Photo by All the World's a Studio

Traditionally, the first thing to do after telling your family and close friends about your forthcoming marriage is to announce your engagement in your local and/or a national newspaper.

Do check how much it will cost before you place the announcement.
It will usually read:

The engagement is announced between Michael, elder son of Mr and Mrs David Jones, of Poole, Dorset and Jennifer Anne, only daughter of Mrs and Mrs Simon Hayes, of Bracknell, Berkshire. Though the habit of giving engagement presents has now fallen somewhat into disuse, if you are lucky enough to receive some, don’t forget to write and thank the senders.

Mount Edgcumbe

The very first things you must decide about your wedding are where, when – and how much.

The most popular days for weddings are Saturdays and the most popular months are from May right through to September. If your plans follow that pattern, be aware that the most popular venues get booked up very early, so set the date and book the venues as soon as possible after your engagement. But don’t discount other days of the week. Friday weddings are becoming more popular, with many venues offering a discount for weddings on any day other than Saturday and guests welcoming the opportunity to enjoy a long weekend.

 

Talk to both sets of parents about setting budgets and who is going to pay for what.
It is increasingly common for bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses, but if they do you should offer them some say in what they are going to wear. If you pay for them yourself, you can choose their outfits.

Your wedding will probably be the biggest party you ever throw - which means it will probably be the most expensive. So it’s vital that you set your budget and stick to it.

Nowadays it’s much more common for the bride and groom themselves – and even the groom’s parents – to contribute towards the cost. Again, whoever is contributing to the cost should have some say in how the money is spent.

 

Basically, the answer is as much as or as little as you want it to. An intimate ceremony with lunch in your favourite pub for your closest family and friends can be every bit as special as a huge event at a top venue for hundreds of guests.

If you’re working on a limited budget, decide what’s most important to you and spend your money on that. Maybe you want a really spectacular dress and are prepared to do without a flashy car to take you to the reception. Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to arrive at your wedding in a pony and trap and will settle for fewer guests.
Whatever you decide, do remember that many guests may be coming a long way and spending a lot of money to attend your wedding, so it’s often better to look after a small number of people well than to invite more than you can comfortably cater for.

The important thing is that it’s you day and the last thing you want to be worrying about is how you’re going to find the money to pay for it. So, be realistic when you’re setting your budget – and remember, with a little imagination you can make your money go a lot further.

Your budget will need to cover:
Wedding ring(s)
Wedding dress
Bridesmaids’ and attendants’ outfits
Groom’s suit
Stationery
Flowers
Fees for the ceremony
Reception venue, food and drink
Wedding cake
Photographs/video
Wedding transport
thank you gifts for best man and attendants
Going away outfits
Honeymoon

Photo by A2 Photography

Announcements in the newspapers
All the wedding stationery
Bride’s and bridesmaids’ dresses
Transport for the bridal party to the ceremony and from the ceremony to the reception
The reception itself
The wedding cake

Flowers by Odds & Buds

All the fees – whether for church officials (including vicar, organist, choir, bellringers) or for the registrar and civil licence
Bouquets for the bride and bridesmaid, sprays of flowers for the bride’s mother and his own mother and buttonholes for himself, the best man and the ushers
Engagement and wedding rings for the bride
Presents for the best man and the bride’s attendants
Transport to the ceremony for himself and the best man and to the reception for himself and the bride
The honeymoon

 

Much though we hate to say it, things can go wrong at a wedding and it’s some consolation to know that you won’t lose out financially it they do.
Insurance policies on offer cover everything from damage to your wedding dress to loss of deposits due to cancellation of the wedding and theft of wedding presents.
Do get quotes before you decide which one to take out - and do read the small print to see exactly what each policy covers.