A SAVVY couple who didn't want to spend too much "for just one day" organised their wedding for less than £3,000.
Lauren Vickery-Young, 25, and Connor Young, 33, decided to have a discount wedding as they both grew up working class and understand "the true value of money."
The newlyweds from Southampton, Hampshire managed to get their wedding costs down to £2,721 by saving on a photographer and making the invites themselves.
Lauren also bought her dress at a charity shop for £200 and Connor re-used a suit he already had.
The pair tied the knot on September 23 and had the ceremony at their local registry office and the reception at a cocktail – costing £1,350.
They made the wedding invites and decorations themselves and sought out bargains for the big day.
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They also relied on friends and family to take pictures on their phones and skipped getting a professional photographer.
Lauren explained: "I think it was a mixture of everything.
"We are both from working-class families so we were brought up knowing the true value of money.
"We were always taught that if you can't afford it, you can't have it.
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"I don't think either of us would want to spend so much money for just one day."
Connor, a banker, popped the question in December last year and the pair started planning their wedding the following May.
The average cost of a wedding in 2022 is £18,400 so the couple potentially saved over £15,000.
Lauren, a customer service assistant, said: "Keeping within a budget meant thinking of creative ways to make the day special.
"This meant that we had fun being creative and preparing for the day together.
"Keeping the list of vendors to a minimum meant we didn't need to rely or worry about them dropping out on the day.
"We think life is stressful enough as it is without the added pressure of putting on a big wedding."
The couple felt even more at ease with choices after Lauren read some horror stories on Facebook, including DJs cancelling or photographers losing memory cards.
Lauren said: "On these Facebook groups, there were multiple posts of couples getting into disagreements around wedding financing or fighting about what should and shouldn't be included.
"So much so that some had second-guessed their plans with others cancelling altogether.
"With our wedding, we knew we wouldn't encounter this which gave us peace of mind."
The couple said they wouldn't change anything about their wedding if they could do it again.
Lauren said: "I honestly don't think either of us would have wanted to do anything differently and, if anything, it went better than we thought it would.
"I think you're always going to be apprehensive at your own wedding in the hopes that everyone is enjoying themselves.
"We encouraged people to use it as a time to socialise, eat, drink and be merry.
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"Basically we just wanted one big party instead of a strict, fancy reception which I think we achieved."
HOW MUCH DID EVERYTHING COST?
Rings – £700
Reception & Registry – £1350
Dress – £200 Car
Hire/Flowers – £300
Hair – £30
Shoes and Veil – £35
Invitations – £30
Cake – £60
Welcome Sign – £16
Total: £2721
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