Cumbrian Weddings 5
Couples
engaged
for longer
in tough
times
BY EMMA MORLEY
T
he economic situation
seems to be having an
impact on engaged
couple's wedding plans.
A poll of 2,000 engaged couples
by online jewellers
www.jpdiamonds.co.uk showed
that 59 per cent of couples who
have popped the question don't
even have a date booked for the big
day.
The average engagement now
lasts a minimum of two years,
with two-thirds of people polled
saying they would definitely have
got married sooner if they had the
funds in place. Thirty-five per cent
blame the credit crunch for their
long engagement and 32 per cent
say if the economic situation
doesn't improve they may never
walk down the aisle.
Nearly half of couples say they
chose to get married because they
are in love and want to spend the
rest of their lives together.
A further 18 per cent wanted to
make a commitment to each other
by tying the knot and 15 per cent
said it felt like the right time in
their relationship.
The poll also revealed the
average couple would like to have
a big white wedding costing more
than �7,000 but more than half
have already toned down their
idea of a wedding to make it more
affordable, cutting out luxuries
such as a honeymoon abroad and
an evening reception.
Half of engaged couples won't be
treating guests to a free bar whilst
27 per cent are replacing the
champagne reception with cheap
bucks fizz.
A spokesman for
www.jpdiamonds.co.uk said:
"Many women have dreamt about
their wedding day since they were
a little girl � planning the big
white affair, meringue dresses,
horse-drawn carriages and
hundreds of guests.
"So it must be incredibly
disappointing to discover that this
dream might not become a reality
unless they can take out a loan.
"Engaged couples have two
choices � either sit tight, save hard
and wait for a time when they can
afford their big day or have a
smaller, more intimate affair with
close friends and families."
Bassenthwaite, Near Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4RG
Tel: 017687 76401 Email: events@castleinncumbria.co.uk Web: www.castleinncumbria.co.uk
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