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Getting married is supposed to be the happiest day of your life, leaving you with memories to treasure forever. But this one day takes months to prepare for and can lead to a lot of stress if not organised effectively. So follow our top tips for a trouble free wedding day:
1. Start early. Don't leave everything until the last minute - the most popular venues and suppliers get booked up very early, so planning as far in advance as possible will give you the opportunity to get what you want at the best price. Also, it’s likely that the most popular venues will charge the highest prices, making the need for a loan all the more pressing. Planning and financing in advance also removes a lot of the stress, as you don't want to be worrying about last-minute issues when you should be concentrating on enjoying the day.
2. Get the budget right. The average wedding in the UK now costs over 20,000, so you need to get the finances right. However luxurious you plan your big day to be, you need to set a budget and stick to it. Factor in all the costs and work out your total price. In the past, the duty of paying for the day was that of the father of the bride, but nowadays many couples foot the bill themselves. Personal loans may be the best way of funding the occasion, as it allows you to spread the cost into affordable monthly payments.
3. Shop around. The wedding industry is big business, with thousands of companies happy to help you create the perfect day. But whether it's the catering or the invitation cards, don't just take the first quote you receive - ask two or three firms in each sector for a bid, and then try to negotiate a lower price - a little extra legwork could save you thousands.
4. Take out wedding insurance. Of course, you hope the big day is going to be perfect. But problems do occur, and if you're not prepared for them, can turn catastrophic. Wedding insurance covers you for such eventualities as damage to your wedding dress, photos not coming out properly, illness and - particularly useful in the current climate - suppliers going out of business. For a relatively low cost, it can prevent a lot of heartache leading up to the big day.
5. Ask for help. Family and friends will often be delighted to be involved in the planning process, so don't be afraid to ask. You can't be expected to know everything, and you may find that someone else has expertise in some areas - for example, they may know a great photographer, or someone who will play the music. Family, especially, will want to be involved, so make the most of them.
6. Practice. If you have the chance, do a walk through of the ceremony and the wedding breakfast. It will help you notice any areas that need work - for example, how are the guests expected to get from the wedding venue to the reception, or how are children going to be catered for. The more you walk through the day, the less stressed you will get about anything going wrong.
7. Plan your honeymoon. Organising an event as big as a wedding is hard work, so having a relaxing holiday afterwards is an absolute must! Make sure you factor in the cost of a honeymoon when applying for loans.
Personal loans
Taking out an unsecured personal loan can offer an efficient and affordable way to fund your great adventure. As long as you are confident that you can comfortably afford to meet the monthly repayments, loans can offer a sensible means of managing your finances to help you make the most of your travels abroad.
The information given in this article was correct as at 18/04/2010. It does not, however, take account of any changes in regulations, the law or interest rates since that time.
This article is not a substitute for obtaining professional advice from a qualified person or firm.
Examples given of products and services are not exclusive. Other companies may provide the same products and services, and inclusion of a product or service should not be taken to indicate that Barclays recommends it over any similar product or service.
Barclays Bank PLC is not liable for any third party opinions expressed. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained is accurate at the time of publication, no liability for damages is accepted by Barclays, the publishers or any other organisation or person providing information, arising from any errors or omissions that may appear, however caused - or from any editorial alterations to submitted information. This is not intended and will not affect any liability of Barclays under the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act (2000.)
Barclays provide a range of finance services including loans, personal loans, life insurance and home insurance. Visit www.barclays.co.uk for more information.
