Congratulations you’re engaged!

Bruce & Tara Live - BIO
Bruce Russell and Tara Fay are co-stars of RTE’s flagship lifestyle show My Big Day: Home or Away, have created a platform that offers expert advice and creative content that couples and planners can avail of and trust. With a combined experience of over 30 years working as wedding & party planners, Bruce and Tara have planned everything from intimate Irish weddings to elaborate overseas celebrations and everything in between. Bruce and Tara Live is a space to share their curated advice, professional experience and invaluable insight.

The proposal was a complete surprise, and you are over the moon at the thought of starting this new chapter of your life together!
Family and friends are showering you with words of congrats, and throwing a multitude of questions and advice your way - “Have you set a date?” “What venue have you chosen” “When are we going dress shopping?” “I think you should go abroad.” “I know the perfect band for the party!” Reality has suddenly kicked in, and you have no idea where to start.

Money is the least liked topic of conversation. No matter how much money you have or wish you had, people put on a serious face at the mere mention of the word ‘money’ in any context. When planning a wedding, as with many parts of life, it’s the conversation you need to have before doing anything else.

Three key questions:
So, before you start dreaming of venues or trying on that first dress, here are a few key questions you need to discuss together:

1. Where will the money come from?

Often, it’s a combination of savings, bank loan, or loan from a family member. It’s important to discuss the options that are right for you and understand the conditions that these come with. That could be interest rates, repayment plans, or letting your parents take over the guest list.

2. What amount are you comfortable spending?

Whether you have the money or are borrowing the funds, it’s important to honestly agree an amount that you are both comfortable spending on your wedding. It’s an important, and magical day, but it’s one day.

3. What’s most important to you?

Have a conversation about the important elements of your wedding day…be honest.

Where does that leave us?
Once you’ve answered these questions, you are ready to start budgeting and planning! This should be an enjoyable process. Set yourself a plan which includes regular budget reviews, as priorities will change. You may spend more on the venue than you planned, and now you need to review the other elements to understand where that extra money will come from to pay for it.

As wedding planners, part of our role is to guide and educate our clients. They are making important financial decisions with their emotions, and that can be dangerous. It’s easy to be impulsive when surrounded by beautiful Pinterest boards and celebrity wedding inspiration on Instagram. Take a step back and evaluate each decision before signing on the dotted line and parting with you cash.

If you start the planning process on a solid foundation, where you are both comfortable and agree with the amount you have to spend, and the responsibility that comes with that, it will be one less stressful element to deal with later. Take our word for it, and happy planning!

Thinking of taking out a wedding loan?
If you're thinking of taking out a loan for a wedding, Comhar Linn is here to help. You can borrow up to €40,000. and repay within 5 years. With our competitive interest rate of 7.8% A.P.R. for wedding loans, and flexible repayment options, we've got you covered.