Consumer expert Sue Hayward’s savvy finance tips and advice
WORDS: SUE HAYWARD WWW.SUEHAYWARDMEDIA.COM
Sue’s Guide Managing Your Wedding Budget
If you’re helping with the cost of a family wedding, be honest about how much you can afford.
Saturdays are the popular day for weddings but getting hitched on a weekday could save you a whopping 75% at some venues, according to wedding website hitched.co.uk.
And instead of a traditional “sit down” meal, why not opt for a buffet option? It’s much cheaper and can make for a more relaxed afternoon, especially if you ditch the “table plan”.
Call in favours. If you know any amateur photographers, friends who love floristry or cake making, ask them to help out. Two great friends of ours organised the evening entertainment for us at our wedding and it was fantastic!
◆ Going as a guest
Each wedding invitation can cost an average of £451, according to credit reference agency Experian. Gifts, accommodation and outfits are the biggest expenses, often costing more than £300.
My tips are to book into budget hotels if you’re staying over, rather than paying high rates if the wedding is held in a posh hotel.
Buy clothes or bags from sites like eBay or Vinted, especially if it’s something you’ll only wear once, and then resell them back afterwards. Or why not make your own wedding present? Personalised hampers or memory books can all make lovely gifts. MW
SUE’S TIPS:
◆ The cost of the average wedding now comes to a hefty £20,000, according to Hodge Bank.
◆ One in five of us only accept wedding invitations if we can avoid staying over to cut the cost, according to Experian.
◆ Consider wedding insurance, which covers the cost of rescheduling if someone in the party is seriously ill or the venue cancels. Try moneysupermarket.com.
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