Getting married

Whether you are getting married on a shoe string or with no expense spared, our tips will help you manage your finances closely so you can keep track of your spending and avoid paying for your big day for years to come.

Set a budget for your wedding
Keep track of your ongoing spending
Get the best value loan if you need one
Insurance cover if things go wrong
Use your credit card for large purchases and deposits
Buy travel insurance for your honeymoon
Make the most of cash wedding gifts

Set a budget for your wedding

The first thing you should do is sit down with your partner and discuss what both of you may have already saved and what you can afford to put aside on a regular basis up until your wedding day. This will help you set a realistic budget and priorities for your wedding day. A financial review will show you areas where you might need to cut back on your spending. If you or your partner have outstanding debts such as loans or credit card bills, concentrate on clearing them first, starting with the most expensive ones.

Keep track of your ongoing spending

Once you know how much you can afford to spend on your wedding, use our handy wedding budget planner. It gives you a breakdown of items you will spend money on and helps you to figure out if your plans are within your overall budget. If not, you can reduce your spending in certain areas until you have an overall plan for your wedding.

Get the best value loan if you need one

Even with your savings you still might need to borrow some money. Use our loan calculator to see how much it will cost and how long it might take to repay a loan, depending on the amount you want to borrow. Borrowing money comes at a cost as you will have to pay interest back on the money you have borrowed. Our personal loan cost comparison compares the latest rates offered by the main providers in Ireland, this will help you get the best deal. If you have to borrow to help pay for your wedding, try not spread the payments too far into the future. This will cost you more in interest and could affect your future plans.

Insurance cover if things go wrong

Unfortunately, when planning your wedding there are some things that can go wrong - such as cancellation or failure of traders to deliver a service. You may want to consider wedding insurance to cover you from any financial loss as a result of unexpected events. Many insurance providers offer wedding insurance so compare what each policy covers and the charges, as they will differ. You should also consider getting engagement and wedding rings valued and insured as ‘specified items’ on your home content insurance so you are covered for any loss or damage.

Use your credit card for large purchases and deposits

Paying by credit card instead of cash or cheque offers you some protection, in the event a firm goes bust - such as your hotel or bridal shop. If you pay by credit card your card provider may reverse the transaction, depending on the circumstances and the type of card you have. This is called chargeback.

Buy travel insurance for your honeymoon

It is important you take out travel insurance to cover you against any losses, such as illness or injury, damaged or delayed luggage, cancelled flights, delayed or missed departure and loss or theft of money or passport. Always check the policy details before you buy, so you don't duplicate cover you may already have with any other policies such as your health insurance.

Make the most of cash wedding gifts

If you're lucky enough to receive cash wedding presents and have some money left over after you have paid for all your wedding expenses, check out our information on saving and investing so you can make the most of your nest egg!