Submitted by Victoria McMagnus on Thu, 02/28/2008 - 17:33.

Getting married is a major event in anyone's life - but for many people the wedding itself is the focal point. People plan the event for months, sometimes years, and women fuss about the smallest details of their dress and that of the bridesmaids and pageboys; the flower arrangements; the food, the reception and so on. They get their inspiration from celebrities who they want to emulate, so that they too can be a star.

The average cost of a wedding in the UK is £17,000 and in the US $28,000. Only a quarter of those weddings are paid for by parents, according to a US survey.