Latest news with #budgetwedding
The Sun
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Bride-to-be reveals the best UK spots to nab a second hand wedding dress after finding her dream gown for £40
MANY people find themselves forking out hundreds, if not thousands, for their wedding dress. However, one bride-to-be revealed how she found her 'dream' gown in a charity shop for £40 - and she revealed the best hot spots for secondhand dresses in the UK. 2 2 Savvy Rose Myfanwy, who posts under @rosemyfanwy1, uploaded a video after finding a stunning embellished wedding dress for her special day. The ivory gown had thin straps, a flattering V-neckline, a drop back and a breathtaking patterned A-line skirt. She wrote: 'POV you found your dream wedding dress in a charity shop for £40.' Considering the average bride in the UK spends between £1,300 and £1,500 on their wedding dress, with some designers even charging upwards of £10,000 for their gowns, it was certainly a steal. Delighted at her purse-friendly find, she snapped it up straight away for her special day. The budget-conscious bride added: 'Would you go for a second hand dress!!!???? 'Wedding dresses don't have to cost you hundreds or even thousands! 'There's an unbelievable amount of second hand dresses out there waiting for you, you just need to know where to look.' Rose shared how she had found her dress at Mary's Living and Giving shop in Clifton, Bristol. She added: 'They were so lovely in there and though I didn't have anyone there who I knew when I tried it on, it was actually quite fun pottering round the shop in it getting all the other customers' thoughts.' The bride-to-be also shared some of her top recommendations for snapping up a bargain bridal gown. The first was Tenovus on the Gloucester Road in Bristol which has a 'huuuuge selection' of second hand dresses upstairs. She said there is 'something for everyone and also bridesmaids bits too.' The second place to try is Facebook Marketplace and eBay. Rose continued: 'I didn't find any that would have suited me but worth a look for sure. 'I also would prefer to find one in person so I can try it on, see how it feels etc.' How to pick the perfect wedding dress Wedding season is in full swing, but when it comes to picking your perfect dress, most new brides-to-be probably feel a bit clueless. As someone who's tying the knot in August 2024, Josie Griffiths, deputy digital Fabulous editor and bride-to-be, has shared her top tips... Give yourself time - unless you're a sample size, dresses can take months to even arrive. Don't stress yourself out by looking too late, in my opinion dress shopping should be the second thing on your list, right after finding a venue. Visit multiple shops - you don't want to be buying on your first visit. But not too many - like a f***boy who can't stop swiping on Tinder, having too much choice isn't going to help you find The One. Take people with you - women who will be honest but also hype you up, unlike the mean relatives on Say Yes To The Dress, and ideally people from different areas of your life who won't automatically say the same thing. I shopped with my mum and two best friends, who didn't know each other and had different styles. Think it over - I returned to the shop before making my final decision on the dress I chose, re-trying it with my second favourite to make sure I was certain. It's an expensive purchase, and you can't send it back like you might your next Asos order, so take time to mull it over. She also recommended you try vintage shops and fayres. The savvy shopper explained: 'These are likely to be more on the pricey side compared to charity shops but will be a great place to look for stunning classy dresses if you're after a timeless classic. 'Also, nowhere near as expensive as a brand new dress.' Many people were quick to comment on her frugal dress, with one saying: 'I'd buy it in a heartbeat. it looks stunning on you.' A second added: 'that dress was made for you.'
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A couple pulled off their dream wedding with 125 guests for under $25,000. From Costco cake to thrifted decor, here's how they did it.
