Make sure you say “I can” before you say “I do”
Getting married is a very special and exciting event, one you may have planned for and dreamt about for a long time. Expectations can run high.

You probably want the day to be extraordinary and everything absolutely perfect: the dress, the décor, the catering, the flowers, the photographer, the bridesmaids, everything!

It’s important, however, not to get so carried away that you end up forgetting to stay within your financial means and forgetting to make responsible preparations for your financial future together. Before taking this big step, every couple needs to ensure that they tick not only all the boxes on their wedding plan, but also all the boxes on a financial plan.

Many couples (or their families) get into deep debt to realize their dream wedding. “It’s important to keep a level head and ask yourselves what makes more sense: an extravagant wedding that leaves you battling financially for the first few years of your marriage or a smaller, less elaborate wedding that allows you to start your marriage on a financially healthy footing?”

In other words, make a conscious decision not to be blinded by your wish for a dazzling, celebrity-style wedding. Make sure you’re able to say, ‘I can’ before you say, ‘I do’. The golden rule for couples is open communication. Both of you need to be on the same page when it comes to finances. Joint planning, budgeting and saving are the first steps to a happy and healthy financial life long after the wedding. Money is not a romantic topic, but it’s a crucial one, and couples need to tackle it before they tie the knot.