I got married for under £400 – people say I looked ‘beautiful’ in my £20 dress and my man got his ring for £14 from Asos

Set a Budget and Stick to It

• Determine your total budget early on and allocate funds to different aspects of the wedding.
• Track all expenses to avoid overspending.

Limit the Guest List

• Keep your guest list intimate to reduce costs on catering, venue, and other per-person expenses.

Choose an Affordable Venue

• Consider non-traditional venues like parks, community halls, or a family member's backyard.
• Look for venues that allow you to bring your own vendors.

DIY Decorations

• Create your own centerpieces, bouquets, and other décor items.
• Use seasonal flowers and simple, elegant designs.

Opt for a Weekday or Off-Season Wedding

• Venues and vendors often offer discounts for weekday or off-season weddings.

Simplify the Menu

• Choose a buffet or family-style meal over a plated dinner.
• Limit the number of courses and opt for affordable, yet delicious options.

Borrow or Rent Attire

• Borrow wedding attire from friends or family, or rent dresses and suits.
• Look for sales or consider pre-owned wedding dresses.

Digital Invitations

• Send digital invitations instead of printed ones to save on printing and postage costs.

Hire a DJ or Create a Playlist

• Hire a DJ instead of a live band, or create your own playlist for the reception.

Simplify the Cake

• Opt for a small, simple cake for the ceremonial cutting and serve a sheet cake to guests.

By being mindful of these tips, you can create a beautiful and memorable wedding without breaking the bank. Remember, the focus should be on celebrating your love and commitment, not on how much you spend.

Josie Griffiths said: When was the last time you spotted something in a shop window or browsed past it online and thought “that would be the perfect gift for 120 of my closest friends, work colleagues, relatives and boyfriend’s mate’s partners I barely know”?

I’ll tell you when, never, because there is NO universal gift everyone is going to love - unless you want to bankrupt yourself buying Rolexes and Tiffany jewellery, and even then they wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste.

So why do brides still pile the stress (and expense) of wedding favours on top of everything else we have to organise?

I’ve been to dozens of weddings over the past five years so when I got engaged, I already had a mental list of dos and don’ts for my own big day, and ditching wedding favours was firmly on it.

The cost of buying an individual present for everyone coming is huge, meaning many couples try and keep it in the under-a-fiver category.

But the reality is no-one wants a cheap, ill-thought-out keepsake - they’d probably rather one more free drink from the bar.

It’s not only that, wedding handbags are notoriously small, with no room to stuff an unexpected gift in, and catering waiters have a bad habit of whisking away the wedding favours when they’re clearing the coffee mug off the tables.

I bet none of my guests will even notice the lack of random gift on their dining table.

If you really hate the idea of not buying something for your guests, charity donations are always a nice gesture.

But the last thing your friends and family need is more random tat cluttering up their homes - so it’s time to save them the guilt of binning your Etsy-bought keyring.