Madeline Sideras and Greg Johnston got married in Los Angeles in July 2023. They pulled off a 125-guest wedding for $25,000. Thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, and skipping some expected wedding moves made it happen. Anyone who has gotten married or even just been to a wedding recently will tell you it's expensive. Some couples are trying to cut costs for their weddings wherever they can, eloping or forgoing elaborate bachelorette parties. When Madeline Sideras and Greg Johnston tied the knot in 2023, they had to be creative to stay within their $25,000 budget. Madeline Sideras knew she didn't want a long engagement when Greg Johnston proposed in January 2023. Sideras, 31, is a model and content creator based in Los Angeles. She set her wedding date to Johnston, a 28-year-old tech recruiter, for July 13, 2023, just six months after he popped the question. Sideras had always wanted a summer wedding and didn't want to wait a year and a half to get married. "The engagement process can be very stressful, and I just wanted to do it as quickly as possible," she said. "Six months felt like enough time for me." The couple had their hearts set on a backyard wedding with a budget of $25,000. "I love the movie 'Father of the Bride,'" Sideras told Business Insider of her vision for her "casual and celebratory" wedding. "I think that's such a sweet movie, and I love that aesthetic. I just wanted a backyard wedding." Sideras and Johnston planned to invite between 125 and 150 people to the wedding, but they wanted to keep their budget at $25,000, to which Sideras' parents contributed. According to The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in California is over $39,000, but Sideras didn't want to go into debt paying for their event. "You have to cut it off somewhere," Sideras said. Finding an affordable venue was step one for the couple. Although she wanted a backyard wedding, Sideras didn't have a backyard in Los Angeles for the event, as she lives in an apartment. She first searched Vrbo and Airbnb for homes she could rent for the weekend of the wedding, but she couldn't find a rental property that allowed for large events. Then, she stumbled upon the Bissell House in Pasadena after hours of searching online. The venue has since closed, but it had the spacious backyard Sideras was looking for, as well as a beautiful interior. "As soon as we got there, I could tell, 'This is it,'" Sideras said. "The Bissell House had so many antiques and beautiful furniture, and the wallpaper and everything inside. It was like the perfect grandma shabby chic house." Sideras rented the house for $10,000 for three days and two nights, using it as lodging for her and Johnston's families over the weekend. The couple also hosted their rehearsal dinner at the Bissell House, so they didn't have to pay for an additional venue. Sideras wanted the decor to feel effortless. As she focused on the backyard wedding aesthetic, Sideras hopped on Pinterest to make a vision board for her wedding. "I knew I wanted long tables with dinner party vibes. That was one of the first photos I pinned," she said. "And then I saw mismatched plates and linens. I love anything in life that can be mismatched." She decided she wanted mismatched dishware, linens, and vases, but she quickly discovered that renting from an event company would be out of her budget when the first vendor she contacted told her it would cost $5,000 for dishware alone. Sideras decided to thrift mismatching dishware for the wedding instead of renting it. Sideras, her mom, and her aunt all love thrifting. They frequently text each other photos of their bargain finds. When she realized thrifted dishware would be the most economical choice for her wedding, Sideras recruited the pair to help. They scoured thrift stores and buy nothing groups, using a mood board Sideras made as guidance for what to find. They ended up sourcing around 130 dinner, dessert plates, and wine glasses, sticking to a maximum budget of $1 per item. "It was so fun for my mom, my aunt, and me to constantly be texting each other like, 'I just got these five plates' or 'just got this set of 10 plates from my buy nothing group,'" Sideras said. Sideras' mom brought many of the plates from her home in Indiana to the wedding, and the others lived at the bride's apartment until the event. Sideras found cloth napkins on a secondhand website. For her napkins, Sideras turned to Maxsold, which allows users to bid for items online that they can go pick up in person. She bought pink cloth napkins through the site and found some additional napkins at thrift stores. At the wedding, they were arranged to look like flowers atop mismatched gingham tablecloths, which Sedaris bought from a wholesale site. Thrift shopping saved Sideras thousands on place settings. "We spent under $500 for every single place setting that we got," she said. "I ended up keeping 12 plates or so, and I sold some or gave some away." She also saved money by arranging her own flowers. "I feel like everyone knows flowers are an insane cost for weddings," Sideras said. "I would have loved to spend thousands of dollars on florals because they're beautiful, but unfortunately, it was just not in the budget." Sideras said one of her bridesmaids, who was also getting married in 2023, used the Los Angeles Flower Market for her wedding flowers, which inspired Sideras to do the same. "We just