|
Getting married is not just about the wedding day, but it may be one of the first big expenses you will encounter as a couple. While parents of both the bride and groom will often chip in to cover some of the costs, many people are marrying later and have a good income of their own.
If you are paying for your wedding yourself, you also tend to have a bit more freedom when it comes to choosing everything from venues to flowers to menus. If your parents - or your in-laws - are footing the bill, you might feel obliged to listen to their opinions.
Establish a budget, and put a savings plan in place, where you can deposit a regular amount weekly or monthly. You can work out in advance how much you can afford to set aside, which will help you work out the final budget for the wedding itself. The last thing you want is to start married life with an enormous debt.
- When do you plan to get married? Do you know how much time you have left to plan for it.
Planning the Wedding - reduce the cost of getting married by taking aim at what is generally the largest expense—the wedding reception. Consider holding it at a less-expensive location.
- Use “The Rule of Three” to compare at least three providers of every wedding product or service (gown, wedding favours, photographer, reception hall, honeymoon, etc). Attend bridal shows to efficiently shop around.
- Try not to put wedding expenses on your credit card unless you plan to repay the balance quickly. Otherwise, you’ll be paying for your wedding for decades.
|