Nine tips for a lower cost wedding

Weddings can be beautiful without being super expensive. When James and I planned ours, we knew we wanted something meaningful, personal, and affordable - and I’m delighted to say we managed just that. Here are a few ways we saved money whilst still having a day to remember.

1. We knew that we wanted a simple wedding that wasn't too traditional. I was looking for a dress that felt special, but not too fancy. I also didn't want to wear white or cream as it doesn't suit my skintone and makes me look incredibly translucent! I picked a bridesmaid dress, which not only gave me the strong colour that I was looking for, but was also a fraction of the price of a traditional dress.

2. I created our invitation design at my printmaking evening class at Canterbury College. I wanted to print a quote by Dr Seuss that had a special meaning to us as a couple, but although I found a vintage letterpress set in a drawer in the studio, I couldn't find a galley to fit them in. I painstakingly spent three hours printing out the quote, one letter at a time, and I was really pleased with the design. I scanned the quote and uploaded it into some online editing software, added the details and had them professionally printed. I then decorated each invitation with two little paper hearts - one red for James, and one purple for me.

3. Both my engagement ring and our wedding rings came from independent sellers that we found online. My engagement ring is a lovely little sterling silver, gold and diamond star from one of my favourite jewellery designers - Sarah Meredith from Rockcakes, based in Hastings, and our wedding rings are titanium (known for being hardwearing) from Tantalus in London. The total cost for all three rings was around £300, and they are all British made and lovely. 

4. We picked a tiny mid-week wedding ceremony at Wellington House in Canterbury. A Wednesday is considerably less expensive than a weekend, and we selected one in half term as it was obviously essential that James's kids could be there. We wanted something simple and not particularly traditional, and the registry office let us write our own vows, choose from a selection of readings, and create our own playlist. It was incredibly relaxed and at times, a little bit silly, which was exactly what we were hoping for.

5. We weren't going to have an official photographer, as our research showed it to be out of our price range. At the last minute, (literally three days beforehand) my sister found a link to a photographer that specialised in both micro weddings and short notice, and he created an affordable package for us. If you are in East Kent and need a photographer for your wedding, we heartily recommend Colin Sherlock Photography. Relaxed, fun, and the photos are just gorgeous! He captured the ceremony, suggested Solly's Orchard for group shots, and then walked with James and I around the city to capture us near some of our favourite places. Obviously one of mine was the shop!

6. We decided to have a party a few weeks later, (because a party on a Wednesday might not be particularly popular!) and not only did this spread the cost, it also made the fun and anticipation last much longer. We chose the Westgate Hall in Canterbury - a beautiful restored army drill hall that hosts all manner of lovely events throughout the year. It has the warmth and community feel of a village hall but is much fancier!

7. The Westgate Hall team completely understood our vision and gave us full flexibility. We are taking our own tablecloths and utensils, have made a Spotify playlist, borrowed a friend’s PA system, and I have made the bunting and wedding favours myself. Westgate Hall offered a cash bar, a security team and all of the tidying up afterwards for a very fair price. (Photos to follow!)

8. We're both in our forties and have been living together since 2022, so we didn't feel that we needed a gift registry. We've asked the guests to bring food instead. getting them to flip a coin to decide whether they brought a sweet or savoury dish. We thought would be a fun way to involve our friends and family, an excellent money saving exercise and a marvellous way to ensure that everyone had something that they would enjoy eating. 

We've decided to add a quiz and a game of bingo to the fun to make it super quirky!

9. Mama T's beautiful dried flowers were the star of the show, and I was so lucky to have help from Katherine and Ami, who made the magic happen as I scampered around the shop in anticipation! My bouquet, a flower crown, buttonholes for the ceremony, and jam jar posies for the party were all created by them, and I’m so grateful.

The best part? I still have my bouquet. We are inviting guests to take the table flowers home at the end of the night - a lovely keepsake for them, and nothing will go to waste. 

Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. It felt completely us – thoughtful, fun, and a little bit strange! And honestly? Some of the loveliest moments came from the simplest ideas. 

If you’re planning a wedding and feeling overwhelmed by the costs, my suggestion is this: focus on what really matters to you. Forget the pressure to follow tradition or spend a fortune. A beautiful day doesn’t need to come with a huge price tag – it just needs to feel right for you and your person.

If you've got any comments, stories or tips, I'd love to read them! Drop a note below...