Planning Makes Perfect
cut out and keep
The Engagement T
raditionally, 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 Downend, Bristol and Jennifer Anne, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Simon Hayes, of Marlborough, Wiltshire. 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.
Getting down to Business
are Saturdays and themost popularmonths are from May right through to September. If your plans followthat pattern, be aware that themost popular venues get booked up very early, so set the date and book the venues as soon as possible after your engagement. 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 allow them some say in what they are going to wear. If you plan to 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 also be the most expensive. So it’s vital that you set your budget and stick to it. Nowadays it’s becomingmuchmore 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.
T INSURANCE
won’t lose out financially if they do. Insurance policies on offer cover everything from damage to your wedding dress to loss of deposits due to cancellation of the
M
uch though we hate to say it, things can go wrong at a wedding and it’s some consolation to know that you
he very first things you must decide about your wedding are where, when - and how much. Themost popular days forweddings
Plan ahead for your perfect day
So how much is it all going to cost?
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 ofmoney simply 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 your 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 that, with a little imagination, you can make your money go a lot further.
B 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
asically, the answer is as much or as little as you want it to. An intimate ceremony with lunch in your favourite pub for your
TRADITIONALLY, the bride’s parents pay for:
• 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
• Flowers for the church and the reception • The reception itself • The wedding cake
The groom traditionally pays for:
• All the fees - whether for church officials (including vicar, organist, choir, bellringers) or for the registrar and civil licence.
• Bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids, 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 bestman and to the reception for himself and the bride
• The honeymoon.
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. Should unforeseen circumstances mean the postponment or cancellation of your wedding, guests can either be notified by telephone or by a personal or printed
note saying: Mr and Mrs Simon Hayes announce that the wedding of their daughter Jennifer Anne to Mr Michael Jones will be postponed until (date)/will not now take place. If you have announced the engagement
in the
newspaper, it would be appropriate to place a similarly worded notice there too.
D R E A M W E D D I N G S I N B R I S T O L , S O M E R S E T & W I L T S H I R E • 2 5
ASTEP-BY-STEPGUIDE
TOALLYOUNEEDTOKNOW -ANDTHENSOME...
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