We are about to launch a one-stop resource for couples looking to research everything about planning a wedding - from different flower options to catering to honeymoon destinations and many many other things. So I thought I would discuss one of the topics we will cover - Paying For Your Wedding. This is always a tricky issue because traditionally, the bride's family pays for the wedding and receptions and the groom's family pays for the rehearsal dinner. And while many families still adhere to these guidelines, more and more couples are contributing financially to their own weddings. So we've put together a bunch of articles and stories that explain how to pay for, or contribute to your wedding, and also stay out of debt. It is always important to remember that no matter how important your wedding day is, it is still only the 1st day of your lives together as husband and wife.

A couple of the tips you can read about are:

1. The number of guests you invite is one of the biggest factors in determining your budget.

2. If you want to have a large wedding, you may have to conserve in other areas. One suggestion is to consider alternatives to a sit-down meal. Or, if you want to invite many people to the ceremony but can't afford ot have them all show up to a sit-down dinner reception, have a shorter, cocktails and hors d'oevres pre-reception that everyone is invited to and then a more intimate sit-down reception later to family and close friends.

For more on these tips, and other suggestions for ways to save money on flowers, music for your reception and many more aspects of planning a wedding, check back with us for the launch of our one-stop wedding planning resource on May 12, 2008.