Top tips for a beautiful budget wedding

'Budget wedding' is becoming much more of a familiar phrase, especially at this time of year when a busy Christmas period means spend spend spend. We're all hoping to save a little, but with a wedding to plan and so many special ideas to bring to life, it can be hard to keep everything in check. To help you out, we have done our research and found some quirky little ideas so that you can save those pennies and hold the wedding of your dreams!

So you have a tight wedding budget that you want to stick to? It's time to get little creative and find those alternative ideas so that you aren't splashing the cash. Whether its home-making, finding a bargain or calling in a few favours, take a look at our top tips to help you with your own ‘budget’ wedding.

Photo courtesy of Dominic Lemoine Photography

​Set your theme and hunt down those bargains
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​The decor is a very important part to any wedding as its this that will transform your venue into something personal to you. Come up with a realistic budget that you can stick to - it can be very tempting to get carried away! Come up with a theme or colour scheme that suits the time of year, venue or interests. This is a good start in narrowing down what you need to buy. 
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Now that's sorted, why not start by rummaging through a second hand store to see what little treasures you can find here. For those of you who are thinking vintage or Boho, charity shops and car boots can be your best friend. Whether its old crockery, vases or decorative mirrors you will find them at a fraction of the price of buying brand new!

Get thrifty with fabric, sew your own

Pretty skilled with a sewing machine, why not have a go at turning some old material into colourful bunting? With Knightor’s stone walls and rustic beams, bunting gives the room a vintage feel and a splash of colour! If time is sparse, old materials such as hessian or lace can be tied round chairs to for that classic wedding feel. And for those warm summer weddings colourful ribbons can create a fun alternative. ​

Utilise natural decor for stunning results

Now it's time to go outside, look beyond the walls of a shop or your home and go and explore nature, you will be surprised as to what can be found. For those of you planning an Autumn wedding, a forage for pine cones, logs and conkers are all great decor materials to add that seasonal touch to your wedding. ​The great thing about this is that they are completely free!

Build on those rustic vibes

Outdoor wedding? Why not contact your local farm as an alternative to classic seating and source some hay bales. With some hessian covers next to our pond and arbour it's the perfect setting for your rustic wedding. 

Get creative with florals

Flowers are a must at every wedding and unless you are a professional florist or lucky enough to have a best friend who is, we all know that having flowers made for your wedding can be a bit pricey. We have come up with our favourite flower alternatives from our previous weddings so you too can see how easy it can be. 
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Mason jars, probably the most popular alternative for a wedding, and can be your answer to saving those pennies. For an item that can be collected so easily and free of charge it’s such a simple idea for displaying flowers on your wedding day. They look great as they are, or you can jazz them up is a little hessian, ribbon or sparkle with glitter. They are quick and easy and you won’t need to worry about arranging your flowers, be as bold or brave as you are!

Add dashes of colour and decoration 

Hanging mason jars to the ends of chairs are a great touch for lining the aisle of the ceremony. They can also be easily transferred and re-used for centrepieces on the tables. Grab some of those logs you found to level the flower jars and this make a pretty windowsill display.


​​Opt for lots of foliage instead of flowers. Have a good look around the garden to see what greenery you have. Once you find something you like cut it down and it can be used as a garland centerpiece or why not try an archway over your aisle. It’s completely free!

Go greener!

One of my favourite money saving ideas is swapping expensive flower centrepieces for potted plants or herbs. Not only do they look great, they smell amazing and create a welcoming decoration for your guests as they sit down for the wedding breakfast. Herbs and potted plants can be found in a range of colours, shapes and sizes.  Personally, the vibrant purples of lavender plants and and the lush greens of mint and rosemary are a perfect colour match for any time of the year. ​

'Let them eat cake!'

Whether is a traditional three tiered iced fruit cake or a naked Victoria sponge piled high with cream and berries, the price to get these made isn’t cheap. Call on a favour! If you have a friend, a Grandparent or a second cousin twice removed and they can bake, there is no harm in asking. Not only will they be over the moon that you have asked them, but you will get a magnificent cake with a story for a fractions of the price or entirely for free!

​We all love a good bake off, so why not have ‘the great wedding cake off’! This is a fun alternative to a wedding cake. You could even incorporate this into your invites and ask guests to bring homemade cakes and desserts to create a bake off style table. Add a little entertainment and judge the cakes so that the winning guests get a prize!

​Not so much of a sweet tooth? How about a cake of cheese with all your favourite soft, blue and cheddar cheeses! A little fruit and foliage is all it needs for decoration.  ​

Create thoughtful favours

A great way to keep costs low is to give your guests homemade wedding favours. Put a day or two aside, invite over a bridesmaid or two and get a little creative. Here is a list of homemade gift ideas that your guests are going to love:

1. Sloe gin - put these in little glass bottles!
2. Soap - wrap them in brown paper and a sprig of something.
3. Candles - use your favourite essential oils, the smell will fill the room
4. Baked gifts (e.g cookies, cakepops, brownies, cake bites or flapjacks)
5. Gift wrapped sweets - they will go down a treat with both adults and children!​

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Don't forget those little extras
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Everybody loves a sweet cart at a wedding. They are a great way of entertaining guests of all ages. You can use some of those second hand vases and bowls you found to display your sweets. We have our fabulous barrel bar, a great place to host your sweetie table. Try not to get too carried away with amount of sweets you buy (I know its tempting!).

Swap fireworks for sparklers. I know this is a big compromise but it is also a big save. Its another great way to keep your guests entertained. And the photos look great!

Image courtesy of Tom Frost Photography

Create the ultimate honeymoon

It may not be for everyone but why not ask your friends and family for honeymoon donations as an alternative gift idea. The money collected can be put towards your honeymoon budget for those special upgrades to make those memories even more spectacular! It's a more common idea than you might think.

So there you have it.. It's amazing how much money can be saved if you have a go at making things yourself and looking into alternative options. Just remember to plan ahead and to leave enough time to get things together. It will all be worth it on the day!

Let us know how you get on with your budget planning - do share your ideas and experiences with us, we'd love to hear!