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£6k Wedding Budget: 6 Amazing Wedding Concepts

by Ismay Ozga March 24, 2017

Want to plan a stylish wedding on a super tight budget? Good news – you can. In fact, when it comes to event planning, unlimited cash and too many ideas can be a disaster. But having a strict budget and a clear vision actually makes planning less stressful, naturally more creative and almost always more impactful. Just stick to our four core planning principles, choose one of our six fully-costed wedding concepts (complete with superstar suppliers) for under £6000, then enjoy making your dream wedding a reality.

The four steps to success:

1. Don’t be trapped by tradition.

Don’t feel pressured into adhering to costly wedding traditions and etiquette if they don’t feel meaningful to you. Just start from scratch. Plan a wedding that celebrates your love and life together and includes the people you want to involve in whatever way works for you.

2. Think about numbers and make your decisions accordingly.

If you really want 200 people at your wedding, you can have them for £6000, but your wedding will look and feel very different if you choose to spend the same amount planning a wedding for just 50 people.

3. Don’t compromise on everything. Be clear what you’re prepared to sacrifice.

You don’t want to plan a wedding where you’ve had to scrimp on everything. Decide what’s important to you both and prioritise. For £6000 you can have a wedding abroad, a champagne reception, a Michelin star meal, a designer dress or a huge party. But you can’t have it all.

4. Agree your budget and concept. Then stick to it.

All the best planners know that any successful event has to start with a strict budget and a clear concept. These two unmovable facts then act as a filter for all the decisions you need to make. A clear concept enables you to save money by cutting away everything that is excess to requirements, it helps removes the stress of decision making and sharpens your ideas for maximum impact.

To get you started here are six super cool wedding concepts for under £6,000. Whether you’re dreaming of a chic city ceremony, a wedding abroad or a festival in a field; whether you want two, twenty or two hundred people to witness your wedding; we’ve got a range of creative concepts to help you identify the right approach, explore essential elements of the experience and use your budget most effectively.

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Wedding Planning

£6k Wedding Budget: City Ceremony, Honeymoon, then Party

by Ismay Ozga March 24, 2017

written by Ismay Ozga

Want to get married in style on a super tight budget? Our £6k wedding series is here to help. We’ve got six fully-costed wedding concepts (complete with superstar suppliers) for under £6000 for you to choose from.

To plan a sophisticated city ceremony, European honeymoon and fabulous party on your return, read on…

Who is this wedding perfect for?

This super-cool city wedding is for sophisticated urban couples who want to celebrate their wedding day in style with a select guest list. Inspired by the stars of the 50s, it starts with a ceremony in an iconic registry office. This is followed by a long, late lunch in a luxury restaurant with those you love the most. At the end of the meal you both jump in a taxi to the airport. Your friends and family wave goodbye as you jet off on honeymoon to the ridiculously glamorous French Riviera.

City wedding – The approach:

This decadent yet laid-back wedding is designed to feel spontaneous, but the details do in fact require meticulous planning. For a relaxed and memorable day make sure you organise everything in advance. It is also important to hire a fabulous reportage photographer to capture all the magic moments throughout the day.

Preparation:

Start your day with your mum, sisters or best friend in your favourite city salon getting your hair and nails done. Sip champagne and have your first photos taken. Then jump in a taxi to the registry office with your wedding outfit and honeymoon luggage. Stop at a florist to pick a bunch of seasonal flowers for an instant bouquet. Be sure to have your photographer taking beautiful black and white shots along the way.

The venue:

Find a venue in a central location so you get to appreciate the sites of the city. And if possible choose one of the many UK registry offices located in an old Town Hall building to give your wedding an appropriate sense of grandeur.

In London, Marylebone registry office (the old Westminster Town Hall) is an impressive building with stone steps and columns on the outside and marble floors, wood panelled walls, gold mirrors and chandeliers within. Allow plenty of time to arrive at the registry office so you can use a dressing room to get ready in before your guests arrive.

