With the average wedding costing £18,400, you may be looking to filter out what is and isn't essential for your big day, but budgeting doesn't mean you have to compromise on quality.
From choosing a venue and wedding cake to food, drink and entertainment, SoGlos rounds up seven tips on creating an affordable — but equally as dreamy — wedding in Gloucestershire.
Opt for flexible wedding packages
Whether its ceremony style, decoration, food choices or just the way you want the day to run, choosing a flexible wedding package allows couples to design their dream day from start to finish — at a cost that meets their budget.
Eastwood Park offers flexible packages which allow brides and grooms to build their wedding vision from a variety of options. This includes navigating food options such as a traditional sit-down wedding breakfast or casual buffet to opting for a wedding planner, making each ceremony uniquely tailored to each couple.
Be savvy with catering
Depending on the style of your big day, a burger stand or barbecue can prove just as delicious and your party could be even more fun than a sit-down meal.
Even if you would rather stick to more traditional wedding fare, skipping on the likes of a wedding breakfast and providing a buffet is often much cheaper than providing a three-course meal.
Pick out a pre-loved wedding dress
Rather than spending thousands on a brand-new designer dress, purchasing second hand offers an option to get the wedding dress of your dreams without draining your wedding fund.
Bridal Reloved in Gloucester stocks high-end, pre-owned wedding dresses in many styles; with Pre-loved Bridal Boutique also being within close proximity, located just across the border in Evesham. Alternatively, tying into tradition for 'something borrowed' why not choose to hire your dress for the day?
Forage for your flowers
From bridal and bridesmaids' bouquets to buttonholes and arrangements for reception tables, a good way to cut down your wedding costs is to forage for your own flowers, rather than purchasing from a florist.
Take a walk in the local Gloucestershire woods to forage tree ivy and beech, elderflower, honeysuckle and jasmine, or consider growing your own blossoming buds in the garden. Taking into consideration the season your wedding will be in, spring is a great time for anemones and ranunculus; weddings from May to June allow for bouquets blooming with abundant peonies; roses are best in the summer; while dahlias bloom from late summer into the autumn.
Incorporate DIY decorations
Rather than splashing out on pre-made decorations, why not get crafty and save money by making your own?
Pop tea lights in old jam jars; scatter dried flower petals on tables, or use for confetti; make paper flowers to drape under lights or hang in an outdoor patio area; or perhaps spray paint branches with gold or silver glitter for a cost effective way to set the scene at a winter wedding.
Get creative with entertainment
If hiring a band is out of your price range, a well-curated Spotify or Apple Music playlist is sure to keep guests dancing throughout the night.
Alternatively, you could create a karaoke party at your wedding by using a standard sing-along machine — sure to make for some memorable moments, and you might even uncover a hidden talent...
Make use of friends and family
Asking friends and family for help with certain parts of your wedding can help to ease the financial pressures.
This could be anything from enlisting your friend to bake your wedding cake to taking pictures or video of your big day — and to thank them, you could offer a cost-friendly but thoughtful gift such as homemade jam or candles.
