Stillwater NewsPress

Living

January 8, 2012

Bridal Showcase vendor recommends talking about wedding budget first

By Laura Wilson family@stwnewspress.com

STILLWATER, Okla. — Couples planning their wedding should talk about money before doing anything else, said Lisa Croston of Plan It Events.

The company is one of more than 30 vendors that will be at the Stillwater NewsPress Bridal Showcase Saturday. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wes Watkins Center at Oklahoma State University. Admission is $3 in advance and $5 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at Consumers supermarket, Colonial Florist or the NewsPress office.

Traditionally, the bride’s family hosts the wedding and pays for almost everything, except for the rehearsal dinner, the tuxedos, the honeymoon and the ring, which the groom and his family provided, Croston said.

That’s not necessarily true any more, however, she said. Now, who pays for what in a wedding often depends on who can afford to pay, she explained.

“It’s really more however it works best between families,” she said. “It’s something to sit down and discuss at the beginning — who can afford what.”

The bride’s family still often pays for more of the wedding, Croston said, but because couples are marrying later, they sometimes pick up more of the tab themselves.

Either way, the budget is the first thing to set, Croston said, followed by a list of what’s most important to the couple: photography, flowers, destination, etc.

“You have to start with a budget,” she said. “You have to know where the funding is coming from to prepare.”

Otherwise, couples may find themselves heavily in debt at the start of their marriage.

Once couples have set a budget and decided who will pay, they can begin shopping for the photographer, flowers, music, food, rings and location. Vendors for all of those — and more — will be at the Stillwater NewsPress Bridal Showcase.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for brides to do one-stop shopping in one convenient location,” event organizer Jill Hunt said. “They can find all the services they need so they can plan their wedding day in one trip.”

The event will also include a style show and door prizes, including a weekend getaway. For more about the Showcase, see the special section in today’s newspaper.

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