went the day before, and I didn't really have a vision, to be honest," she said. "Since it was a backyard wedding, I felt like it didn't need to be fancy white roses or anything like that." She got advice from her friends on how many flowers she would need to make floral arrangements for the tables and her bridesmaids' bouquets, as well as guidance on which flowers would best withstand the July heat. She spent around $400. "Three or four of us went to the flower market to pick them up, and then we brought them back to the apartment and arranged them all," she said. "It probably took an afternoon." She paid someone to arrange her own bouquet, though. Kelly Jean Ross arranged Sideras' $250 bouquet, which featured an array of pink and white flowers. "I paid someone to make my own bouquet because I knew that would be in a majority of the photos, and she did amazing," Sideras said. "I was so happy that I spent money on that." She also rented tables and chairs from Facebook Marketplace instead of an event company. "Table and chair rentals — that's another insanely expensive cost," Sideras said, telling Business Insider that she was quoted a minimum of $5,000 for table and chair rentals from an event company in town. "I ended up going on Facebook Marketplace," she said. Sideras rented folding tables and wooden chairs from two small businesses she found on the site. It cost a few dollars per table and $1 per chair, so they didn't add much to the budget. They got their dance floor from Facebook Marketplace as well. Sideras found a black-and-white checked dance floor on Facebook Marketplace for the event. She and Johnston didn't invest in a formal DJ, either. "My husband has a few friends who work in the music industry, so he just had one friend who was manning the speakers," she said. They also used an app that seamlessly transitions from song to song for the dancing portion of the evening. "It was awesome, and we were able to play Justin Bieber and all the songs that DJs never play," she said. They also borrowed some decor from friends of friends. From helping her source decor to setting up the wedding on the day of the event, Sideras' community was integral in making the wedding come together without breaking the bank. For instance, Sideras' friend Ashlyn Rudy served as her wedding coordinator. During the rehearsal dinner, Rudy noticed the reception area getting dark as the night went on, and she immediately sprang into action. "She had a friend who was a lighting person, so she's like, 'I'm going to get some lights,'" Sideras said. By the wedding day, they had plenty of string lights to keep the reception space bright, and Sideras didn't have to do any extra work. Sideras and Johnston also saved money by forgoing things, like ceremony decor. The couple didn't add flowers or an archway to the ceremony space, and they reused the same chairs they used for dinner for guests. They also didn't have much signage for the wedding. They just had a welcome sign made by a friend at the front entrance. Stationery costs can add up, and keeping it as simple as possible helped the couple save money. A thrifted wedding dress helped Sideras cut costs, too. Sideras wanted different wedding dresses for her ceremony and reception, setting a budget of $1,000 for both. She pictured herself in a vintage gown with puff sleeves and a tea-length skirt for the ceremony. "My mom and I went to so many places, and no one really had one," she said. Eventually, she contacted a now-closed vintage store called The Gorky, asking if they had anything like what she was imagining. By chance, the store had a $400 dress in the back of its stockroom that fit the bill. "A staffer sent me a photo, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I think this is it,'" Sedaris said. "It didn't have puff sleeves yet, but it had sleeves that could become puff sleeves." She went with her mom to the store to try it on, and the gown fit perfectly. It was meant to be. A poofy veil completed the look. The Gorky recommended a seamstress to Sideras, who created the puffy sleeves of her dreams. Sideras was also a fan of a voluminous veil she had seen photos of, but she didn't want to spend $600 on the accessory. She asked her tailor if she could make a similar veil, and she was able to for just $100. Sideras got her second dress from Anthropologie, allowing her to stick to her budget. Skipping a traditional caterer helped the couple save money. Catering is often the most expensive aspect of a wedding, as feeding over 100 people a three-course meal can be costly. Sideras and Johnston found a workaround, having pizza from La Pizzeria Co. at the nuptials instead of a more formal meal. "It was between tacos and pizza because we love both of those," Sideras said. "I just emailed a whole bunch of different pizza places that did catering, and I went with the cheapest one." "They were amazing, and it was just a flat fee for the amount of people," she said of La Pizzeria Co. "There was also salad and other little things included." They also just served wine and beer from coolers, so they didn't have to pay for a bartender. Not every wedding venue allows that, but it's a great way to save if you have the option. Sideras' sister-in-law made the couple a small wedding cake for photos. Wedding cakes can cost hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars, which was also out of budget for Sideras and Johnston. "I