With the average cost of a wedding now reaching the dizzying heights of \u00a321,000, big days are demanding big budgets to match, and many couples are left wondering how on earth they will finance their fairytale day\u2026<\/p>\n
Times change<\/p>\n
Traditionally the task fell to fathers of the bride who would foot the bill for their daughter\u2019s wedding, a spinoff custom from dowries of the past. While news that this tradition has had its day will garner a sigh of relief from your father, it does mean that there\u2019s more to manage for you as a couple instead. Brace yourselves!<\/p>\n
Budget first<\/p>\n
Gather quotes from key wedding suppliers<\/a> like wedding venues<\/a>, wedding flowers and wedding photographers<\/a>, as well as a ballpark figure for your dress (don\u2019t forget the alterations!), and you can begin to work out a wedding budget.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Factor in breathing space for unexpected extras, then divide the total cost by the amount you can afford to save each month. This will give you the number of months it\u2019ll take to save up enough to pay for your wedding, so you\u2019ll know when you can afford to set the date for.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A lot of brides will tell you that doing the sums and making the spreadsheet is the easy part \u2013 sticking to it is much harder, but stick to it you must! It is possible, though, as these five couples prove with their own tips to avoid blowing your budget.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Family matters<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By starting out with a wedding budget that you can afford yourselves, you needn\u2019t stress so much about how much others might be able to help you, if at all. While fathers no longer have to fork out for everything, many parents still like to contribute in some way. Be aware that this won\u2019t always come as a direct offer of money \u2013 your mother might offer to buy your dress; your in-laws might give you a free bar for the evening, or your aunt might make your wedding cake.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Just because one set of parents paid one amount doesn\u2019t mean the others should do too \u2013 indeed, there is no requirement for families to contribute at all. Be grateful for whatever you may receive and treat it as a bonus rather than an expectation. Everyone\u2019s circumstances, timings and wishes will likely be different.<\/p>\n Something borrowed<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve drawn up a budget but are unable to finance it yourselves, try reining in your spending in the areas less essential to you. You can also use these tips\u00a0to have your dream day for less.<\/p>\n Failing that, there is the option to borrow money to fund your wedding. Do so with caution: will you really want to be paying for your big day months, possibly even years, later? Remember that the interest will only make your costs climb further.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s a personal decision that should be made only after careful consideration, so take the time to mull your options over. An alternative you could try is to set up your gift list as a wedding fund and have guests contribute in place of giving presents on the day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With the average cost of a wedding now reaching the dizzying heights of \u00a321,000, big days are demanding big budgets to match, and many couples are left wondering how on earth they will finance their fairytale day\u2026 Times change Traditionally … Continue reading