Dream Weddings Magazine - Dorset & Hampshire

The Engagement
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 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
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.
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 becoming 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.
INSURANCE
Plan ahead for
your perfect day
So how much is it all
going to cost?
Basically, the answer is as much 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 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.
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
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
TO ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
- AND THEN SOME...
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 best man and to the reception for
himself and the bride
• The honeymoon.
Planning Makes Perfect
cut out and keep
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 if 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.
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 D O R S E T & H A M P S H I R E • 2 9