FROM the dress and food to the evening entertainment, weddings can often end up costing a small fortune.
But one bride named Eleanor Hawthorne has proven that you can get married on a tight budget - after her stunning wedding day came to as little as £300.
The 29-year-old actor and publicist from Liverpool revealed how she and husband Feisal swapped a big, elaborate wedding for a small, intimate one.
In a bid to cut back on costs, Eleanor, who got married on 31st October 2022 at St George’s Hall, opted for a £15 vintage slip dress and even decided to have a spontaneous wedding reception at her local Wetherspoons.
“Feisal and I have been together for three years now, and when we were planning the wedding, all we wanted was to be married!" she told ethical jewellery brand Sacet.
"We didn’t want all of that attention on us, and we didn’t want to spend an obscene amount of money when we could use that money to travel the world instead."
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The newlywed explained how the day itself was relaxed, and started with them waking up at around 6am.
"Feisal and his best friend went to the gym and brought me back a coffee from town whilst I got ready before we got a taxi to St George's Hall, where we met our guests," she recalls.
"We only had 20 guests in total, and it was only our parents who came into the actual ceremony with us."
But rather than fork out a few thousand on a designer gown, Eleanor was more than happy with a bargain buy she spotted in a local boutique.
"My dress was just a vintage slip dress from Pop Boutique in Liverpool, and it was just £15," she says.
"I wanted something that felt timeless and also something I could wear again and again - I wore it on our first wedding anniversary trip to Barcelona last year!"
Sharing her top money-saving tips, the 29-year-old explains how the happy couple cut a lot of unnecessary parts of a typical wedding day out.
"We didn’t want to spend thousands of pounds on things we didn’t care about," she says.
"We didn’t have bridesmaids or groomsmen because there was no need for them, and we didn’t even bother with a Hen Do or Stag Do.
"Decorations were also scrapped because we hadn’t booked a venue, and for my bouquet, I just ordered an artificial one from eBay.
"Instead of hiring a photographer, we took our own film camera, which is my Grandad's from the 80s, and a few disposable ones and gave them out to our friends and family so they could capture moments throughout the day."
Apart from the wedding ceremony, Eleanor and Feisal say they had nothing else planned for their big day, and instead, let the day unfold on its own accord.
“After the ceremony, we were all super hungry so we just casually strolled into the city centre to try and find somewhere for us all to eat," she says.
"Feisal is half Iraqi, and a few of us are vegan, so we decided to grab some Middle Eastern food at a place called Bakchich - they were surprised a big group came before lunchtime, but they made room for us, and it was amazing!
"Afterwards, we all fancied a drink, and we just thought, 'where is going to be quiet on a Monday afternoon?' and someone said, 'Spoons!' so we ended up in the local Wetherspoons!
"It also meant a few friends could stop by and join after work.
"It just completely took the pressure off for people who didn’t want to stay all day or people that had travelled hours to be there - people left as and when they wanted to.
"I really don’t like the idea of people feeling like they have to stay somewhere all day and night.
"Some people don’t drink alcohol, some people are introverted, some people get tired easily, so if the day is relaxed with no set plan, people can come and go as they please!"
Eleanor notes that as it got into the evening, most people left to travel home and those remaining - including her Nan and Grandad - took a taxi back to their flat.
"We hung out there for a bit before my grandparents left and then Feisal, our friends and I ordered pizza, drinks, and eventually we all got so tired that we were all in bed by midnight," she explains.
"It was such a relaxed day, I'll never forget it. It was so special.”
With many people feeling the pressure of having to throw a big wedding for their day, Eleanor has shared her advice for those who would much rather opt for a more intimate wedding.
“The most important thing to remember is that it is YOUR day. Not anyone else's," she explains.
"You want to look back on this day in years to come and feel such warmth from the memories, knowing that it was exactly what you wanted.
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"Anyone in your life that loves you and your partner should just be happy with whatever your choice is.
"To be blunt, no one else matters but you and your partner. It’s your day, do it your way. Remember that.”
