MarryAbroad.co.uk finds 77% of couples pay for their wedding

THURCASTON, U.K. - Sept. 3, 2014 - PRLog -- Having surveyed 120 of its worldwide wedding service providers, destination wedding website Marry Abroad found over three quarters (77%) of the couples that service providers helped marry in 2014, paid for their own wedding.

In a surprise shift away from tradition, MarryAbroad’s wedding service providers found only 23% of couples had their weddings paid for by parents, of either bride and/or groom.

Who makes the decisions?
And in terms of making key decisions about the day, MarryAbroad’s wedding service providers reported that a massive 82% of couples were the sole decision makers.

And brides’ families were key decision makers for only 18% of couples, according to the wedding service providers.

Perhaps truest to tradition however, no wedding service providers reported the groom’s family as having any influence on the day for the weddings they planned.

How much are couples spending?
And over-spending seems typical for couples, according to MarryAbroad’s wedding service providers.

Although 16% of couples they married this year stayed within budget, 19% went 5% over budget, 40% went 10% over budget, and 24% went 20% over budget.

Charlotte Hand, Co-Founder of MarryAbroad states:
“Perhaps it’s a hangover from the recent recession, however the fact most couples are paying for weddings themselves is a sure sign of the times. Far from choosing the most expensive venue or marquee, couples have to save up longer, resulting in longer engagements, and make more informed nuptial choices these days. And holding the purse strings, it’s no surprise they therefore want to make most decisions themselves.

“Furthermore, having paid for the wedding, we are seeing more and more couples asking guests to contribute to their honeymoon via a list kept at a travel agent/tour operator. This allows couples to take a trip that may be more luxurious than they could afford themselves, and also allows the guests to give the couple a gift they can enjoy together. This trend has grown fast over the past five years as couples who have lived together for years realise it’s ok to ask their guests for a gift they will enjoy together and not just upgrade their bath towels or pans!”

For more information, please visit http://www.MarryAbroad.co.uk  or visit them on stand A53 at the National Wedding Show, Earls Court, London, 26-28 September 2014.