A couple has revealed how they managed to save £15,000 on their dream wedding.
Lauren, 28, lives in Belfast with her husband Adam, as the newlyweds exchanged vows at Glenariff Forest Park in July 2021.
She says the pair had a wedding budget of around £6,000 but didn't want prices to stand in the way of their dream day.
Now leading online luxury brand Diamonds Factory Ireland spoke with the couple about their out-of-the-box ideas and tips.
The couple, who post on their Instagram, managed to save a lot of money in certain places when it came to their wedding.
She said: "When planning my wedding, I was surprised to find how quickly costs started adding up.
"So my partner and I decided to get creative and find ways to cut costs without skimping on quality."
Here are her 5 top tips to make your dream day reality without breaking the bank:
1. Unconventional venues
Getting married in a fairytale-like setting surrounded by nature and water might sound expensive, but it's doable.
Lauren said: "My husband and I fell in love with the stunning surroundings of the Glenariff Forest Park in Northern Ireland.
"We knew we wanted to get married there."
After some research, she found a quaint restaurant in Forest Park.
Her advice to other couples is to look for venues that may not be typically used for weddings.
To rent the space cost around £1,300 with estimated savings of up to £10,000!
2. Rented suits and gowns
Lauren and Adam saved up to £2,000 on suits and gowns for the groom, groomsmen and bridesmaids by renting them.
Dressing up the groomsmen and bridesmaids often takes up a large chunk of the budget, but renting is a cost-effective solution.
Rental shops often offer a tailoring service and Lauren also saved up to £1,500 on her wedding dress by checking out the sale rack.
She added: "You would be surprised with the beautiful dresses on sale, and they can save you a lot of money.
"So much so that I even bought an evening dress!"
3. Shop local and independent
For her wedding, Lauren wished for some dried flowers which are currently a rising trend on social media.
The bride found a lady who recently started her business so she decided to book with her.
For a bridal bouquet, three bridesmaids' bouquets and six buttonholes, Lauren estimates that she saved around £250.
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4. Go digital
You can save about £200 on digital invites and it's more environmentally-friendly than traditional paper.
Instead of sending invitations, Lauren said: "We sent out save the dates with a link and password to our website."
It's an easy way to keep all guests informed and have all of the wedding information in one place.
5. Involve family and friends in DIYs
The couple involved their 60 guests which massively saved on costs.
Some of her wedding DIY ideas included growing a willow arch, decorating the restaurant, making a photo booth and dried confetti.
Lauren's tip for other couples is to use socials for inspiration and create a Pinterest board for ideas.
She reckons that by doing some of the decoration themselves, they saved at least £1,000!
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