'Our wedding was inspired by Martin Lewis and only cost £6k'

A bride has shared how she managed to pull off her dream wedding on a tight budget. Claire Kerry, 33, said her 'Martin Lewis-inspired' wedding only cost her £6k.

Claire was determined to create her perfect wedding to her partner, Ryan Kerry, 35, an NHS administrator, without compromising on anything. The thrifty bride purchased her two dresses from Vinted for around £50 each, found shoes in the New Look sale for £14, and did her own makeup on the day.

The couple's venue was decorated with artificial flowers costing £15 from Temu and their cake was a £30 bargain from M&S. They also created their own place cards, seating plan and even a 'crisp wall'.

By saving on some aspects, Claire and Ryan were able to splurge on others - including personalised rings, a live band and hiring a Bentley. The entire wedding cost around £6,776, which they estimate saved them around £15k on the average wedding.

Claire, a neuroinclusion consultant from Arnold, Nottingham, said: "We like going on holidays and having meals and being sociable. We didn't want to decline invitations out because we were saving up, or generally let the wedding take over our lives.

"I didn't want it to come across that we were being tight, but I'm a big fan of Martin Lewis so I just did what I could to save money where I could. The perception is that you have to go mad and get the perfect 'Instagrammable' wedding, but it gets out of control. But it went even better than we had hoped - I don't think anyone could even tell it was on a budget."

Claire and Ryan, who got engaged in Bruges in November 2021, found themselves keen to avoid an exorbitant wedding bill that would impinge on their travel fund. Instead of a lavish affair, they embraced MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis' thrifty tips to keep wedding expenses down.

For a modest £3,429, they tied the knot at Nottingham Registry Office (famously chosen by actress Vicky McClure for her nuptials) followed by a reception in a local bar. This smart move came with a buffet for 70 guests and overall savings surpassing £650 compared to typical venues.

To capture memories without splashing out, they opted for a two-hour photo session costing £550 and set up an online gallery for friends to upload snaps. Bypassed quotes north of £50 for custom seating plans, they crafted their own design using Canva, printing costs included.

Facing a £500 quote for venue embellishments, the enterprising pair turned to Amazon and Temu to purchase table runners and artificial flower garlands - the DIY decor project cost less than £100.

Claire snagged her footwear at a New Look discount event and opted for second-hand elegance on Vinted, bagging both her ceremony and reception dresses for less than £100. She said: "My wedding dress was a second-hand Diane Harbridge for £54 - and nobody could tell it wasn't brand new."

The groom and his party, including Claire's unique 'bridesmen', all donned suits they already owned with their only spend being trendy £6 ties snapped up from Next's sales rack. For her hairdo, Claire found a local stylist charging a modest £70 for the day.

Facing makeup quotes spiralling to £550, Claire smartly attended a Charlotte Tilbury beauty class before the big day, investing £377 in products she applied herself for the nuptials. Claire added: "I'll admit to splashing out and spending £377 but I can continue using products after the wedding, so this felt like more of an investment rather than spending similar or more for just one day."

Sweet treats included an M&S cake for £30 and Waitrose cupcakes costing £45, all presented on previously loved stands from Facebook Marketplace which she snagged for £40. Claire said: "By making savings on those things, we were able to spend money on the things that were more important to us. We are not materialistic and prefer to have experiences as they are more memorable and special."

The couple's more extravagant choices included a £925 wedding ring workshop where they crafted their own bands before the big day. Opting for live music due to their passion, they hired a band for £530 instead of a DJ and splurged on a Bentley for transport at a cost of £455.

Their special day took place on May 11 and was an absolute triumph, blessed with glorious sunshine throughout. The total expenses amounted to approximately £6,776, yet Claire remarked that you wouldn't have guessed it was done so economically.

The wedding was followed by a week-long Mediterranean cruise for their honeymoon, an essential choice for the travel enthusiasts. Claire shared: "We didn't want to look back and realise we'd spent a house deposit on the wedding, or have a three grand dress in the wardrobe that won't be worn again. It's about having a nice day without the credit card debt after. I don't think anyone even noticed."

"When people complimented my dress, I thought 'I only paid £54 for it' and it made me feel prouder. Some people must get so anxious about the costs, or worry that their wedding will be rubbish if they don't have a ridiculous budget. But we need to change the narrative - it doesn't need to be like that."