DELAYED WEDDING? DON’T OVERSPEND
With 260,000 weddings cancelled due to Covid, many couples are now excitedly planning their big days. Here’s how to avoid getting carried away and keep costs down
Hundreds of thousands of brides and grooms have had to cancel, postpone or scale back their weddings due to Covid, and many are now desperate to plan replacement celebrations. Wedding-related Google searches have gone up by 9,900 per cent since restrictions were lifted, but expert and founder of Bridal Wear business Frock Goddess (frockgoddess.co.uk). Jen Haworth explains that although couples are keen to organise the perfect day with all their family and friends, they don’t need to blow the budget. The average total cost of a wedding before Covid was just over £30,000, but with Jen’s easy tips below, you could save thousands on the cost.
MOVE AWAY FROM TRADITION
Many couples tied the knot during the restrictions, and are now organising a party to celebrate next year, but it doesn’t have to cost the earth.
“For my wedding I hired a fish and chip van – people don’t expect a sit down, three-course meal these days. Hiring a street food cart or van is a nice option and creates a laid-back atmosphere,” says Jen who held her wedding four years ago. “A couple I worked with recently also arranged an afternoon tea, which was less formal, and the guests loved it.” Jen also suggests starting your party later in the day. “If you get married or start your party around 6pm, you only need to feed people once, which will keep costs down.”
MAKE IT INTIMATE
“With many people holding ‘micro weddings’ to adhere to Covid restrictions, lots of others are now also considering smaller gatherings even though restrictions have eased,” says
Jen. “At the moment there is an acceptance that you can’t or don’t want to invite lots of people to your big day, and many couples are taking advantage of this. Even now, some venues are limiting numbers and lots of couples have found that has taken the pressure off them. Reducing your guest list is a great way to spend less and make it more intimate.”
THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT FAVOURS
Wedding favours have always been considered an extra expense and since Covid there’s been a huge uplift in Google searches for “personalised wedding favours”. “If you’re not careful, these can be very wasteful and expensive,” warns Jen. “Couples are now putting out little boxes on the tables and then putting a piece of wedding cake in each one. Nobody eats it at a wedding, so it’s a nice way for everyone to enjoy it and take home. I’ve also had a bride who set up a flower station with the flowers from the wedding and guests made a bouquet at the end of the day to take home with them.” Don’t feel you have to provide Covid accessories like masks or hand sanitiser, either. “Most people would bring their own, so it could create a lot of waste,” says Jen. “It’s also not the most romantic favour!”
AVOID BUYING NEW
Everyone wants their day to be beautiful, but Jen says there are plenty of ways to decorate your venue affordably. “It’s easy to see things other people have at their weddings and think, ‘I need that’, but ask yourself, ‘Is it going to enhance my day or my guests’ day?’ If not, don’t put yourself under that pressure.” For pretty decorations that cost next to nothing, Jen suggests using tea lights and paper pom poms. “Ask friends and family to collect glass jars before the wedding and on the day fill them with tealights. You can also make your own pom poms from recycled tissue paper and hang them from the ceiling (look for tutorials on youtube)”. Jen suggests hiring and buying second-hand decorations, too. “Companies hire out wedding props, and people sell their old decorations on eBay and Facebook Marketplace. For doughnut walls or photo boards and props, it’s so much easier.” A dress needn’t be costly either. “Borrow, hire or buy a secondhand dress”, says Jen. Check stillwhite.com for secondhand and ex-display dresses, and girlmeetsdress.com and vonleebridalhire.com to hire.
ASK FRIENDS TO HELP
“For my own wedding, we didn’t want wedding gifts from guests and so instead called in favours,” says Jen. “My sister made cupcakes and friends helped us with decorations. If you have someone who can do your hair, make your cake, or drive you in their car instead of giving a gift, it can be really nice.” By Annabelle Lee
● Frock Goddess specialise in laid back, contemporary, conscious bridalwear and ethical gifts and accessories. Social Media @frockgoddess