For love? Or for money? Whatever your reasons for tying the knot (and being hopeless romantics, we hope it's for love), money and finances are a big part of the equation when two people say "I do."
Uttering those two words is more than a pact to love and cherish one another. Read between the lines and your partner may be saying "I do have a lot of debt I'm bringing to this marriage, honey bunny." Or, "I do think a prenuptial is a crummy idea, my little love nut." Or how about, "I do not give a rip about saving for our future, I want a big house now!")
Fortunately, we do have some solid info here that can help you go down the aisle and into a lifetime of wedded bliss with a clearer understanding of what you're getting into, as well as a financial plan of attack to get you started on the right foot (or left foot, for you southpaws) with your money and your financial decisions.
Here Comes the Bride (With a Big, Fat Stack of Bills to Pay)You might think you're planning a wedding, but you're really just part of a sophisticated highway robbery. The average wedding costs $19,000 and here's where the money goes.
The list doesn't include your honeymoon or costs associated with a rehearsal dinner, but it does assume you'll spend about 42 bucks a head to feed 200 guests. In other words, your numbers may not match this "typical wedding," which is good because your wedding will be anything but typical! Our wedding budget worksheet is an essential wedding planning tool. Or maybe our compatibility quiz will reveal that you don't need a wedding budget, after all.