I’m a wedding planner – five money-saving tips that could save you THOUSANDS on your big day
YOUR wedding day is one of the most important days of your life - and could be one of the most expensive too.
Couples often spend months, if not years, planning every last detail to make sure their special day is perfect.
But perfection comes at a price - weddings in the UK now have an eye-watering average price tag of £20,493.
And with the cost of living soaring, spending huge sums of money is out of the question for many people.
Brides-to-be are taking to TikTok to find tips and advice on how to cut costs and still make sure their dream wedding day comes to life.
The Sun spoke to Tanya Russell, an award-winning wedding planner and founder of , to find out which TikTok hacks you should try, and which ones you should avoid.
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Don't by shy, DIY
TikTok user @islarosepotkins says that she managed to save on her wedding by making all the stationary herself.
Wedding stationary usually includes ceremony programmes, seating plans, menus, invitations and place cards.
Isla says she even hand stamped confetti to cut back on cost.
The average spend on wedding stationary is around £300, according to , so it's no surprise more people are are turning to DIY.
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But Tanya says making things yourself isn't always the cheapest option.
The cost of buying items like paper and ink for printing invitations, and paint or superglue for making decorations, can quickly add up.
Tanya says: "If you make a mistake while you're making something, you may end up having to buy all the items again to start over.
"I see a lot of couples trying to do things themselves, and it can resort in a lot of stress."
But there are simple ways to cut costs that aren't too time consuming, she says.
Sending invitations by email is a cheaper alternative to paper invites - and saves on postage too - or you could even build your own website for guests to RSVP online.
Be Thrifty
TikTokker Isla also saved money by buying her ceremony and reception decorations second-hand.
Isla and her husband then sold everything they thrifted to try and make some money back.
Sites like Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and Freecycle are all worth checking.
But Tanya says: "If you're buying decorations, you need to think about what you're going to do with them after.
"Even if sell them, you most likely won't make back all the money you spent in the first place.
"It's always worth checking, but I would suggest looking up the cost to hire things like decorations, and decide which is cheaper."
You can download free budget spreadsheets online, such as this one from , or download free apps such as , to help you keep track of your finances.
Ditch wedding favours
Wedding favours are small gifts given out to wedding guests by the bride and groom, as a little thank you for attending the wedding.
But content creator @shanndetrick says while giving out favours is a nice gesture, they are "totally unnecessary" and should be ditched.
Couples usually spend between £1 to £3 on each wedding favour, according to .
So if you had 150 guests, you can expect to pay between £150-£450.
And Tanya says couples should make a note of this tip, as she often sees these gifts left behind at the end of a wedding.
She added: "If you're going to do wedding favours, do something that's worthwhile and things that people with actually use.
"Alternatively, a popular trend I'm seeing is people giving out £1 scratch cards.
"Everyone will use them, and it's fun, memorable and not too costly."
But don't be afraid to ditch this tradition altogether if you want to keep costs down - your guests are unlikely to notice.
No free booze
TikTokker @lilykltram says deciding not to have an open bar saved money on her big day.
Instead, her and her husband brought their own beer, wine and spirits for guests.
A open bar can set you back more than £2,000, research by suggests.
But Tanya says there's no need to have a free bar at the wedding, as guests are usually more than happy to buy their own drinks.
She adds: ";An open bar will cost you an absolute fortune.
"Have reception drinks and then a cash bar, or a make-your-own cocktails stand is also a cheaper alternative."
But before you decide to supply your own booze, Tanya says couples need to be aware of corkage charges.
Some venues will charge newlyweds for serving alcohol that they have brought along themselves.
Your venue will be able to tell you if it charge corkage fees.
Cut the cake
Wedding cakes from a luxury baker can cost up to £1,000, experts at say.
Thrifty bride @kaityln.lauren saved on her wedding day by ordering a plain white cake and adding decorations herself.
Some couples even decide to ditch the cake altogether, opting for cupcakes or donuts instead.
But if you are set on having a wedding Cake, Tanya says there are aways to do it on a budget.
She says: "If you've got a guest list of 150 people - get a cake that serves 60 people.
"Unless you are using it as your dessert, you'll probably see a lot of it go to waste.
"I've been to weddings where the cake hasn't even been touched."
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The Sun recently spoke to bride-to-be Alicia, who is saving money by having her mum make the cake for her wedding.
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We also put together a helpful guide, with tips from real brides, on how to manage costs and get the best wedding insurance.