Getting married

Money can’t buy you love, but it can give you the wedding of your dreams – or so most of us seem to think. With the average cost of getting married somewhere around £20,000, it is one of the most pricey lifestyle decisions you can make.

But with a bit of careful thought and forward planning, taking your partner’s hand does not have to cost you an arm and a leg if you Change your thinking Here, you will find ideas for:

• Funding the big day
• Venue
• Food
• Clothes and beauty
• Cars, photography and flowers
• The reception
• The honeymoon

You should budget for:

• Notice of marriage (c£60)
• Ceremony venue – Register Office, church or licensed wedding premises
• Reception venue hire
• Transport to and from the venues
• Bride’s dress
• Groom’s and Best Man’s suits
• Bridesmaid and pageboy outfits
• Hair, make-up and beauty treatments
• Catering – wedding breakfast and reception
• Photography and videography
• Flowers
• Music and entertainment
• Stationery and favours
• Thank-you gifts
• Insurance
• Stag and hen nights/weekend
• Honeymoon

Change your thinking

• Stop thinking about getting more for less and go for simpler, more cost-effective choices. If you must have the high-end option, make sure you negotiate the price.
• Do not think of saving money as cutting costs, tell yourself you are doing things your own way – and believe it.
• Forget traditional notions such as the bride’s family must bear the cost or that you can only go to specialist wedding suppliers – in these credit crunched times, you need to be open to new ideas.

Funding the big day

• Conduct an audit of your income and outgoings – this will help you work out where you can cut back and how much you can put aside each month.
• Open a dedicated savings account – it will help you to keep track and give you some interest.
• Check out all potential sources of funding, including parents and other relatives, but do not rely on windfalls that may not materialise.
• Be flexible – instead of handing round a wedding present list, ask friends and family to contribute to your honeymoon or help out with things like photography, catering or even the dress.
• Ask everyone to pay their way on stag and hen dos.
• Wedding insurance may seem pricey and unromantic but it could save you £1,000s if a disaster does occur.

Venue

• Think carefully about where you say “I do” – a church or licensed wedding venue is likely to set you back at least £250 while nipping to the local Register Office should only be around £100.
• Do not automatically assume you have to get married on a Saturday in high summer. Most wedding venues and suppliers will offer a lower rate for weekdays and dates outside peak wedding season.
• Always read the small print and check for hidden costs before you commit to a venue – many charge extra for items you may assume are included, such as chairs.
• Do not forget the VAT. That extra 15 per cent – which returns to 17.5 per cent on 1 January 2010 – could make all the difference.

Food

• Do not feel obliged to give your guests a full, sit-down meal after the ceremony – a buffet is just as good.
• If you want to provide a more formal option, a simple main course and pudding is better value than a budget five-course blow-out.
• Serving your wedding cake as dessert will help to cut the cost of your meal.
• You do not have to go to a specialist for your cake. Buy a supermarket cake and decorate it yourself or get a friend or family member to make it for you – there are plenty of recipes and tips on the web.

Clothes and beauty

• You can look just as fabulous in a second-hand wedding dress as a new one from a specialist boutique, so check out charity shops and online auction sites. Just make sure that your vintage find is in excellent, unmarked condition and be prepared to get it altered – most used dresses will have been adjusted to fit the original owner.
• Alternatively, why not see if you can hire a frock along with the top hat and tails?
• If a pre-worn dress is not your thing, scour the High Street for brand-new bargains. Many major stores now offer beautiful bridal wear at a fraction of the cost of bespoke gowns.
• Your nephews and nieces may be clamouring to be pageboys and bridesmaids, but ask yourself if you really need them – or the cost of their outfits. Or ask their parents to pay for their clothes.
• When it comes to rings, antique can be just as beautiful as new – and often much cheaper. If your budget will not stretch to diamonds, a simple gold band is an equally elegant way of declaring your love to the world.
• You do not have to spend a fortune at a beauty salon to look your best on your big day. Get your friends round and have DIY tanning and treatments sessions at home. On the day, do your own make-up or get a mate with a steady hand to do it – but makes sure you practise first.

Cars, photography and flowers

• A limousine is stylish but costly, so consider less conventional alternatives such as borrowing a friend’s Smart car or even arriving in a black cab.
• Save £100s on the cost of a professional photographer by securing the services of a competent friend, someone from the local amateur photography club or art school.
• If you are not bothered about formal pictures, give your guests disposable cameras to immortalise the day. Do not forget to collect them afterwards.
• Cut the cost of flowers by getting the local Women’s Institute or floristry class to provide your arrangements. Alternatively, if you know someone with a splendid garden, see if they can be persuaded to supply your blooms.
• There is no need to buy personalised wedding stationery – you can easily make everything, from invites to thank-you cards, with a basic desktop publishing package.

The reception

• A reception does not have to be in a glamorous location to be a success. Check out all the possibilities, including church halls, venues owned by any organisations you belong to, friends’ gardens and the local park. One couple recently tented over their parents’ garage and drive.
• You do not need to splash out on professional entertainment – load an MP3 player with your favourite music.
• Supply your own alcohol. You can stock up when it is on special offer or pop over to France to fill your car with cheap wine and beer. Or take advantage of friends’ memberships of wine clubs to get special deals.

Happy honeymoon

• Getting married abroad is often cheaper option than tying the knot at home – plus you will not have to fork out extra for the honeymoon. Choose your favourite destination then search the web for a wedding package. If family and friends cannot join you, hold a party at home when you return.
• When you book your trip and arrive at your destination, make sure you tell everyone that it’s your honeymoon – these magic words can inspire all kinds of special treatment, including flight and room upgrades, free flowers, massages and champagne.
• If you are putting together your own honeymoon, check out our money-saving tips for Holidays.

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