A friend of mine called yesterday. We were talking about the weather, the gig we saw on Friday night and then we got onto the topic of the day- weddings. I was boasting about having three weddings in the new year- how popular!- when he completely outranked me by mentioning he was likely to be groomsman at at least four. Any doubt that we have officially moved into wedding season is gone. Being at a surprise proposal/ engagement party on Saturday night led me to think about the difficulties young people have in saving for a wedding. After all, the cost of an engagement- ring, venue- is hefty enough unless you're earning big bucks. The cost of saving for a wedding is an even greater strain. So, if you've got a shiny new ring on your finger, what are 5 steps to take to ensure you're financially ready for the big day? Be realistic, otherwise you'll end up spending a lot more than you anticipated and undermine your finances. Write out at prospective guest list, get some ballpark figures on venue costs, set an upper limit to spend on the dress. It's a very special day but, to my mind, there are lots of important things to spend money on. It's worthwhile limiting the amount you spend on a wedding in order to achieve other financial goals. Phone A Friend An important part of a good budget is working out areas where you can save money. At first thought, I'd