A savvy bride who was told she couldn’t make a budget wedding work has stuck to her guns – by sending out text message invites and skipping the cake.
Lauren and Andy Ingham had just spent a fortune moving into their first home together when he popped the question.
The pair, 30 and 33, had an idea of the fairytale wedding they wanted but were on a tight budget.
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Several sacrifices had to be made and Lauren used a very cheeky trick to keep costs lower.
“When people hear the word ‘wedding’ they double the price,” the quality manager, from Yorkshire told What’s The Jam.
“I often said anything I bought was for a birthday, so I could get items a bit cheaper.
“We always wanted to have a low-budget wedding, as we have other things to spend our money on, such as doing up our new house.
“I couldn’t picture forking out tens of thousands for one day – no matter how special it is.
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“I stuck to my guns and made it work.”
Lauren and Andy’s first cost-saver was getting married at a registry office.
They invited 22 guests to the ceremony and reception, which was held at a local restaurant for free.
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For food, they wanted their loved ones to enjoy the full monty, so opted for a three-course dinner at £34.95 per head.
Since it was one of the last weddings the company held, they were “super reasonable” with prices.
The package also included a welcome drink for all guests on arrival.
Invites, on average, cost around £200 according to Bridebook; so they sent everyone a text instead for free.
And while they wanted a wedding cake, the planning app estimates this can come in at an eye-watering £500.
More often than not, it gets wasted as people are too full on food and drink.
Lauren and Andy decided to skip the sweet treat, opting for a doughnut tower instead, costing £60, and put the savings towards her £899 wedding dress from a local boutique.
Using her creative skill, the bride crafted all her own table decor using local wood blocks, that were disposed off-cuts, for table numbers and place settings and asked her friends to make flower arrangements.
And it was a big hit with guests.
She said: “Everyone loved it.
“No one was surprised [by the cost] as we discussed keeping it low-budget.
“But people were amazed at how good the food was for the price we paid and as drinks were super cheap.
“I just didn’t pay for things I didn’t want.”
Lauren’s step-dad, Derek, was their photographer; for free, of course.
And the pair didn’t hire a DJ, opting for a curated Spotify playlist to keep the party going.
She also scoured deals for high-street shops, such as Hobbycraft and Debenhams, for items including electric candles and flower petals, as well as her shoes.
Her top piece of advice? Set a budget – and don’t use a credit card.
She added: “You’ve got to set a budget in each area and stick to it.
“If you start using a credit card, you’ll rack up other purchases and the debt will quickly mount up.
“It’s a lethal choice.
“Create a mood board for what you like.
“Following other people on social media or sticking to trends will only increase the price.
“Most importantly, accept help from others.
“I loved every minute and wouldn’t change a thing.”
Hamish Shephard, founder of Bridebook, has some expert tips to keep wedding costs low.
He said: “Make sure to keep your eyes peeled year-round for bargains.
“Remember, items like alcohol don’t go off, so whenever you’re having your wedding, I recommend buying any alcohol you need just after Christmas or around the summer bank holidays.
“Facebook Marketplace and charity shops are also great places to find decor, dresses, signage or centrepieces used once and sold at a discount.
“You can DIY a surprising number of things at a wedding as well, including using mason jars and dried flowers for centrepieces; making your own snack and dessert baskets to feed guests; and even creating your own invitations, place cards and thank you notes with a printable template.
“Whatever your budget is, it’s usually better to plan for 5-10% more, just to be safe.
“The smaller things often add up, or there might be one area that’s particularly important to you.”
COST BREAKDOWN:
- Registry Office – £450
- Reception Venue – Free
- Food and Welcome Drink – £34.95pp
- Cocktails – £241
- Maid Of Honour Dress – £30
- Invites – Free
- Doughnut Tower – £60
- Table Decor – £60
- Flowers – £50
- Dress – £899
- Hair Accessories – £10
- Shoes and Bag – £40
- Hair and Makeup for Two – £150
- Photographer – Free
- Spotify Playlist – Free
- Groom Suit – £295
- Misc: £676.20
- TOTAL: £3,800
READ MORE: Woman cuts off own MOLE after refusing to pay ‘in this economy’
