More than Β£30,000.

That’s the average cost of a UK wedding if the latest figures are to be believed – and I don’t know about you but that sounds like an awful lot of money.

wedding day

It’s 10 years this year since Misery Guts & I tied the knot in 2010, and although we opted for a big white wedding we also managed to save quite a lot by enlisting the help of family and friends and thinking along savvy lines.

If you’re in the throes of planning your big day and are looking to save a few pennies too in this collaborative post here are 5 easy ways to save money on your wedding day – without cutting corners and without going without!

5 easy ways to save money on your wedding day

1. Get a least three sets of quotes

Quotes for the same thing, from marquees to wedding entertainment to catering, can vary wildly – sometimes by thousands of pounds. Instead of going with the first person or company you come across getting as many quotes as possible can save you thousands in the long run and ensure you’re getting the best value for your hard-earned money too.

wedding day

2. Share photos

Wedding photo sharing is a great way to see your wedding through your guests eyes and all the special moments they capture, as well as pooling all the photos from your big day in one place. The Wedding Photo Swap app allows couples to collect and share any photo taken by their guests via a live feed to their app or website, and details can be sent out with your invites. You can have unlimited albums for each part of your wedding – from the stag and hen dos to the big day itself – too.

wedding day

3. Think outside the box when it comes to dresses

Anyone planning a wedding knows as soon as you mention the ‘w’ word noughts seem to magically appear at the end of quotes. But there’s no need to fall into this trap: for example, seeking inspiration from or even choosing prom dresses for your wedding or bridesmaids dresses can slash a considerable amount from your budget. You could consider a vintage inspired prom dress as an alternative to a wedding dress.

Vintage inspired prom dress

There are lots of sites to choose from – if you don’t believe me find your prom dress here!

4. Get everyone involved in the cake

And when I say everyone, I do mean the guests! Instead of adding another couple of hundred pounds (or more!) to our catering bill my mum and sister’s godmother made our wedding cake between them, then for desert we asked close friends and family to bake their favourite cake and bring it with them on the day. We had them all laid out on a table for everyone to see then served them for desert. Not only did it help our budget it was a really personal touch and everyone involved loved helping to contribute to our big day.

wedding day

5. Don’t be afraid to negotiate!

You don’t need to be an expert at negotiating to try and get the best price possible for your big day. There’s no harm in asking for a company or supplier’s ‘best price’, or suggesting two separate services they offer for one set price. After all, the worst they can say is no!

wedding day

Do you have any hints or tips for planning a big event? We’d love to hear what they are!

This is a collaborative post.

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