Church Hopes to Break 'Spend, Spend, Spend' Wedding Culture

Forget lavish gowns and buffets at your wedding. If you're getting married any time soon, the Church of England hopes you might take a leaf out of its new book and buy your wedding dress and suit from a charity shop - and give it back afterwards.

That is just one of many suggestions in the Church of England's new book, Making the Most of Weddings, released just days ahead of Valentine's Day.

Other novel suggestions to make your wedding more cost effective include inviting your guests to bring a bottle and arriving at the church as part of a flower parade or in a taxi.

Among other things, the book aims to debunk the idea that weddings need to cost thousands of pounds and remind engaged couples that the real investment has to be made in the relationship itself.

In addition to the tips on saving money on the events of the big day, Making the Most of Weddings offers ideas for arranging an environmentally friendly wedding, such as using organic food for the wedding breakfast or fairly-traded materials for the dress, or arranging the wedding list with a charity.