It’s no secret that getting married is a huge financial commitment, and with the average wedding expected to cost almost £26,000in 20241, many are turning to second hand sources to pull together their perfect day on a much lower budget.
It seems more affordable and low key weddings are the way forward for many, with searches for ‘small wedding’ more than double that of ‘large wedding’ this month.
With that in mind, greetings card marketplace, thortful, has teamed up with vintage expert at Magpie Wedding, Kate Beavis, to get gather some unique and practical tips on where to get started when it comes to planning your own small wedding, and where you can easily save your cash.
Be super strict with your budget
It’s likely that the first thing you’ll want to do after getting engaged is look at potential venues and, whilst it is such an exciting part of the planning process, it’s also going to be your biggest cost and a venue’s cost isn’t always clear at first glance. Before you get drawn into the all-encompassing world of wedding planning, sit down together to work out your budget and consider your options within it.
Kate says: “It is possible to get wed for as little as £40 (the price of the registry office) and everything else is extra. Of course, you will want the extras – but you don’t need it all so think about what is most important to you.”
Hire or buy a preloved wedding dress
You don’t have to spend thousands on your dress, hiring or buying a preloved dress is a great way to prolong the lifecycle of the garment whilst being a more environmentally friendly option too.
When it comes to finding your perfect preloved dress, Kate advises: “You can buy a dress from marketplaces such eBay or visit a bridal preloved shop such as Bridal Reloved. There you can get ex-sample designer dresses at approximately £750 that would have been thousands if sold as new. Also, vintage wedding dresses can be as little as £100 depending on their age and condition. Visit specialist shops as they will be able to advise on alterations, and the dresses will be in better condition.”
Bride-to-be Jessica, from Wolverhampton, reveals how she made the ultimate saving when it came to dress shopping – spending just £9 on her dream dress: “I spotted my ceremony dress at my local charity shop, somewhere that I frequently visit! I first bought it with the intention of using it as a costume in one of our drama group’s performances, but when I tried it on, I fell in love. My mother has offered to pay for specialist dry cleaning for it before the big day too, so it’ll look even better – it definitely looks a lot more expensive than its £9 price tag!”
DIY your décor
When it comes to styling your venue, from decorations to flowers – aim to make as much of it yourself as you can. There are plenty of ways to get crafty, and including your own personal touches will add lots of character and is a truly unique way of decorating for your special day.
“You could grow your own flowers to display on the tables, make ribbon garlands using scraps, or even buy new materials from craft shops. Look to Pinterest for ideas and even see if you can get your friends and family involved to help you,” explains Kate.
Create fun ways to get your guests involved
Planning your wedding doesn’t need to solely lie with you and your partner, you’ll be surprised at how many guests will love the opportunity to get involved with the planning process, especially if it involves doing something crafty and fun.
Kate suggests: “You could asks a number of guests to ‘bring a dish’ for wedding breakfast and create a delicious menu filled with all your loved ones’ favourite foods. Or perhaps ask your wedding party to have a Bake-Off style competition where guests make sweet treats – dessert sorted!”
Scour the second-hand shops
When it comes to adding the all important finishing touches, second-hand shops and car boot sales can be your best friend.
Kate says: “You can find all sorts from plates and glasses to vases and all sorts of other bits when shopping second-hand, particularly at a car boot sale. Just make sure you keep a list of what you have and need as you could still overspend here.”
Something borrowed
You can really embrace the ‘something borrowed’ phrase when it comes to DIYing your wedding. “Your friends may have jars you can use for vases or props to style your tables with to add a unique touch. Or perhaps your grandma has some special sentimental jewellery that you can wear on the day,” Kate suggests.
Borrowing items from loved ones is a great way to add personal touches and will help to make your day even more special, for both you and your guests.
Upcycle everything!
Take a look on wedding Pinterest or TikTok and you’ll soon realise that you have so many items at home that can be upcycled for your wedding. From creating a welcome sign out of a mirror to creating unique centrepieces for your tables, upcycling will save you a lot of money and it’s a fun thing to do together in the run up to your wedding.
Kate says: “It might be that you’ve already got some stuff lying around that you can upcycle. Gin bottles or empty wine bottles work well for flowers, pallets for signs for example. If you’re buying new items to get crafty with, consider if it can be sold afterwards and this will help you to make some of your money back.”
Wedding planning is such an exciting time but it can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to pricing things up. Kate’s advise is: “Always prioritise what is most important to you. Whether it’s the photography or the musicians, make sure to spend the necessary money on this! Then decide what is the lowest on your priority list and ask yourself whether you really need it. For example, you may decide to ditch wedding favours, or a DJ.”