It is the happiest day of your life. And possibly the most expensive.
According to research from You & Your Wedding magazine, the average cost of a wedding has now reached an enormous £15,764. That is more than half the national average salary. Here's how to get married for richer rather than poorer.
Here comes the bill: Three basic steps to save you money
The cost of getting married is rising by more than 8% every year - that's more than twice the rate of inflation. These three simple steps are the key to doing it for a lot less:
Step One: Plan Ahead
But don't plan for June, September or August - they are not just the three most popular months for weddings, but also the most expensive. Make sure you have plenty of time to arrange every detail and shop around for the best deals.
Step Two: Set a budget and stick to it
Sounds boring, but it really is the best way to avoid over-stretching yourself. For most people, the reception - costing around £2,500 on average - and the honeymoon - which could set you back around £2,800 - are the biggest expenses. Make your budget as detailed as possible so that it is an integral part of your wedding plan. Take it shopping with you so that there are no excuses for over-spending and prioritise your requirements so that you do not run out of cash before paying for essentials. Add up your wedding expenses every week to make sure you are on track.
Step Three: Shop around
For everything. Get a range of prices and estimates before making any commitments so that you get the best value for money.
Family values
In the past, tradition has been that the bride's parents pay for the whole day themselves. The onus is now much more on the bride and groom to find the funds. The good news is that research shows that you may not have to bear the financial burden alone. More than half of couples surveyed said they would be sharing the cost of the wedding with both sets of parents.
So if you do want to benefit from being traditional, you can share the costs. It is customary for the bride's family to pay for the reception, bridal cars, music, invitations, photographer, cake and newspaper announcements. The groom's parents cover the costs of the ceremony and legal expenses, the rings, flowers, other cars, wedding night hotel bill and gifts for attendants.
