Tying the knot without tying up your cash

A wedding needs to be a super special day but, as we all know, getting hitched is legendary for being expensive. To help cut the cost, we’ve put together a lean but lovely approach to this milestone event so you can tie the knot without tangling up your finances.

Love it up with a pre-loved dress

Pre-loved clothing is all the rage so why not join the trend with your wedding dress? It’s a neat and nifty way to cut the cost of one of the biggest outlays on your biggest day. Bridal Reloved is the UK's largest chain of pre-owned wedding dress boutiques, enabling you to bag a dress for a fraction of the original price.

The clever people behind rockmywedding.co.uk also recognise that many of today’s brides and grooms want to pay less and help the planet. They encourage couples to sell on their pre-loved wedding items, with 10% of the proceeds of everything listed going to Trees for Life. Super sustainable weddings and a win-win for all!

And if these don’t fit the bill, why not ask a family member or friend if they are able to lend or hire out their old wedding dress, or even help you design and make it yourself?

Community groovin’

With most wedding costs tied up in the venue, it’s always worth looking at your local community or church hall to see how it compares. Wedding Venue Offers is an online website pointing you in the right direction for wedding function venues at discount prices.

Or, if you love the outdoors why not opt for a wedding in the fresh air and experience it all festival-style? The Outdoor Ceremonies directory features all kinds of options including lovely lakeside venues for less than £1,000. And why not tap up the family BBQ champion to get a sausage or two on the go? It not only adds to the fun but works out a lot less than a posh catered buffet!

Go green

Why not save some trees and send out wedding invites via your mobile phone? Simply design your invitation card with the use of an app like Canva, an interactive digital designing tool that’s super easy to use. Then, ping it around to your guest list via text, Facebook or Whatsapp. This approach makes it super easy for people to RSVP, too, and you can also use it to send on other info like how to get there and where to stay. It’s the future!

Have your cake and eat it!

These days, you don’t have to spend hundreds of pounds on a fancy wedding cake. You can buy plain traditional three-tiered versions from all the usual supermarkets which look and taste great, then get creative and decorate them yourselves to add that personal touch. Even better, consider asking a talented foodie friend or relative to bake one for you - as their gift to you. Just make sure you’re catering for all your guests’ dietary and allergy requirements! Save dosh on decs Save some money and make it all the merrier by decorating the venue yourself. Get creative family and friends involved and dress to impress the inside and out. Go homemade or something borrowed or, if you need some inspiration, have a look on etsy.co.uk which has loads of affordable ideas.

Tailor the tunes

No wedding day is complete without making some dance floor shapes with your favourite auntie, but you don’t need to spend big bucks on the hottest DJ in town. DIY the disco! Music apps like Spotify have this down to a fine art and allow you to work with your loved ones to create your own super-tailored playlists for a fraction of the price of a professional DJ. And while you’ll need a bit of time and patience, there’s lots of online advice on how to create a chart-topping finale to your Big Day.