SHOULD WE HAVE A WEDDING CONTINGENCY

Without devising and sticking to a realistic budget, many couples struggle to finance the wedding day of their dreams. Buying all the bits and bobs that make a wedding just as fabulous as you are, adds up. Preparing your finances with a contingency fund is recommended, but where do you start when setting aside this essential cash reserve?

We explore below.

What are the benefits of having a contingency?

A quick online search will reveal the long list of products and services a couple needs to call upon for their wedding day.

Being aware of the wedding costs that could creep up when you least expect them will ensure you are as well prepared as you can be when planning the best day of your life. Hidden costs come in all shapes and sizes; from the stamps needed to send your save-thedates and invitations, to those lastminute beauty treatments. Your contingency fund is there should you encounter these unexpected expenses. Work out how much you can afford to spend in total, make a list of everything you need to sort then decide how you will divide your wedding budget. Try to make your list as detailed as possible, and ensure that you set aside enough for each item. Recently married friends, wedding magazines and websites are all good sources of advice. How much should we set aside?

The Wedding Fairy & Friends - A Bridal Boutique With A Difference!

You found the dress of your dreams before you were even engaged. Your hair trial is booked with that amazing stylist you found on Instagram. You searched every shop for the perfect bridesmaid’s outfits, and your flower girls look like little princesses. You’ve thought of everything for you and your bride tribe’s big day looks. Or have you?!

We get calls from ‘brides to be’ every day who hadn’t considered a hair accessory until they sat down at their hair trial. What finishing touch will you choose to really make you sparkle? Other than the Royals amongst us, most of us have never considered wearing a tiara before our wedding day. Nor do we get ready for a night out by carefully placing a vine in our hair. But your wedding day is different - and that’s where we come in!

Born from a mix of four core passionsthe love of accessories and jewellery, the joy a wedding brings, the value of a true personal service, and the simple delight found in beautiful packaging - Fi, our Fairy Godmother, started The Wedding Fairy & Friends 5 years ago to provide a luxury service without a luxury price.

From small beginnings we now help style bride’s biggest days all over the world via our online boutique, our social pages, and in person at our Studio Showroom just outside Chester.

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So whether you’re looking for that statement bridal piece, gifts for your bridesmaids, the perfect jewellery set for Mum, or a super cute headband for your super cute flower girls, we have you covered. All of our sparkle is lovingly hand wrapped whether you buy online or in person, making the perfect gifts for your crew - or just for you!

You’ll find all our goodies at theweddingfairyandfriends.co.uk, but if you’re local or looking for an excuse for a day trip to Chester, we’d love to see you at our studio. You can book your appointment online today.

Happy planning ladies, and lots of loveTeam WFF x x

Most suggest a contingency of between 12.5 and 15% of the overall wedding cost. The average wedding in the UK now costs £30,355, which means a minimum contingency of £3,794. This is a significant amount to set aside.

We’d recommend saving as much extra money as you can and earmarking this as your contingency fund. Whatever you can put aside as a contingency fund, if you don’t use it, it’s extra money towards enjoying your honeymoon – or building your first home together. How can we start building a contingency fund?

Even couples with a comfortable budget should consider building a contingency. If you can’t save any extra money by cutting back on your monthly outgoings, as many couples planning weddings cannot – saving your savings is an ideal way to boost your wedding budget and build a contingency fund. For every little discount you receive on a wedding-related service or product, put the amount you saved straight into a savings account. With some hard bargaining, you’ll find you’ll quickly accumulate a sizeable sum.