The way to look at your wedding budget is with as much positivity as you can. See it as the umbrella that brings every aspect of your wedding planning together.
After you’ve done with the initial excitement of getting engaged, you should sit down together with your fiancé to consider what you can afford to spend on your wedding, and what your priorities are.
The average UK wedding budget
Many brides and grooms find it useful to start with the average UK wedding budget, and adapt that to their own situation.
If your dream wedding venue is your number one priority then you may need to spend less on your wedding dress or honeymoon.
If your parents are offering to pay for a particular part of your wedding (invitations and stationery, or the catering are popular choices) then work to a fixed amount for these when you know how much they can contribute.
Managing money for your wedding
Any wedding is a big purchase, when you add it all together. Even if you’re working to a budget of £2,000 you’ll need to stay on top of your wedding budget and plan purchases carefully. Some skill in managing money for your wedding is essential.
Saving up for your wedding day
Saving up beforehand takes a lot of the pressure off your wedding day. Read our tips on ways to save up for your wedding, including how many sandwiches it takes to pay for a wedding dress.
Who pays for the wedding?
Most often these days, parents will contribute towards a part of the cost of a wedding, but the largest contribution will come from you and your fiancé. For tips on how to compromise and decide what your parents could pay for if they’d like to contribute, read more about who pays for the wedding.
All about wedding insurance
You do need insurance. It costs very little, but the potential benefit is huge. Weddings can and do get postponed through illness, family bereavement and other situations out of our control. Having wedding insurance will ease the financial burden in the worst case scenario. It’s also handy if the best man rips his trousers…
Cheap wedding ideas
You can have a fabulous wedding on a budget, especially if you’re crafty and your friends are willing to pitch in and help out. Read our page about where to spend and where to save. What are the essentials you have to have, and what can you skip for a cheap wedding?
Expert wedding budget advice
Whether you’re just getting started with wedding planning or struggling with your wedding budget, this article from one of my favourite wedding experts should help you. Bernadette Chapman from wedding planners Dream Occasions shares her best tips for keeping your wedding budget realistic. She also has some great tips for cutting your wedding budget, getting friends and family involved and still having a gorgeous wedding on a budget.
