{"id":5673,"date":"2022-07-01T08:32:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T12:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/espacestudio.ca\/bride-saves-4500-on-her-wedding-by-getting-creative\/"},"modified":"2022-07-01T08:32:00","modified_gmt":"2022-07-01T12:32:00","slug":"bride-saves-4500-on-her-wedding-by-getting-creative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/espacestudio.ca\/en\/bride-saves-4500-on-her-wedding-by-getting-creative\/","title":{"rendered":"Bride saves \u00a34,500 on her wedding by getting creative"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Yes, it\u2019s possible to have a dreamy wedding on a budget (Picture: Mercury Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Putting off getting married because of the cost? Take a leaf out of Xanthe Simmans\u2019 book.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old graphic designer from Romsey, Hanmpshire, decided to take matters into her own hands after she and her fianc\u00e9, Jack Watkins, 29, were quoted \u00a35,000 for wedding essentials.<\/p>\n

Although the wedding itself wasn\u2019t on a tight budget \u2013 the couple spent \u00a325,000 in total \u2013 Xanthe managed to save more than \u00a34,500 on her decorations by shopping<\/a> around and getting creative.\u00a0<\/p>\n

First of all, Xanthe noticed that products that were geared towards weddings<\/a> had \u2018an extra zero on the end,\u2019 so she avoided products that had the word \u2018wedding\u2019 in the description and shopped around herself.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018Our biggest save was on flowers, we were quoted \u00a33000 by florists for five bouquets and seven boutonnieres for the groomsmen,\u2019 she said. <\/p>\n

\u2018I had a vision and wasn\u2019t prepared to pay that, so I looked on Etsy and found some colourful dried flowers.<\/p>\n

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Spending just \u00a3110 on flowers and peacock feathers, Xanthe crafter her own custom bouquets at home.<\/p>\n

DIY was a big reason she was able to cut so many costs \u2013 in fact, she was made her own garlands, name tags and party favours, which consisted of upcycled glycine bags filled with wildflower seeds (\u00a315 in total) and organza bags filled with sweets, costing another \u00a315.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018We were quoted \u00a3800 to hire decorations and for instalment so I decided to find a way to do it myself,\u2019 she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Xanthe and Jack made 10 garlands a night (Picture: xanthesimmans \/ Mercury Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The pair saved thousands on their bouquets (Picture: xanthesimmans \/ Mercury Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018We made a 100 metre long pom pom garland filled with 400 pom poms for the marquee ceiling.<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t know how long it took as I used to make around ten per night whilst watching TV.\u2019<\/p>\n

As well as DIY, Xanthe and Jack relied on their happy-to-help friends and families, who helped them put up their decorations for free.<\/p>\n

And, after being quoted \u00a31,000 for a plain tiered cake, Xanthe\u2019s mum Davina Simmans, 56, saved the day by offering to bake one for free.<\/p>\n

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Xanthe\u2019s mum stepped up and made their cake for free (Picture: xanthesimmans \/ Mercury Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018When planning the wedding, it is always useful to ask friends and family for an extra pair of hands,\u2019 said Xanthe. \u2018I\u2019m sure they will be more than happy to help and would love to be involved.\u2019<\/p>\n

Finally, the couple was able to save at least \u00a3680 on Jack\u2019s emerald green suit, which would have cost upwards of \u00a3800 in suit shops.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018We are quite eccentric and I wear a lot of colour and wanted that to come across at our wedding,\u2019 Xanthe shared.<\/p>\n

\u2018It wouldn\u2019t feel right if I was wearing white and pastels throughout the wedding as that\u2019s not our taste and it wouldn\u2019t be a true reflection of us.<\/p>\n

\u2018I managed to find Jack a perfect three-piece suit for \u00a385 on ASOS in the Christmas sales and he got it tailored for a further \u00a335.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Jack\u2019s emerald suit cost a total of \u00a3120 (Picture: xanthesimmans \/ Mercury Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All in all, Xanthe says the longer engagement of 18 months was the perfect amount of time to \u2018embrace the process\u2019 and make some savings on the way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018I am an advocate for a longer engagement as your wedding only happens once, plus a bit of extra time for saving doesn\u2019t hurt,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

\u2018You should embrace the process rather than race to the finish line.<\/p>\n