Your outfits:

This wedding is all about indulging in the finest things in life and that means investing in your outfits. Avoid traditional wedding dresses and instead buy a dress from a designer you love, that will look and feel amazing all day. 16Arlington’s Hollywood glam mini dress topped with feathers will feel so fun and chic for your city wedding and will be perfect for dinner on the Riviera. Wear your favourite designer shoes as your ‘something old’ and raid your friends’ wardrobes for a beautiful clutch bag for your ‘something borrowed’. Then rather than paying for a professional artist, treat yourself to some new make-up and do your own.

For super-stylish yet quality suits starting at £740 head to Beggar’s Run and encourage your partner to polish a pair of favourite brogues rather than paying for new ones.

The ceremony:

People often underestimate the significance and magic of the ‘marriage bit’. Yet seeing each other for the first time in your gorgeous wedding outfits, standing together in a stunning room surrounded by all your most important people to declare your love is without doubt the most intensely intimate and amazing feeling. Ever. Although civil ceremonies offer a relatively short and functional service you can personalise your vows and invite family to share a special poem or reading. And it’s actually the formal bits like exchanging the rings, signing the register and officially being asked to kiss that are the most emotional and whoop-worthy moments.

As you leave your service, arrange for your guests to head outside first so they can stand on the steps and cheer as you leave the building. Make sure your two chosen witnesses have tons of confetti so your photographer can capture you being showered with love as you begin your lives together as newlyweds.

Transport:

Head off in your finery to the nearest tube or bus stop to enjoy a very public journey to your chosen restaurant. Make sure you’ve bought tickets in advance to hand out to your guests so there’s no queuing at machines. Then just enjoy the kindness of strangers and cheering well-wishers as you travel through your beloved city.

If you’re thinking of getting married in the Capital, riding the Bakerloo line from Marylebone is one of the most romantic journeys for London lovers. And getting out at Embankment gives you a chance to admire the city’s iconic skyline as you walk along the Thames towards your chosen restaurant on The Strand or in Covent Garden.

Lunch:

With a select guest-list it’s relatively easy to organise private dining in a five-star restaurant. If you’re looking for somewhere to seat under 25 people in West Central London, The Delaunay is perfect. Entering this classic brasserie with its black and white tiled floor, dark wood booths, white tablecloths and silverware is like stepping back in time whilst enjoying the best in contemporary European cuisine.

Having your own private dining room feels extra luxurious and decadent meaning you can relax, drink too much champagne and enjoy drunk wedding speeches away from the crowd. And it doesn’t have to be expensive. The minimum spend at the Delaunay is only £200 for lunch which you’ll reach easily, with set menus ranging from £50-£80. Organise and pay for three bottles of champagne on arrival and then ask everyone to pay for their own lunch rather than bringing gifts. Your closest friends and family will be honoured to be invited and, as long as you give plenty of warning, everyone will be happy to split the bill.

Honeymoon:

Once you’ve enjoyed your long, lazy lunch, hail a black taxi, ask if you can tie some ribbon to the cab, and get your photographer to take a few final shots of your friends and family waving goodbye as you head off on your honeymoon.
Getting married midweek and leaving for your honeymoon on the same day means your flights will also be cheaper. So you can afford to book an upgrade and travel in comfort with extra legroom and speedy boarding. Investing in some luxury carry-on luggage is not only a special treat for your wedding day (and an investment for life) but means you can avoid check-in and baggage reclaim, travelling in style and arriving stress-free.

Having a city wedding in the summer will hopefully guarantee good weather in the UK and means you won’t have to fly far to enjoy the heat of a European beach honeymoon. For a love-filled seaside escape head to The Hotel Amour in Nice and enjoy a romantic meal as the sun sets on your wedding day. To stick within your budget stay for a weekend of pampering, then find an Airbnb near the beach if you want to stay longer.

Party:

After your iconic wedding and sophisticated honeymoon, return to your beloved city for a party in a traditional pub. In the City of London pubs are quieter on the weekend so landlords within the Square Mile are grateful for an event that will guarantee a full house. This means they’ll rent out function rooms for free if you meet a minimum spend at the bar, which is super helpful if you’re on a budget.

