Once the initial euphoria of the wedding celebrations begins to subside and the bills for the dress, flowers, photographer and lavish banquet have been settled, many newlyweds find the glow of their physical and emotional compatibility may be dulled somewhat by their financial incompatibility.
Derek Young, chief executive of ipac, a financial planning firm in Hong Kong, believes that when it comes to juggling finances, open and frank discussion is the key to maintaining marital bliss.
'Money can be a major sticking point in many new marriages and a prime cause for marital disharmony,' Mr Young says.
Communicating about money is one of the top challenges for even the most open and articulate couples, he says.
'Before a couple can build a financial foundation that supports each other's needs and dreams, it is necessary to understand what goals are important for each partner and why they are important,' Mr Young says.
He recommends that when starting a new life together, couples should focus on saving for retirement, paying off debt and preparing financially for any children.