You can have a fabulous wedding without it costing an absolute fortune!
Most couples, apart from an exceptional lucky few, have to limit the amount they spend.
The first thing to do is decide on your budget and stick to it!
Lots of couples do pay for their own wedding and it's perfectly possible to have an amazing wedding on just about any budget. The key to this is quite simply good organisation from the word go!
Opening a separate wedding bank account is a good idea as it will make tracking what comes in, what goes out and what's left to play with much simpler.
If you are receiving and parental contributions then bank these as soon as you receive them and then add to the funds, regularly, by deciding how much you are each going to contribute, this is usualy on average between 10-20 per cent of every pay packet during your engagement period - but don't forget that you still have to live! Cutting costs on none essentials can help build your fund during this time and don't forget you can always endulge again after the wedding!
Traditionally the bride's parents paid for the wedding but in our more modern times it is most often the couple themselves who pay for the biggest percentage of the costs with both sets of parents then making contributions, this is due partly to modern day trends, to changing family dynamics and also to increasing costs.
The chart below gives you an idea of the tradional way weddings used to be paid for and an alternative of our modern day times, remember this is for example only and not must do list.
ITEM/ACTIVITY |
TRADITIONAL |
MODERN |
Engagement Ring |
Groom |
Groom |
Engagement Party & invites |
Bride’s Family |
Bride & Groom |
Wedding Insurance |
Bride’s Family |
Bride & Groom |
Flowers for the Service |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Flowers for the Reception |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Reception Venue |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Reception Meal & Drinks |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Evening Reception Venue |
Bride’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
Evening Reception Meals & Drinks |
Bride’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
Bride’s Outfit |
Bride’s Family |
Bride's Family |
All Stationery excluding Thank-You Cards |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Thank-You Cards |
Bride & Groom |
Bride & Groom |
Transport for Bride, Father of the Bride, Mother of the Bride & Bridesmaids to the Service |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Transport for Father & Mother of the Bride, Best Man, & Bridesmaids to the Reception |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Photography |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Videography |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Wedding Cake |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Overnight accommodation for Bride’s Family if required |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Wedding Favours |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Day Entertainment |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Evening Entertainment |
Bride’s Family |
Groom’s Parents |
Corsages & Buttonholes |
Groom |
Groom’s Family |
Bride’s Bouquet |
Groom |
Bride's Family |
Bridesmaid’s Outfits |
Bridesmaids |
Bride’s Family |
Usher & Best Man’s Outfits |
Ushers & Best Man |
Groom’s Family |
Groom’s Outfit |
Groom |
Groom's Family |
Day Balloons & Decorations |
Bride’s Family |
Bride & Groom |
Evening Balloons & Decorations |
Bride’s Family |
Bride & Groom |
Transport for the Groom & Best Man to the Service |
Bride’s Family |
Groom |
Transport for the Bride and Groom to the Reception |
Bride’s Family |
Bride & Groom |
Overnight accommodation for Groom’s Family if required |
Groom’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
Overnight accommodation for the Bride & Groom if required |
Groom |
Bride & Groom |
Gift for the Groom |
Bride |
Bride |
Groom’s Wedding Ring |
Bride |
Bride |
Bride’s Hen Night Costs |
Attendants |
Bride |
Hair & Beauty Treatment |
Bride’s Family |
Bride |
Gift for the Bride |
Groom |
Groom |
Bride’s Wedding Ring |
Groom |
Groom |
Groom’s Stag Night Costs |
Attendants |
Groom |
Gifts for Bridesmaids |
Bride |
Bride & Groom |
Gifts for Ushers and Best Man |
Groom |
Bride & Groom |
Honeymoon |
Groom |
Bride & Groom |
All Church or Registrar Fees |
Groom |
Bride & Groom |
Gifts for the Father & Mother of the Bride & Groom |
Bride & Groom |
Bride & Groom |
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