Readers: Please tell our advertisers you found them in your " Little Book that's worth its weight in GOLD!" 21 21 Counting the Cost An Exercise in Compromise You don't have to spend a fortune to have a fabulous wedding. It's often the individual special touches - unusual place settings or a heartfelt reading at the ceremony - that will make your day memorable. With careful planning you can create a perfect day whatever your budget. Don't lose sight of your dreams though. For instance, if you cannot live without that designer dress you may have to re- think your honeymoon expenses. Or, if masses of flowers are a must, then an expensive champagne toast may not be possible. Traditionally the bride's parents paid for the wedding. Nowadays it's more likely that the couple themselves pay the biggest percentage of the costs with contributions from both sets of parents. Increasingly, with many couples having an established home already, family and friends will offer to pay for, or contribute to, certain of the wedding costs, making this their wedding gift. Traditionally, the bride's parents pay for: . Press announcements . Wedding clothes for the bride and her attendants . Flowers for the church and reception . Transport . Stationery . The reception catering . Cake . Photographs and video The bridegroom takes care of: . The church or register office fees . Bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids, button holes for himself, best man and ushers, and corsages for the mothers . Bride's engagement ring and wedding ring . Bride's wedding gift . Gifts for attendants and best man . Outfits for himself, best man and ushers The bride pays for: . Bridegroom's wedding ring . A special present for the bridegroom Working out your budget Open a special wedding bank account Opening Balance £ Organise a regular savings plan ( e. g. monthly standing orders) Projected Savings £ Discuss possible contributions with family and friends Total Contributions £ Budget Total £ Go to www. weddingplanner. co. uk - our Automatic Calculator will help keep track of your spending!

22 TEL/ FAX 0845 230 2772 FREE ONLINE WEDDING PLANNER TOOLS www. weddingplanner. co. uk22 22 Budget Who's Paying Quotes Final Cost REF REF REF Notice of Marriage £ £ £ £ Church fees £ £ £ £ Bell Ringing £ £ £ £ Musicians/ Choir/ Singer £ £ £ £ Ceremony Venue Hire £ £ £ £ Additional Ceremony Fee £ £ £ £ Register Office £ £ £ £ " Wedding Abroad" Fee £ £ £ £ Lucky Chimney Sweep £ £ £ £ Press Announcements £ £ £ £ Invitations £ £ £ £ Reply Cards £ £ £ £ Postage £ £ £ £ Order of Service Sheets £ £ £ £ Cake Boxes £ £ £ £ Place Cards £ £ £ £ Thank You Notes £ £ £ £ Serviettes £ £ £ £ Calligraphy £ £ £ £ Seating Plan £ £ £ £ Photography £ £ £ £ Album £ £ £ £ Parents Albums £ £ £ £ Disposable Cameras £ £ £ £ Videography £ £ £ £ Royalties £ £ £ £ Additional Copies £ £ £ £ Hire of Reception Venue £ £ £ £ Marquee Hire £ £ £ £ Food £ £ £ £ Drinks £ £ £ £ Furniture/ Crockery/ Linen Hire £ £ £ £ Cake £ £ £ £ Chocolate Fountain £ £ £ £ Ice Sculpture £ £ £ £ Bridal / Table Favours £ £ £ £ Toastmaster £ £ £ £ Balloon Decorations £ £ £ £ Table Decorations £ £ £ £ Music - Daytime £ £ £ £ Music - Evening £ £ £ £ Mobile Bar £ £ £ £ Entertainment £ £ £ £ Children's Entertainment £ £ £ £ Fireworks £ £ £ £ Go to www. weddingplanner. co. uk - our Automatic Calculator will help keep track of your spending!