FROM the price of a venue to catering and the evening entertainment, any bride-to-be will know that a wedding day doesn't come cheap.
But it may surprise you to hear that the average cost of getting hitched has steadily increased since 2012, to an astonishing £31,974.
During the pandemic, many couples were forced to opt for unconventional weddings that looked far from traditional and, significantly, didn’t cost tens of thousands of pounds either.
Co-founder of money-saving website, Choosewisely.co.uk, Tara Flynn and the team spoke with recently married couples who were forced to change their plans dramatically because of the pandemic.
Now, they've shared top tips on organising a highly personalised wedding that won’t break the bank…
Design digital wedding invitations
The cost of wedding invitations can vary depending on a whole host of factors – including the type of invitations wanted and the number of guests they’re being sent out to.
But according to money-saving experts, there's a very simple way to cut back on the cost of wedding invitations – and that's to go digital.
"Use free design apps to create your invitations and send them via WhatsApp or email," they advise.
Throw a party and do the legal bit another day
Finance experts also recommend throwing a party first, before diving into the legal part of the ceremony.
"Hold an imitation wedding celebration in a garden," they suggest. "Invite guests to listen to your promises, and then go to a registry office another day to make your marriage legal."
Cost of marriage at a registration office: £57
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Wait and get married anywhere
While some have always dreamt of getting married in a castle, for others, the venue isn't important. And it's good news if you fall under the latter…
"If you don’t mind waiting, you could soon get married wherever you like because the Law Commission has recommended that weddings take place anywhere," the money-saving experts suggest.
"You can wed in your back garden, on the beach, or in the local park, saving you thousands on venue fees."
Forget about wedding cars
And when it comes to wedding cars, forget it!
The money-saving professionals note: "Your guests want to see you get hitched; how you arrived isn’t important to them."
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Get married mid-week and in the evening
"Due to the pandemic, the backlog of couples getting hitched on a Saturday meant couples were forced to get married midweek and guess what? No one minded," the money experts comment.
They also say to bear in mind that the later you get married, the less food and drink you need to provide for your guests.
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Replace fresh flowers with dried and make alternative buttonholes
Replacing fresh flowers with dried is also a great way to keep your bouquets and centrepieces forever.
The money gurus go on to note that buttonholes can be made from anything – adding that small feathers and pampas are good alternatives.
Dried flower bouquet: £35
50 x small feathers: £15
Borrow or hire your wedding dress and do your own hair and makeup
"You’ll only get one wear of your a wedding dress and you won’t know what to do with it afterwards, so consider borrowing or renting a dress to save yourself money," the finance experts advise.
They also suggest avoiding professional hair and makeup which can cost a small fortune.
Instead, they urge the bride-to-be to practice doing it themselves using YouTube videos or asking for a free consultation at a makeup counter on the high street.
Cost: £0 – £300
Ask your bridesmaids and groomsmen to wear their favourite outfit
According to the experts, it's also worth pointing out that your bridesmaids do not need to match – their friendship is all that matters.
And the same applies to groomsmen.
"Top hats and tails are an expensive tradition," they explain. "Your groomsmen don’t have to match; have them wear their favourite suit instead."
Cost: £0
DIY confetti and table decorations
"Ask friends with flowers in their garden to save the petals – instant biodegradable confetti," the money-saving gurus suggest.
They also go on to say that centrepieces can be expensive, but a bottle with a candle in it looks rustic and romantic.
"Save up all your bottles and jam jars for free centrepieces in the run-up to the wedding," they add.
Cost: £0
Book your photographer for a couple of hours
Most photographers will charge you more the longer they stay.
In reality, you’ll only ever have one or two photographs printed and displayed in your house, so you don’t need thousands of shots.
"Get your guests to snap away on their phones instead," the experts suggest.
Cost: £500
Serve crisps rather than canapes
Canapes are expensive, but everyone loves old-school crisps like Monster Munch, Discos and Skips, according to the experts.
"No guest can resist a trip down memory lane to childhood lunchboxes."
Cost: £20 – £50
Consider a buffet and BYO booze
The gurus explain that your guests won’t mind how they’re fed, as long as they are.
"A buffet always works out much cheaper because the caterers will need less staff to serve it," they add.
"And if you’re celebrating at an unlicensed venue, ask your guests to bring their own booze."
That way, they get to drink their preferred tipple, and you’ll save yourself a fortune."
Another money-saving hack is to ditch the glass of champagne that you traditionally have to raise a toast during the speeches and to get them to raise the glass they already have – and to steer clear of wedding favours.
"Many guests often leave them behind anyway, so save yourself the hassle," they add.
Cost: £15-£30 per head
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Hire loudspeakers and plug in your phone
Live bands are great, but they come with an expensive price tag.
Instead, the experts recommend creating a playlist of songs you love to dance to and cranking up the volume.
Cost: £60
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