Cut the high price of tying the knot

Tying the knot may be one of the happiest days in a person's life, but it can also be one of the most expensive. A poll by ESDlife (a government services portal) last year found Hong Kong couples spent an average of HK$282,317 on their weddings, up 6 per cent from the year before.

There is nothing that will fade marital bliss faster than an overstretched budget, so here are a few solutions to cut costs.

"What I would say is to rent out an art gallery, which means you have a blank canvas to work with. You can control how much or little you have to do," Carthy says. "The Space [in Sheung Wan] is a good venue. Basically, [try] anywhere that isn't a hotel or high-end restaurant."

Many people assume the local tradition of gifting red packets to the couple means the reception breaks even, but that is not always true, Carthy says. When she got married two years ago, she had her banquet at the Grand Hyatt. "People think you can make money off of receptions but at the big hotels you don't. And if it's Westernised, guests give you gifts rather than money."

Another cost-savvy trick is to hold the ceremony and reception in the same place. That may not be possible if you want a church wedding but it will save on booking two separate places and arranging transportation.