The
average cost for a wedding is $22,000, according to The Knot,
the largest online wedding site with about 1.3 million new
couples registering each year. But a beautiful wedding doesn't
have to stress your finances. Balance your idea of a dream
wedding with what you can afford.
Start
with a budget you can manage without help from your relatives.
Decide on an amount so you know how much you will have to
spend. And then, once you decide privately what you want,
stick with it publicly.
No matter how much money you plan to spend,
first, the two of you should decide what kind of wedding you
want. This takes compromise, but helps you get a better picture
of each other's values and priorities. Keep your budget in
hand. It will help you decide on the party date, atmosphere
and location down to the number of guests, food, entertainment
and decorations to buy.
--
Compiled by Dani
M. Arthur,
illustrations by Brandy Kesl
