Image sourceAre you engaged, or do you have an inkling that your boyfriend is planning to propose? You’ve probably already started to think about planning the wedding – even if he doesn’t know it yet! Many of us start thinking about our dream dress long before getting married is even a possibility, so you’re likely to have a lot of ideas already. But wait, have you thought about how you’re going to cover the cost of the wedding? Here, we discuss different approaches to financing the big day, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.Traditionally, the bride’s family pay for the wedding. This comes from the practice of giving dowries to the groom to forge an alliance between the two families and to help him to look after his new wife. Although dowries are relatively uncommon these days, many people still expect the family, or more specifically, the father of the bride to foot the bill for the dress, ceremony, reception and so on.
The practice of giving an engagement ring is also rooted in tradition. If your man has gone down the old-fashioned route and asked your father for your hand in marriage before presenting you with a diamond engagement ring– you might be keen to continue with same approach to your wedding. If your dad is relatively wealthy, he might be happy to stump up the cash for your nuptials. However, if he’s not exactly rolling in it – paying for your wedding might be a huge pile of pressure that he finds very difficult to negotiate. If you’re in any doubt over whether or not he can afford it, ask him if it’s too much – or better yet, don’t expect your dad to pay.
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In modern times, weddings often cost thousands so in some families, the cost is split between the bride’s family and the groom’s family. If the couple themselves can’t afford to pay, this seems a little fairer than heaping all the responsibility on poor old dad’s shoulders. The difficulty with doing this is that it means that lots of people are involved, and some or all of them may feel entitled to have a say in all the details of the day. If you’re a patient type, and can remain cool when your future mother in law is waxing lyrical about those stunning table decorations – this route will work fine for you. But – if you’re more likely to end up losing your rag about his mum’s mind-bending attention to the tiniest little details, you might be wise to consider alternative options!
The best way to avoid problems with your wedding budget is for you and your partner to pay for it yourselves. It might take a while to save up, and you might not be able to have the most expensive version of absolutely everything – but it will be entirely your day, as you and your partner want it. If you want to know how to avoid regrets when it comes to your wedding, read this article.
Submitted on behalf of Modern Weddings