I threw a budget wedding and got everything cut price – but I still had TWO dresses… one of them was only a fiver
WITH an average cost of anywhere between £18,000 to an astonishing £32,000, a wedding day can leave many financially fraught.
But one savvy bride figured out how to cut the price by more than half, spending a little under £7,000.
Grace Evans, 30, who struggles with the long-term condition fibromyalgia (extreme fatigue and widespread pain), opted for a small ceremony on 8 September 2021 to her groom Jamie Wilkins, 31, an archaeologist.
Tying the knot at the exclusive Cotswold venue Pauntley Court in front of 24 guests, followed by a wonderful reception in the manor house, the thrifty couple managed to spend just £6,950.
Grace, from Worcester, said: "We decided that we were just going to have a micro wedding and make it a lot easier.
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"Covid made us realise our priorities and it was for our grandparents to see us get married and for everyone to feel safe.
''They are elderly so a micro wedding was perfect."
A lover of vintage and second hand clothes, Grace revealed that she spent £325 on her Justin Alexander wedding dress, which she purchased on eBay.
"The lady I bought it off originally paid £1,795,'' she said.
"Luckily, she lived locally in Gloucestershire so, before I actually bid on it, I went over and she let me try it on."
The thriftiness didn't stop there - her wedding slippers and evening dress were also from eBay, with her Rainbow Club shoes coming at £15 and her frock a mere £4.60.
The couple's wedding rings - usually with a price tag worth thousands - were bought at a shop's closing down sale for half the value - with Grace's costing £500 and James' £250.
The savvy newlyweds also managed to find a way to significantly cut the cost of their the three-tier wedding cake.
Created from a £15 M&S cake and two cakes from a local café, costing £10 each, the total came to £35.
To make the day easier, Grace and Jamie's families and friends both pitched in to assist the couple too.
For example, her mum, Karen, 58, made Grace a stunning garter using lace bought from website Amazon and elastic and a "little blue ribbon" she had at home.
"It could have cost £35 if bought from Etsy but she made it for £5," said Grace, who also bagged her pink bridesmaids' dresses for bargain prices.
"Two of my friends - Rosie and Miriam, both 30, were bridesmaids.
''They wore multiway dresses that cost £25 instead of £110 from a Coast sale.
''My cousin, Nina, 32, was also a bridesmaid and wore the duskiest pink dress. Hers was Oasis and she got it from TK Maxx for £11.''
"I just looked through all the sales, keeping in mind which dress would suit which friend.
"I got some pretty night robes from Primark.
''They're cream and green and beautiful.
''And, instead of being £14 each, they were on sale for £7.”
The married couple has also found ways to save as they renovated their home from “top to bottom”.
Grace said: "We bought a lot of things second hand and I gave them a new lease of life by painting them.
''We love getting stuff from second hand shops.
"People really should give DIY a go, as it's so satisfying and often we feel like we can't do something, but if you just give it a go, you'll find you can.
"I'd recommend saving to everyone, as it's really good fun once you get into the swing."
In other news, a bride-to-be has threatened to uninvite her father's girlfriend after finding out she's planning to wear an off-white silk dress to her wedding.
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