For richer, for poorer: One in 3 brides in debt even before the honeymoon

On average, couples borrowed £3,500 to fund their wedding, according to new research from the Debt Advisory Centre.

This means that many people start their married life having to find a way to repay thousands of pounds - plus interest – just at the time when they might need to start thinking about the cost of starting a family or buying a home.

So according to the figures, borrowing to get married isn’t that uncommon at all. The cost of the venue, food, wedding dress and other outfits for the rest of the wedding party can all add up to a lot. And that’s not to mention the added cost of a photographer, flowers and entertainment to keep people dancing until the early hours.

All these different costs can easily run into the thousands – according to Brides Magazine, the average cost of a wedding plus the honeymoon is £30,111. When you take everything into account, perhaps it’s not surprising to learn that many people need to borrow.

But is the debt worth it? When Debt Advisory Centre asked Yorkshire couples to look back on their wedding day debt, a third said they wished they’d borrowed less, and one in eight actually said they wished they hadn’t borrowed at all.

The fact that some couples regret either the amount they borrowed or borrowing in the first place is worrying. While it’s understandable that couples feel the need to use credit for their wedding because of all the costs involved, it doesn’t necessarily mean borrowing a lot of money to get married is best in the long term.

If you do decide to borrow for your wedding, it’s very important not to feel under pressure to borrow more than you can afford. Many of the people who approach Debt Advisory Centre for debt help do so because they have split up with their partner or spouse, and financial pressures can sometimes be a factor in the decision to split.

When you’re deciding whether or not to borrow for your wedding, think about how well you’re going to be able to manage your repayments, rather than what people may or may not expect you to have at your wedding. Remember that it’s you not them that will have to pay it all back.

You also need to think about what your plans are as a couple. Starting a family, buying a house or traveling together are all major expenses. You may not be able to move forward with these kinds of plans as quickly as you would like, if you’re still repaying wedding debt.

Rather than borrowing it makes more sense to plan your big day within a budget that you can afford. If you reach out to people you know for help and take the time to do your research, you’ll find ways of getting the big day you’ve dreamt of for less.

Debt Advisory Centre: 0161 871 4881