almost liberating.
“I just wanted to marry the woman I loved,” said Sexton. “Everything else did not seem worth stressing over.”
Even though they had very different experiences, both Byrd and Sexton learned so much while going through these moments. Byrd learned the importance of resilience and teamwork. Sexton learned that simplicity could make a day even more special.
As the library emptied, Byrd closed her laptop and put her binder in her bag. Exams were quickly approaching, and her dream venue was not booked yet, but one thing she was certain of. What really mattered was not how perfect her wedding day would be, but how she and her fiancé had built a love so strong to overcome every challenge that crossed their path.