Self-funded women, how did you (together with your SO, perhaps) pull down your wedding expenses to bare minimum?

3 comments

1. Pick what’s important to you. Flowers weren’t important to us, so elaborate centerpieces and sconces and shit like that didn’t make the cut; we had bouquets and boutonnieres and that was it. I got my wedding dress on ebay for $100 because I was lucky enough to find what I wanted there. We made our own invitations and programs.

2. We had a tiny pandemic wedding (us + 6 guests) in a public park, with minimal planning, and spent very little on our outfits.

   It wasn’t an intentional effort to save money, but rather, we just wanted a quick and easy wedding so that we could legally visit each other during the pandemic (this was back when Americans couldn’t cross the border into Canada unless they could prove it was essential travel or they were visiting a relative/spouse).

3. We eloped in Scotland (Gretna Green), a package that included a 3 day stay. As its a wedding village, other costs lime hair and makeup where lower as they compete for trade. We also got married on a week day in off session (April).

   My dress was second hand of facebay then tailored, and his suit was a suit he would reuse.

   Meal wise, we got married after lunch, so we had a normal dinner in a restaurant, which was nicer as everyone got to pick what they wanted, and let’s be honest, mass catered food is often bad. It was just us, his sister and husband, and his mum and Dad.

   We got a digital photographer package so we could print the photos wherever but still have professional photos taken.