(BPT) - “I’m so lucky I’m marrying my best friend,” is a phrase you often hear in wedding toasts. Now that you’ve found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, make sure you protect each other by considering the bigger financial picture.

According to Wedding Paper Divas, 47 percent of engaged couples spend between one and nine hours per week planning their weddings, but it’s unlikely that much of that time is spent planning for life after the big day.

“Getting married is the perfect time to take a fresh look at your entire financial picture, including your insurance needs,” says Doug Smith, senior vice president of the Personal Lines division at Erie Insurance. “It’s much better to plan before the wedding so there are no surprises later.”