Did you know that the average wedding now costs over £21,000? That’s more than most people earn in an entire year, and to think it’s all spent on a single day of celebrating and honeymooning in the sun. Here’s our step-by-step guide to all the important aspects of your wedding and how to get your dream day for less:

Dress

If you’re a bride-to-be, chances are you don’t want to skimp on your wedding dress, and no one can blame you for that, you’ve probably been planning your outfit for the last twenty years! But before heading to the nearest designer boutique, seriously consider shopping secondhand. If you’re up for a little hunting (and who wouldn’t be for the dress of their dreams?), be sure to check out vintage shops and auction sites like eBay, where you can often find some stunning and one-of-a-kind pieces. .

If you just don’t like wearing a second-hand outfit, look for discount dresses in store sales. Sites like Dailycandy, Samplesaleslondon and Designersales list current and upcoming warehouse sales and where they will be housed. You can also find some stunning dresses on the main street. BHS, Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, John Lewis and Monsoon have all jumped on the wedding dress bandwagon, triumphing when it comes to style, quality and value. Don’t overlook a street dress just because it’s street!

The ceremony

Everyone wants their wedding ceremony to be perfect, and just by following these simple rules, you could cut the cost of yours in half:

• Host a ceremony on weekdays and see the cost drop by up to 50%
• Have your ceremony in the late afternoon and you won’t have to worry about feeding your guests lunch and dinner. Just make a big buffet for church guests and party guests in the evening.
• Make sure your florist uses UK and seasonal flowers as they will be cheaper and fresher. You can also have a friend pick up the flowers from the florist and bring them to the ceremony, as this will reduce shipping costs.
• Try to hold the ceremony and reception at the same locations, as venues will often offer a discount for this.

The place

Venues designed specifically for weddings will usually cost much more than, say, a local town hall or clubhouse. With all your friends and family there, you won’t even know the difference, but you’ll probably save a small fortune. Here are some alternative places to consider:

• Communal Rooms – Depending on where they’re located, a communal room shouldn’t cost more than a couple of hundred pounds and they’ll usually provide you with tables, chairs and catering.
• Local schools: It is worth asking as they might have space to spare in the summer holidays.
• Local sports clubs tend to have pretty nice facilities, and if you have a friend who is a member (or better yet, works there) you can get a discount.
• Pubs – There are some lovely pubs scattered across the UK, many set in beautiful surroundings. Visit the Beer In The Evening website to find out which ones offer room hire.
• At home: If you have a close friend with a big garden, why not ask if you can use it as a venue for your reception? It’s definitely free to ask them!

The reception

Along with the honeymoon, the reception is the most expensive part of any wedding, as it usually includes the catering, decorations, photographer, and wedding cake. Oh. Here are some ways to keep prices to a minimum:

• Catering

The rule of thumb when it comes to lowering your catering cost is to NOT invite people over just for the sake of it. Fewer people will mean lower costs. If possible, always choose a buffet as it is much cheaper than most formal dining. Choose a small caterer over a more well-known one (but be sure to check their credentials), and if there’s a catering school nearby, they may be able to provide your meal for a very low fee. If possible get over to France before the big day and pick up some cheap booze, even the cost of your trip will turn out to be cheaper than what you would have to pay for UK alcohol prices.

• Wedding cake

Can you believe that Marks and Spencer sells beautiful wedding cakes from as little as £12? Considering the best cake designers often charge upwards of £800, we know which one we’d pick. Even if you bought ten cakes from M&S and put one on each table for your guests to eat, you’d be saving a small fortune. For fun alternatives to traditional wedding cakes, check out WeddingsFromScratch.

• decorations

Enlist your friends to help you decorate your place, and even the dullest places can end up looking very special. Place photos of you and your new spouse throughout the reception area, and don’t forget to bring your ceremony flowers to brighten things up. If you’re feeling really adventurous, why not go to a themed wedding and have your guests show up in costume? Who needs decoration when you have cowboys and Indians roaming the place?

• Photographer/Video

Photographers can be expensive, so why not spread out some disposable cameras and let your friends do their worst? You’ll probably end up with some much more original snaps anyway, and you’ll see your big day from a whole different perspective. For important wedding photos (family, you and your new spouse, etc.), why not give a friend (who’s handy with a camera) the responsibility of taking them? They’ll probably be thrilled to play such an important role at your wedding, and you could buy them a small token of appreciation for their trouble.