I got married for £2.3k – my dress was from Shein and the cake was cheap from M&S
A WOMAN has revealed she got married on a budget and even took her dress from Shein.
Not only did she get a £3 headband from the budget online retailer, but she also got decorations from Amazon and her wedding cake from M&S.
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Mollie Marshall, who married her husband Andrew in September, told how she managed to say ‘I do’ for less than £3,000.
So if you want to plan your wedding but don’t have a huge budget, listen up.
Mollie shared on social media: “How we did our wedding on a budget of £3,000.”
In the TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @mollie_marshall_ and now has 252,100 views, Mollie confirmed she got her wedding dress from Shein for just £200.
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The brunette beauty also got a stunning white headband for just £3 from Shein.
When it came to flowers, Mollie saved costs by purchasing one bouquet, which she bought from a local garden center for just £60.
And instead of spending the money on designer heels, Mollie kept it casual and rocked a pair of Converse, which cost her £80.
Not only this, but instead of spending hundreds of pounds on hiring a professional glam crew, the savvy mom had her hair and makeup done for free by a friendly relative.
Mollie and her current husband paid £210 to tie the knot at a registry office and £80 to give notice.
She confirmed that she was able to save on the cost of a photographer as a family member did it for free.
Additionally, Mollie claimed that the venue where they shared their wedding breakfast was also free.
However, they did pay for a hot food buffet, one of their biggest expenses, which totaled £450.
Budget-friendly wedding tips
PLANNING a wedding on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing your dream day. Here are some tips to keep costs low and still create a memorable party:
Set a budget and stick to it
- Determine your overall budget early on and allocate money to different aspects of the wedding.
- Keep track of all expenses to avoid overspending.
Limit the guest list
- Keep your guest list organized to reduce catering, venue and other expenses per person.
Choose an affordable location
- Consider non-traditional locations such as parks, community centers or a family member’s backyard.
- Look for locations where you can bring your own salespeople.
DIY decorations
- Create your own centerpieces, bouquets and other decorative items.
- Use seasonal flowers and simple, elegant designs.
Choose a wedding on weekdays or out of season
- Venues and vendors often offer discounts for weekday or off-season weddings.
Simplify the menu
- Choose a buffet or family meal at a Gilded Dinner.
- Limit the number of courses and opt for affordable, yet delicious options.
Borrow or rent clothes
- Borrow wedding clothes from friends or family, or rent dresses and suits.
- Search for deals or consider second-hand wedding dresses.
Digital invitations
- Send digital invitations instead of printed invitations to save on printing and shipping costs.
Hire a DJ or create a playlist
- Hire a DJ instead of a live band, or put together your own playlist for the reception.
Simplify the cake
- Choose a small, simple cake for the ceremonial cutting and serve a sheet cake to the guests.
By following these tips, you can create a beautiful and memorable wedding without spending a lot of money. Remember, the focus should be on celebrating your love and commitment, not on how much you spend.
They also spent £90 on a stylish balloon stand, complete with pink and white balloons and funky disco balls.
After their wedding ceremony, Mollie confirmed that her parents had treated them to a ride in a fancy wedding car.
Thanks to her generous parents, the couple did not have to pay a cent, she confirmed: “The wedding car was a gift from my parents, it was a surprise.
“We had five hours in total, I think it was around £550, but not within our budget.”
Just goes to show that you don’t need $10,000 to make it special
Mollie Marshall
When it came to their wedding rings, the couple spent a total of £600 as both rings cost £300 each.
And instead of spending hundreds of pounds on a cake that is almost never eaten, the couple bought a simple two-tier cake from M&S, for just £50.
They also decorated the cake with artificial flowers and a Mr & Mrs sign, which raised a total of just £20 thanks to Amazon bargains.
What is the average cost of a wedding cake?
BESIDES the dress, the location, the flowers and the bride and groom themselves, choosing a wedding cake is one of the most important parts of organizing a perfect day.
But making sure you have the perfect cake can be an expensive affair.
Becky Hartt of Hartt Cakes spoke Hitched.nl about her business and revealed that her average cake cost is between £450 and £750.
These costs depend on the size of the cake, the ingredients and the decoration.
Professional wedding cake maker Kate, of Little Button Bakery, said she calculates the price of a cake using the equation: “Basic costs + cost of business overhead + cost of time + profit = price.”
“It usually takes about 20 to 30 hours of work on a wedding cake if you consider: administrative time, researching designs, tasting and consulting on cake, preparing and adjusting the final design, purchasing materials, liaising with other suppliers and the venue, baking , creating and finishing the cake, delivering and setting up the cake and then checking in,” she added.
Although the average cake can cost as much as £750, some people spend thousands on the perfect cake for them.
While others can spend a lot less on their cake by turning to an alternative such as a cheesecake, cupcake tower or donut wall.
While Mollie got her dress from Shein for just £200, Andrew’s suit was slightly more expensive at £490.
But her young son Grayson’s suit was much more affordable, costing just £40 from Next.
In total, their special day came to a grand total of £2,373, as Mollie confirmed: “The remaining amount was spent on our honeymoon to Disneyland.”
Not only this, but the savvy bride then wrote: “Just proves you don’t need £10,000 to make it special.”
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