What to consider if you’re planning a winter wedding in 2020

Emma-Lou Montgomery, associate director, Personal Investing, Fidelity International commented: "Weddings are typically a joyful occasion, however planning for one can be anything but - and made all the more stressful this year by the ongoing uncertainty caused by the pandemic.    
   "If you're hoping to be wed in the coming months or have already had to reschedule, taking steps to prepare for your wedding ahead of time will be crucial. The past six months have had a substantial impact on people's finances as well as their wedding plans with deposits hard to recover and venues no longer available. Taking even a few small steps now to manage your wedding fund will help you and your partner keep a lid on costs in the long-run."

Keep an eye on the news
With government guidelines changing on a daily basis it can feel never-ending when trying to keep your wedding plans in order. Taking the time to keep up to date with important issues and checking in with your suppliers will help you to keep ahead of any possible hiccups that could affect your deposits or force you to re-arrange.

Focus on what's important to you
Whether you're hoping to wed this month, next year or in the next five years, it's best to create a plan that offers you some flexibility, particularly when it comes to your budget. Make a list of the parts of your wedding that are most important to you and that you don't want to compromise on and focus your main expenditure around these points. Then look at the parts of your wedding you would like to have but aren't essential - if the past few months mean your budget no longer covers these, then sit down with your partner and agree on where to cut back.

Separate your costs
If you're trying to budget towards a date but are worried about having multiple bills go out at the same time then split your costs into two categories: will need even if the wedding is postponed and won't need if the wedding is postponed. Costs like a dress, wedding rings and marriage license will need to be factored in no matter when your special day is. However, outgoings such as the venue hire, flowers and transport, which may all need to be postponed, are costs that you may be able to hold off until closer to the day. By separating out your costs in this way it becomes easier for you to manage what money is going out when and can help you to feel more in control.

Postpone instead of cancel
Putting your wedding on hold can feel like a very last resort but with research showing that three quarters of couples are rescheduling their wedding you're not alone. If you have to put your wedding back, the sooner you postpone the sooner you can begin planning towards your new date. Give your suppliers as much notice as possible; companies will understand the hardships of trying to organise a wedding when guidelines can change on a daily basis and many will try to be flexible where possible. However, how flexible businesses can be is relative to how far in advance your wedding is; if they've already put in orders or made arrangements with their suppliers than it may be difficult to move and you may need to find alternative options.