knew I wanted just a simple strawberry shortcake-style cake for us to cut into," Sideras said, adding that she didn't "want it to look overly professional." Her sister-in-law ended up making the cake for them. "I think she just made a box cake and decorated it cute, and that was perfect," she said. They turned to Costco for cake for the rest of their guests. Because she didn't want to pay for an expensive wedding cake, Sideras bought a few sheet cakes from Costco instead. Her aunt picked them up, decorated them with strawberries, and displayed pieces on some of the thrifted plates Sedaris bought. "That was really sweet, and no one even knew that it was Costco cake because it was already cut up," she said. "It turns out Costco cake is a hit." Sideras and Johnston's biggest "splurge" was their photographer. Sideras tapped photographer Bliss Katherine, whom she had previously worked with as a model. "I always just kind of knew that I wanted her to be our photographer," Sideras said. "I've worked with so many photographers, so that was really, really important to me." "The photos are insane, so that was the best use of our money," she added. Sideras said setting expectations with yourself about the wedding is key to sticking to a budget. "You have to pick one or two things that are important to you, and then the rest you just have to let go," she said. "I would have loved to have a live band, but that would have been very expensive." Likewise, she thinks it can be helpful to approach the wedding as just an event when searching for rentals, as some retailers can charge a premium for wedding items. "Don't be afraid to ask for discounts for things, too," she said. "What's the worst they're going to say? No?" She also recommends using the resources you have in your community, especially if you live in a pricier market like Los Angeles, and trying not to put too much pressure on the event. "I think I'm a pretty chill person, so I was never really that stressed," she said. Looking back, Sideras said her wedding day feels like "a dream." "It felt incredible," Sideras said of her wedding day. "We have so many people tell us to this day, 'Oh my gosh, that was my favorite wedding I've been to.'" "It was so calm and relaxed and just felt so us," she added. "It was so special, and I will love it forever." Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
The Sun
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I wanted a lowkey wedding so didn't bother with a dress or cake, trolls say a broke uni party would look better
A COUPLE who opted for a budget-friendly wedding shared the details of their savvy day. However, not everyone was a fan of the scrimping and saving, with some people comparing the occasion to a "broke uni party". 2 In a TikTok video that amassed over 200,000 views, Amie Barron (@amie_barron) broke down the steps she and her groom took to pinch pennies. With the average wedding costing £200,500, the pair made a conscious effort to cut down on various aspects. Amie joked that some of the extreme measures "would put people in a coma". Veering from tradition The bride decided to opt out of the wedding dress tradition, instead choosing a comfy everyday outfit. "We didn't dress up. We wore flannels, jeans, and boots," she said, sharing a picture with her husband from the big day. Amie and her bridal party also did their own hair and make up for the occasion. And the TikToker joked that she also took her shoes off "as soon as I said 'I do'." While the couple still forked out for a venue for the day, Amie explained that they saved by holding the ceremony and reception in the same room. And the venue in question was the party room at their local library. For the food, the couple decided to skip out on the "fancy meal and fancy cake". I was fuming when I found out the reason my family hadn't RSVP-ed to my wedding - now they're uninvited Amie shared an image of the simple cake they opted for instead, which featured a simple Mr. & Mrs. topper, showing the couple's love for video games and reading. And this passion for gaming also played a major part in the day as the couple went home early to play Fortnite. They did however enjoy some dancing to a playlist Amie made in advance, skipping out on the band or DJ debate. "We didn't want anything big or fancy," she explained, revealing the day went perfectly. However, TikTok users were not sold on the budget-friendly approach. Unimpressed reactions "Seen broke uni parties organised better," wrote one viewer. "Why bother? Just sign the paperwork," pointed out another follower. "Playing Fortnite after your wedding must be the saddest thing I've ever heard," commented a third person. More on weddings Another bride shared how her mother-in-law wore white to her wedding and excluded her from photos "in case it didn't work out". One woman was set on a three-course meal for her wedding but ended up with a fast food buffet of fried chicken. And a monstrosity of a wedding cake that still leaves the bride in tears after paying £300. Plus, tips on how to say no to being a bridesmaid without upsetting the bride. A mother-in-law was slammed by bride for wearing an identical wedding gown. 2
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I wasn't going to spend thousands on a wedding dress so got an Oh Polly one for £75 – no one would know it wasn't pricey
