For richer, for poorer?
Once the rosy glow of becoming engaged has settled down into a delicate shade of pink you might want to start planning a wedding budget.
The average cost of tying the knot in 2011 has soared to more than £20,000 but before you throw in the towel and nip off to the pawnbrokers to recover at least the cost of the engagement ring, don’t despair.
Pick up a pen and pad and make a list of what you’d dearly love to have, what you think you can afford and what you can do without.
Gone are the days when the bride’s parents would stump up for it all. Unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, be realistic. If you want your families to help you out have a frank discussion with them about it. They may ask questions such as "How much do you think the whole thing will cost?" It’s best to have some idea but make the point that you'll base your wedding budget on what is available to you.
Start off with the basics and work outwards from there. Make room for what matters most to you. It may be the venue or it may be the number of guests, the wedding dress or the honeymoon. There are always savings to be made somewhere along the line that won’t be missed.
Once you've set a budget, stick to it. Easier said than done, of course but you stand a far better chance of it really being the happiest day of your life if you don’t have the threat of bankruptcy hanging over you! Why not download our wedding budget guide by clicking below.
THERE’S something very special about a spring wedding. It’s the favourite time of year for couples to start out on their new life together. But whenever you’re planning to get married, you’ll find the perfect venue for your big day and all the important services you might need to call on to help you through the process - from engagement party to honeymoon - right here in our wedding web pages.
