by sarah • January 7, 2022 • Wedding Planning Guides
Your wedding is a once in a lifetime event. It’s the one day you’ve probably been dreaming of since you can remember, so we understand you’ll want to make it as special as possible.
Whether you’re planning an intimate wedding for you and your closest friends and family or are looking to throw an extravagant bash with all the bells and whistles, it’s essential that you properly plan the cost of your big day.
There’s a lot to think about when planning a wedding, from the venue and the caterers to the accommodation and the outfits. Your plan should cover everything! It’s also crucial that you consider all of the payment options available and choose the right one for you and your big day.
If you’ve been planning your barn wedding for some time, then you may already know exactly what you want and what it’s going to cost. If not, then now is the perfect time to start writing ideas down and looking at average costs.
What your plan looks like and the level of detail it contains is going to depend on what you want. Most couples will need to look at outfit costs and prices of wedding bands, however whilst some couples plan to have an extravagant wedding with multiple food options and a live band, others might opt for an intimate event using an acoustic guitarist and relaxed catering.
So ask yourself some of these key questions:
Answering all of these questions should give you a rough idea of everything that comes with cost on your big day. When you start researching what you want using this list, you’ll also be able to establish a realistic budget.
And the earlier you plan your wedding finances, the less stress you’ll have.
We want to help bring this dream wedding of yours to life, so we’ve put together some helpful tips for paying for your special day.
Deposits are an essential part of wedding planning and there’s no escaping them.
By booking out a vendor or venue, you are asking them to hold the date and turn away any other offers. So whenever you hire a photographer, a caterer, an entertainer or a venue, expect, and be willing, to pay a deposit.
This should be no more than 50% of the full fee and may be less depending on the product, service or offer.
However, make sure you look into and discuss the terms of this deposit. Most of the time you will not be entitled to claim this back should you cancel or rearrange to a new date. For example, you might lock in the best photographer and then have to rearrange or cancel because your dream venue wasn’t available on the same date.
Before you book or put a deposit down for anything, ask if they will allow refunds or partial refunds if you have to cancel or rearrange a set number of days before the big day.
As many weddings are planned months and often years in advance, many suppliers and venues may request multiple payment instalments to ensure you are still interested and to spread the cost.
In our experience at Heaton House Farm, instalments are one of the most common ways to spread out the cost of a wedding in the UK. It’s a clear and simple way for both couples and venues to lay out the total cost, and what amount is due when.
The deposit is typically considered the first instalment and should be made the day you book the service. Most suppliers or vendors will ask for anything between 25% – 50%. The second instalment might be requested two to four months ahead of your wedding date. This will be up to an additional 25%.
You have just three payment milestones to remember and save for. You can save up front, then pay out when you confirm your venue, then save again for the second instalment as you make all your plans.
Then, the final instalment will be made a couple of days after the event. For photographers this might be the cost to order prints or albums.
Most of the couples we work with choose this approach because it strikes the perfect balance between manageable payments and straightforward budgeting.
It’s unlikely you’ll be asked to pay anything on the day – after all, it’s that one special day all about you and your loved one, and the last thing you need to be thinking about is payment transfers.
One of the most practical ways to pay for your wedding is by using a payment plan. This is where the total fee is divided into a schedule which runs from the month you book to the wedding day, or even after.
Unlike instalments, which are only three payments in total, payment plans allow you to split the cost over several months.
While payment plans are becoming increasingly popular, they’re not yet standard across all UK wedding venues. Many venues stick to the traditional deposit-and-balance approach, so if spreading costs over a longer period appeals to you, it’s worth asking potential venues early in your search whether they offer this flexibility.
But there are things to watch out for – like hidden costs
Some venues or suppliers may charge interest or administrative fees for payment plans, which can significantly increase your overall wedding costs. Always ask upfront:
For many wedding venues this might not result in an additional cost, but keep in mind that every business is different. Make sure you:
At Heaton House Farm, we offer a monthly payment plan for couples who’d like to spread the cost of their venue hire over a longer period. We calculate how many months are left until your big day and agree on a regular monthly payment to build up your contributions to the final cost.
We don’t add any interest or hidden fees – it’s simply a way to make your dream wedding more affordable.
It’s just one way to help you afford your dream wedding.
Finance works very similar to a payment plan however this usually means the cost will be split over 12 months and adds interest onto each monthly payment.
For example, if you were paying £8,000 over 36 months with 9.9% added interest, you’d end up paying £9,222 by the end of it.
This is a great option if you don’t have the wedding budget at hand to pay for what you have planned. However, if it is going to work out significantly more expensive in the long run, consider other less costly options.
Another option would be to request to pay a greater deposit and reduce the amount you would be paying on credit.
Wedding venues offering finance will have to run a financial and security check on you and your partner, including looking at your credit-rating, and some people may not be eligible.
Although it’s one of the most daunting payment options available, paying upfront actually comes with one great benefit – discounts!
Caterers, entertainment, photographers, florists, venues and more will nine times out of ten, accept payment in full and as soon as you book them. This is a great benefit to them and also means you can ask about a discount.
Depending on the cost and demand for that date, you could get anything from 5% – 15% knocked off. No, it’s not a guarantee and each business will have a different policy, but it’s always worth asking.
The downside is that you are putting a significant amount of trust into the business. Before you pay for anything upfront, make sure you know what happens if something goes wrong and either of you cancel.
Weddings can cost a lot of money, which is why it is so important that you are backed up and supported should something go wrong.
Get your wedding insurance in place as soon as possible to minimise the risk to you and the money you have put into the wedding. This includes deposits or payments you have made to the venue, your vendors and suppliers and your attire.
Remember to check the small print with what you’re covered for before you start putting down deposits or paying for anything wedding related!
However you decide to pay for your dream wedding, it’s important you know your limits and have a true understanding of what you can and can’t afford.
Beautiful, magical weddings can be created on all levels of budget if you do your research and plan properly.
Start with our wedding planning guides to get more inspiration for your big day, and then when you’re ready to explore Heaton House Farm and discuss prices and payments, request your brochure today.
