Scottish couples are increasingly compelled to splash out as much as £20,000 on their wedding if they want to keep up with the likes of Andy Murray, who tied the knot last weekend in Dunblane.
Scottish couples are increasingly compelled to splash out as much as £20,000 on their wedding if they want to keep up with the likes of Andy Murray, who tied the knot last weekend in Dunblane.
The tennis ace and his bride Kim Sears hosted their reception at Cromlix Hotel, which was bought by the couple in 2013 and is now being advertised as a luxury wedding venue for hire on the back of the Murray nuptials.
It doesn't come cheap. The hotel costs £8500 to hire between April and October, should you wish to invite between 28 and 65 guests, while a bigger party would involve the additional (undisclosed) cost of a marquee on the front lawn. Guests hoping to stay the night can expect to pay £250 for a small double room.
But those prices haven't stopped couples from snapping up the hotel's last dates this season. Scotland does a roaring trade in weddings; official statistics indicate that Gretna Green is still one of the most popular places to get married in the UK. The industry is thought to have boosted the Scottish economy by £537m in 2013.
But showy weddings can place a big strain on our budgets. The average wedding in 2013 cost £19,507, up 4 per cent on the year before, according to the Scottish Wedding Census. Couples typically spent £7,627 on a reception, £2,771 on the honeymoon and £1,963 on rings. Other expenses included photographers and filmmakers (£1,311), the bride's dress (£1,118) and entertainment (£928).
Many are also borrowing money to walk down the aisle. A report by Lloyds Bank last year found that the average couple is funding half of their wedding costs this way, while 9 per cent are borrowing the total amount. Less than half manage to fund their wedding entirely from savings.
Humanist weddings are also getting more expensive by the year. They are becoming more popular in Scotland due to their legally binding status north of the border. The Scottish Humanist Society conducted 3000 ceremonies last year and expects to overtake the Church of Scotland in the number of marriages it organises this year.
It has recommended that humanist celebrants should raise their fee from £390 this year to £410 in 2017. The cost does not include rehearsal time or travel expenses, set at 55p per mile. Scottish couples are also expected to join the SHS for £40, or £25 of if they are on a low income.
A spokesman for SHS said: "These are only suggested fees for celebrants, who can charge what they want, and both parties are free to negotiate. The fees reflect a very bespoke service where celebrants spend a lot of time beforehand talking to the couple about what they want."
Lisa Conway Hughes, a financial adviser and founder of the website Miss Lolly, said: "The most common mistake is that people ask me 'how can I afford everything?' The right question to ask is 'what can I realistically afford to spend?' Then you have to budget accordingly."
Ms Hughes said couples should calculate how much an expensive wedding will set back their other financial goals, such as saving for their first home. A survey by Topcashback last year found that 85 per cent of Scots would rather save for "secure life essentials" first and then get married.
She said: "Young people especially are under pressure to get on the property ladder. Working out what is needed for a deposit, if you are not already on the property ladder when you get married, is an important part of the 'what can I afford' calculation.
"It is important to make an informed choice and knowing the numbers can make this a little simpler. So if you know that blowing the budget on your wedding will derail your house purchase plans by five years, perhaps this would put you off. If it would only hold you back six months, perhaps this is something that you are willing to do."
She added that couples should spend their wedding budget on what really mattered and dispense with everything else. "When I got married it was important that there was enough alcohol and everyone had a great time. I therefore focused on things that would achieve my ideal day and cut back on things that weren't important to me such as a wedding video, canapés and transport."
Almost one in three couples save money by getting married in autumn or winter according to AA Financial Services. It estimates this can chop £2000 off the cost.
Its survey of 1000 newlyweds earlier this year found that nearly a quarter kept within budget by having a midweek or Sunday ceremony, while 19 per cent made their own cake and table decorations. Some 15 per cent delayed or went on a budget honeymoon, 12 per cent wore a vintage dress or suit and 7 per cent got married abroad.
Cash-strapped couples are also asking more of their loved ones. A common approach is to ask friends and family to take photos, make food and arrange flowers in lieu of gifts. The AA found that 14 per cent of couples are now asking for money rather than presents, while 9 per cent of bridesmaids are being asked to pay for their dresses.
But this approach can also backfire, according to Topcashback. More than a quarter of Scots invited to weddings have had to say 'no' due to the costs of attending.
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