If you do an internet search on wedding costs, you’ll notice a large number of online discussions on how to take out a wedding loan. Today’s prospective newlyweds seem not only willing, but even eager to get that all-important loan so that they can afford that $10,000 dress and $5,000 ring, not to mention the expensive venue and costly caterer.

Although it may seem that borrowing money is an inevitable part of the wedding process, it’s a good idea first to make a list of the pros and cons of taking out a loan to pay for the wedding. Whether you’re considering loans at moneysupermarket or thinking of borrowing from relatives, it’s important to identify which type of loan will work best for your needs and your personal budget.

Here are some good reasons to take out a loan for your wedding:

• You’ll be able to get what you want without having to drain your capital. If you’re concerned about holding on to your cash and assets, a loan will give you some peace of mind.
• A wedding loan can help you to get on a budget from the start. Having a wedding loan to pay off could help you discipline yourself from spending too much while you’re setting up housekeeping.
• It will be one less obligation to your parents and relatives. If you want to prove to your family that you’re responsible enough to be married, trying to borrow money for a big wedding could be awkward, especially if it puts a burden on them.
• You’ll get a good APR with a personal loan. On average, personal loan rates are considerably lower than credit card rates. Taking out a wedding loan to pay for everything will actually end up costing less than charging things to your credit card.

While there are some advantages to a wedding loan, here are a few disadvantages to consider:

• You’ll be starting off your married life with a large debt. Getting married is a huge life change and brings its own set of challenges and stress. Adding to your debt unnecessarily will also add to your stress level, so make sure that you’re only borrowing an amount that you can afford to repay.
• You may not qualify for the best interest rate. If you’re already paying off several large debts, such as a car, house or student loan, lenders may not be willing to give you the best rate. Likewise, if you’ve defaulted on a loan or have less than perfect credit, you may end up with interest rates of 30 percent or more, so beware.
• Is having a big wedding really worth all the expense and debt? You and your partner have got to consider whether it’s worth being saddled with debt to throw a party for your friends and relatives.

If this is something you’ve always dreamed about, then go for it and try to take out a loan that you can both manage. If, however, you’re only doing this to please your relatives and friends, you might want to reconsider everything and have an inexpensive, small-scale celebration. After all, your friends and relatives won’t be the ones paying for it.

In the end, looking at loans at MoneySupermarket can help you make the right decisions as to what kind of loan you should take out and how much you can really afford to borrow. By being honest about your financial state now, you and your partner can protect your financial future together.

The trouble with hot house flowers is that they are costly to produce, both in terms of the environment and in money. They are also wasteful, as they are usually discarded immediately after the event. If you want to decorate with greenery and flowers in a sustainable way, consider using trees and plants in pots that can be planted out after the event.

Young trees bearing delicate fairy lights, or flowering shrubs placed strategically around the venue will look just as stunning as more traditional arrangements. Give small saplings or pots of herbs to guests as wedding favors, having first used them as table centerpieces.

When planning this you need to give plenty of thought to where you want these plants to end up. Will you be planting them in your own yard to create an instant garden? If you are going away immediately on two weeks’ honeymoon, who will take care of the plants or plant them for you? Or perhaps you want to donate the plants to a local project, like a school garden or a tree planting charity? If so, discuss your choice of plants and trees with them to make sure that they will be suitable for the location they will be planted out in.

Decorating with trees and potted plants may be no cheaper than using cut flowers, but you will have the satisfaction of having created a new garden that will live on long after your wedding day.

Photo courtesy of Harvest Textiles

Time to reward your ‘maids’ for all the love they’ve given you during the planning and prepping for your wedding. Give these lavender-filled sachets out as sweet-smelling bridal shower favors. They’re made with reclaimed linen and filled with organic lavender. Three pillows are $7 and are sold at Harvest Textiles’ Etsy shop.