WEDDINGS can be the best, but most expensive, celebration of your life and it’s important you get the balance right to ensure you enjoy your big day.
The cost of UK weddings have reached an all time high, with the average spend coming in at £27,000 and figures in London topping £38,000*. The cost of getting hitched may be increasing year by year, but there are simple ways to tackle money worries in the run up to your nuptials. The personal finance experts Moneyguru.com are here with some words of wisdom to make sure you’re welling up for all the right reasons.
Here are five ways to cut down on costs, and still achieve the ultimate fairytale wedding:
1. The Proposal
It’s fashionable nowadays to throw a huge engagement party, which sometimes gives the actual wedding day a run for its money! Tone it down, keep it simple, and don’t break the bank. Why not make the invites more personal and handwrite them, printing professionally can cost a lot more than you think. Host the event at home, and to solve the food and drink obstacle by making it a BYOB and food bonanza!
2. The Budget
Set your total budget before the spending begins and stick to it, no matter how tempting the helicopter, gold swan or 18th harpist might be. There are plenty of websites to help you with this, and remember, a budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.
3. The Research
It’s inevitable that some photographers, bakers or DJs may try to rip you off, and charge you significantly more than the going rate. Research a number of similar businesses that offer the same service, and you can decide for yourself if you’ve got a good deal or not when you receive a quote. Try your luck and see if they can throw in a freebee or two… you never know, you could be in with an extra treat.
4. The Day
Choosing and setting your wedding date is half the battle. It can be stressful finding a date that suits you, your guests, your budget and the venue itself! You’ll find the majority of venues bump up their prices in peak months, for example June – September, and lower them in less popular months from January through to March. Think cleverly about how much the date means to you, and if you can sway for a different month, you could save a high percentage of your budget.
5. The Helping Hand
Take advantage of your talented family and acquaintances! Do you have any keen bakers looking for a wedding cake project? Do you have a friend who’s a DJ in the making? How about a friend of a friend who has a good eye for video and photography? Ask for their services in lieu of a gift and this could save you a lot of spondoolies for the honeymoon.
While some couples may be lucky enough to have financial help from the bank of mum and dad, or have saved up extra cash in preparation for the big day, many will need to take out a loan for their wedding. Visit Moneyguru.com and peruse a humongous range of credit cards and loan options that can help you slide into wedded bliss without a care in the world.
Like choosing the love of your life, it’s important to take care when choosing the right loan to suit you. That’s why The G’s wisdom page is here to help you before taking any steps in borrowing cash. Head on over to moneyguru.com for more.
*According to Bridebook which reviewed 20,000 weddings in 2016
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