The first thing that needs to be sorted out before making endless lists of the costs
is to decide on who is paying for what. Traditionally it was always the brides family
that paid for the wedding but gone are the days of the dowry. Generally the costs
are split evenly between both sides of the family.
The second biggest decision to make is to decide on what you can realistically afford.
Everyone wants the biggest and the best when it comes to the big day but not everyone
can afford this but much can be done to keep down the costs.
The third thing to do is to start your list! Use our Simple List as a starting point
and go through each category to see if there are any financial implications and list
everything you will need to buy or hire putting the name of the person that is doing
the buying. Allow an extra 10% as a contingency to cope with any extra hidden costs
or price rises. Remember to get all quotes in writing.
And finally.... Check out our useful tips and money saving ideas below.
Wedding Date
- pick a week day as Saturday tends to be a premium day for most services and marry
out of season too. Best thing to do is to compare prices before picking the day.
Wedding Time
- if you marry in the morning you can disappear on your honeymoon early evening
and so do away with the evening party. Have a traditional wedding breakfast for
your guests rather than the usual formal dinner. Or on the reverse, marry late in
the day so that you are only feeding your guests once!
Wedding Venue
- check out the local amenities no matter how simple they may first appear. Decoration
and the right lighting can transpose the dullest of places. Use your imagination
and save pounds.
Wedding Menu
- if the traditional wedding breakfast is not on the agenda then stick to something
simple and basic, perhaps even a cold buffet. Ask around for help from your friends,
you would be surprised just how many people have their own speciality foods that
they love to cook. Use the wedding cake for the afters.
Wedding Outfits
Don’t turn your nose up at second hand shops, some beautiful outfits can be bought
as new and for much less money. Remember the “Something Old”.....
Finally... Ask a Friend
The Photographer - maybe there is a budding photographer amongst your midst who would
be pleased to be of help on your big day but a word of advice here, test their expertise
in advance. Far better to hurt their feelings now rather than to end up with poor
photographs of the day.
The Flowers - Flower arranging has become so popular of late, ask around your family
and friends and remember to choose local flowers in season, they are cheaper.
The Gifts - hand made gifts are a lovely idea to give out to the wedding party and
guests, ask your friends to help with the ideas and to make the gifts.
Stationery - many people have access to computers with printers. With the right
ideas it can be fairly easy to design and personalise your own stationery, print
it out reasonably quickly and on demand.
Wedding Transport - Ask amongst your friends to see if they have cars that they would
be prepared to use to drive you and your guests to the various locations. What better
than they would decorate them too.
Entertainment - Most people have access to a music system or computer. Ask for help
and you may be pleasantly surprised. Music is easily available and discs can be
made in advance. Let one of your friends be the DJ for the day. Failing that karaoke
is always a good stand in.
