Inspired Celebration

Today Zoe Grant from Inspired Celebration shows that a small budget for your wedding does not mean that you can't have the wedding day of your dreams!

A Handmade Wedding

One of the first things we think of after the initial excitement of becoming engaged is the cost of the actual wedding.  Before you can even think about trying on a dress, booking a venue or tasting cakes you need to think about your budget.  Whilst we hear of people spending vast amounts of money on their big day not everybody has the same amount of funds to spare for an expensive wedding day.  But the lack of funds should not deter you from creating the day you want.

With a bit of creativity and researching for inspiration you can have the wedding day you want.  Firstly speak to friends and family as I am sure you will find somebody either makes fabulous cakes or knows somebody who does. They may also know a photographer or consider hiring a third year photography degree student who may have already shot a couple of weddings and is looking to enhance their portfolio before graduating.  Stationery can easily be made by yourselves if you know the theme you are wanting to create and supplies can be brought from many retail outlets and websites, yet many stationery designers also have budget ranges that will save you time that maybe precious in the run up to the wedding.  Another option when thinking about your stationery is if any friends or family work as graphic designers, I am sure they will be happy to produce an original design just for you.

Decorating your venue may seem quite daunting but with the help of the wedding party you can achieve the look you want.  Choosing a vintage or country theme fete requires bunting, which can easily be made from remnants of fabric or old shirts from the charity shop, which is also a great place to pick up vintage crockery and glassware for stacking with cupcakes and serving cream teas when you greet your guests.  

Flowers are an important part of your day, both for you and your maids but also for decorating tables. The bouquets can double up as flowers for the top table and it is worth asking Auntie Kitty who creates fabulous floral arrangements for her home if she would consider helping to create the floral display for your big day.  Perhaps your Dad and Mum even have a flourishing garden that could be raided for your wedding flowers.

I know there are some things you cannot make yourself unless you are a jewellery designer or a fabulous seamstress.  The high street offers many reasonably priced options for bridesmaid dresses, bridal jewellery and shoes. Online marketplaces like Folksy and Etsy  offer you the chance to buy unique handcrafted jewellery, dresses and even decorations for your shoes. 

So you have asked mums friend to bake your cake, Auntie Kitty is doing the flowers, you and your fiancée have made your stationery and your maids are sewing metres of bunting but the venue and entertainment are still expensive.  Time to think outside the box! The village hall is a walk away from the church, so no need for transport and you can decorate it to suit your theme or Mum & Dads back garden is big enough to hold a marquee.  Now all you need is some entertainment, how about going back to the local university and see if any music students can help, a string quartet or a jazz band, I’m sure you will not be disappointed.

A small budget does not mean that you are limited you just need a sprinkling of imagination, a big spoonful of time and people willing to help mix until all the ingredients are ready to make your wedding day everything you dreamed of and more.

Many thanks Zoe.  I would just add that it's worth being totally honest with yourself whilst deciding what you are capable of doing yourself both in ability and in the time it will take, the last thing you need is to be stressed in the run up to your big day!