Your Big Fat Foolish Wedding

Cut the fancy cake. Here's one that cost just $13 decorated with $10 worth of flowers. Money squandered on expensive weddings is better used to pay down debt, buy a home or save. (By Larry Crowe -- Associated Press)

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¿ You have a life-happens fund. This fund is used for everyday expenses, such as car repairs.

¿ You both are saving for retirement.

¿ Neither of you has credit card or student loan debt.

¿ If you have children, there are college funds for each in place.

If you can't check off every single item on that list, then you need to reconsider big reception plans and go on an inexpensive honeymoon, because you can't afford more.

¿ On the air: Michelle Singletary discusses personal finance Tuesdays on NPR's "Day to Day" program and online athttp://www.npr.org.

¿ By mail: Readers can write to her at The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.

¿ By e-mail:singletarym@washpost.com.

Comments and questions are welcome, but because of the volume of mail, personal responses are not always possible. Please note that comments or questions may be used in a future column, with the writer's name, unless a specific request to do otherwise is indicated.

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