Competition: Wedding money-saving tips

Now that wedding season is in full bloom, how can couples prevent the cost of getting married from spiralling out of control, without scrimping on the magic and romance of a traditional wedding?

Certainly, the bride and groom often feel under pressure to do things in a certain way, as dictated by tradition and family expectation. But the “something borrowed” at your wedding should not be a high interest loan to pay for what everyone else expects.

This week in FT Money, we’ve heard lots of budgeting tips from wedding experts and one of our colleagues has revealed how he saved nearly £9,000 on the cost of his own wedding.

We would like to hear all about your best wedding money saving tips — whether you are a newly married couple, proud mother of the bride or serial wedding guest.

Can you beat some of these suggestions, from FT staff and commentators?

● Buy all the champagne at Christmas, to take advantage of great supermarket price deals, and then lock it away until your summer wedding

● Get married on a weekday, or an out of season month to save thousands on the cost of hiring a venue

● Eschew the expense of a late-night buffet in favour of bacon butties

● Avoid the cost of cards and stamps — email your wedding invitations.

COMPETITION: Do you have an even better wedding thrift tip? Email your ideas to money@ft.com by Monday May 16. We will publish a selection in a future issue and award a £25 John Lewis voucher each to the senders of the two best ideas (full terms and conditions below).

If you need some inspiration, watch our video, listen to the podcast or read this week’s FT Money cover feature.

Terms and Conditions — FT Thrift Wedding Competition

1. By entering into the FT Thrift competition (‘the competition’), Participants agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that failure to comply with them may result in disqualification. The FT Thrift competition shall be void where prohibited by local law. All national and local laws and regulations shall apply.

2. The competition is open to participants worldwide (where permitted). Participants must be over 16 years of age. Employees and immediate family members of employees of The Financial Times Limited (“FT”) and its associated companies, professional advisers, advertising and promotional agencies are not eligible to take part in the competition.

3. To enter the competition, simply email your entry to money@ft.com and include your name, email address, and telephone number. The entry period is from May 5 2016 to 5pm GMT on May 16 2016. You may submit as many separate entries as you like.

4. The winning prizes consist of two vouchers for a major national retailer of £25 each.

5. The winning entries will be decided upon by the editor of FT Money, whose decision is final. The winners will be decided upon by the FT on or about May 23 2016.

6. FT shall notify the selected winner/s by May 23 2016 and provide details of how to claim the Prize. If the Prize is declined or unclaimed by the winner, or if the winner cannot be contacted from the details supplied within three business days of notification, a replacement winner may be chosen at the FT’s discretion and will be notified by the FT. The original entry that was chosen will then be invalid.

7. The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The Prize is non-transferable, non-refundable and has no cash value if not taken.

8. By entering the competition, the winner agrees to take part in any publicity relating to the competition by the FT if the winner is invited to do so without further compensation.

9. FT reserves the right to cancel or amend these Terms and Conditions or change the Prize (to one of equivalent value).

10. FT will not accept responsibility for or liability arising from Participants taking part in the competition or taking up the Prizes. FT gives no warranty or guarantee in relation to the Prizes and accepts no responsibility or liability for the Prizes being amended by FT. To the fullest extent permissible by law, FT excludes liability for all loss, damage or claim arising as a result of the Participant’s entry into the competition or use of the Prize.

11. These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law. Disputes arising in connection with this FT Thrift Competition will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

12. The Promoter is The Financial Times Ltd, Number One Southwark Bridge, London, UK, SE1 9HL