A BRIDE-TO-BE who didn't want to spend thousands on a wedding dress has shared how she found the perfect one for just £75. Georgia-Rae is tying the knot in just three months' time, and is keen to show that a dress for the big day doesn't have to set you back an extortionate amount. 5 5 5 So she took to TikTok to share a video in which she shared a look at the Oh Polly dress - the ivory Aveline gown. "I think it's good to show girls that you don't have to spend thousands on a wedding dress," she said. "If you're doing a wedding on a budget, it's completely possible, so here goes. "Let me know what you think. I love it. It's me!" "3 months to go and I've finally got a dress!" she captioned the video. According to the Oh Polly website, the Aveline maxi dress is "inspired by the beauty of botanical gardens in high summer". The gown has a "sculpting fishtail silhouette", and is covered with "hand-applied floral appliqués", as well as having adjustable straps for multiple styling options. "Crafted from lightweight georgette that hugs your curves, it is enhanced with perfectly placed ruching at the sides," the description adds. It also comes in a gorgeous blush colour, perfect for any pink-loving brides. People were quick to comment on the video, praising Georgia-Rae for the dress choice. Georgia Steel slammed for wearing 'white' lace dress to Dani Dyer's wedding - with many stunned by her 'risky' frock "You look incredible!" Oh Polly said. "Beautiful! I got my wedding dress off Oh Polly too!" another added. "It's different to yours. I paid £80 with a discount code. I get married next week!" "Mine was £90 from boohoo and I couldn't believe I'd spent so much on a dress," a third commented. "I could never justify thousands." "It's absolutely beautiful," someone else said. "I could easily have cost a fortune. You look beautiful!" "You look spectacular, you would never think it was £75," another wrote. "My dress was secondhand and I wore it twice myself, it was £200 and exactly what I wanted!" "That's the bargain of the century & you look great in it. No need to spend thousands of pounds," someone else praised. "It's beautiful you look amazing, a great choice," another commented. "Yes people need to remember weddings don't need to be about cost. "So many places sell dresses for weddings without the boutique cost." 5 5
CBS News
26-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Colorado florist aims to keep weddings affordable for the "everyday couple"
Parker florist tries to help keep costs low for wedding couples Parker florist tries to help keep costs low for wedding couples Parker florist tries to help keep costs low for wedding couples A Colorado business is working to help wedding couples find budget-friendly floral arrangements for their special day at a time when it can be an aspect that breaks the bank. CBS Calla Lane Florals in Parker works with around 150 couples each year. Owner Brianne Pittenger says the average couple spends between $3,200 and $4,500 with them. It's a cost she's working to keep low, even as the prices of weddings soars. "It all stemmed from my experience with trying to find good vendors at a good cost," Pittenger told CBS Colorado. Pittenger knows firsthand how expensive weddings can be. "I found that it's really hard to find a florist that doesn't require a minimum spend," Pittenger said. "A lot of them are requiring clients to spend $5,000, $7,000." Since her own wedding and the pandemic, Pittenger says costs have only gotten higher. It's why she started both her own wedding planning business and her own wedding floral business. "I saw a huge need in the market for the everyday couple is what I like to call them," Pittenger explained. "So people who want beautiful flowers on their day but don't want to have to spend a crazy amount of money." CALLA LANE Calla Lane, named after Pittenger's two children, tries to keep wedding florals affordable and accessible without sacrificing any of the beauty in the bouquet. The business works with couples to meet their budget. "These are beautiful orchids and peonies," said Pittenger, while pointing to a table of wedding arrangements. They do it by sourcing flowers from a local co-op and repurposing them when possible. Pittenger says she's seeing a trend of more intimate weddings because more couples are opting for smaller weddings as costs soar. "Guest lists I've seen decrease a little bit," Pittenger said. "It's a little bit more intimate -- people that are your go-tos that you want there on your day." Luckily, Calla Lane has not been hit hard by inflation or tariffs, but it's bracing for potential impacts in the future. Pittenger says one thing they have noticed is that it takes a little longer to get flowers these days. Calla Lane has been so successful that it will be opening a second location in Charleston, South Carolina in early 2026. Among it's current floral arrangement services, Calla Lane also does elopement bouquets. "This is just a really fun job," said Sydnie Axelson, the lead floral designer at Calla Lane. Axelson assembles the arrangements by hand. "I always recommend bringing in inspiration pictures or telling me the vibe or color palette so we can go from there or customize," Axelson told CBS Colorado. Axelson works with couples to bring their vision to life. "I think couples in Colorado want the colorful wildflower aesthetic, so that's kind of what we lean into," Axelson said. "It's really rewarding to see everything come to life."