Start the party at 8pm so your friends can eat before they arrive. Then just warn them that it’s a cash bar and make sure you have budget to pay the difference if the minimum spend isn’t reached (unlikely at a wedding). If the venue doesn’t have an AV setup make sure you hire everything in advance so you can show photos from your wedding and honeymoon on a screen as people arrive. If you want to do speeches you’ll need a mic. Then just make sure the decks are set up and you’ve got some mates willing to DJ. Finally, set aside budget for a photo booth to capture photos of all your friends celebrating your marriage with you.

City wedding – The budget breakdown:

Invites FREE:

Choose one of the beautiful free templates from Paperless Post to email invites to friends and family. It’s a budget friendly option that also makes it easy to keep track of RSVPs.

Photographer £800:

This intimate ceremony and lunch doesn’t necessarily require a traditional wedding photographer. Look for a portrait, fashion or press photographer whose style you love and ask if they’d be happy to chart the journey through your wedding day.

Hair £48:

Avoid a last minute wedding blow-dry by booking into your town’s best dry bar and deciding on your style well in advance. DryBy has gorgeous styles with prices starting from £48.

New Make-up £50:

If you know how to do your own make-up or have a friend who could help out, don’t pay for someone to come and do it for you. Head to your nearest department store and treat yourself to some new make-up instead. If you want to test out new products and pick up some new tricks book in for a make-over at your nearest NARS Cosmetics counter.

Bouquet £30:

Check that you’ve got a decent flower shop en route from the salon to the registry office, have an idea of the seasonal flowers available and call ahead if you like. Just don’t mention the word wedding or bouquet. This wedding is all about spontaneous city glamour so stopping off for a simple bunch of fresh flowers is not only cheap but part of the fun.

Taxi £20:

Being late to your own wedding is not cool. Avoid unnecessary stress and book a taxi to the venue in advance.

Dress £1245:

This 1960s inspired city wedding requires a dress that will make you feel like a star – think short, sexy and super cool. This glam dress by 16Arlington is a great Hollywood-glamour piece for £1245.

Suit £740:

Beggar’s Run have an excellent range of stylish suits made in London. This navy cotton drill suit is perfect for a city summer wedding, will be comfortable on the plane and look great for dinner at your hotel.

Rings £418:

For two classic white gold wedding bands visit Astrid & Miyu.

Luggage £485:

To feel like a true jet setter, plan your honeymoon wardrobe in advance, pack light and invest in some seriously good looking luggage.

Registry office room hire and service £565:

Prices depend on the size of the room and the day of the week. But as a guide Marylebone registry office costs £565 for a room that holds 20 people.

Confetti £5:

Check out these biodegradable confetti cannons from Ginger Ray. White confetti will keep things looking super chic.

Tube tickets £50:

Public transport is cheap, allows you to see the sites and feel the love as strangers wish you well on your wedding day. Budget £50 for 25 people.

Lunch £100:

Check out the private dining options in your area and enquire about the minimum spend. The minimum spend for lunch in a private room at The Delaunay is £200 and the set menu ranges from £50-£80. With everyone splitting the bill you’ll just need to budget £100 for the two of you.

Champagne £165:

A bottle of champagne at The Delaunay costs £55 and three bottles will fill 24 glasses for your toast.

Taxi to airport £50:

Research local prices but £50 should get you from the centre of most major UK cities to your closest airport.

Decorations for taxi £5:

A simple roll of white ribbon or crepe will look lovely on the bonnet of a traditional black taxi.

Flights £200:

If you’re happy to fly off-peak, on weekdays and during term time you’ll find the best bargains. Then book early. It’s always less stressful and usually cheaper than last minute. As an example you can get return flights from Heathrow to Nice at the end of May for £96.

the pink entrance to the Hotel Amour in Nice — Hotel Amour Nice

Honeymoon hotel £400:

Budget £400 for a couple of nights in a luxury hotel and book in well in advance to get the best deals. You can stay at The Hotel Amour in Nice midweek for just under £400.

Party venue:

There are plenty of City of London pubs serving excellent craft beer and classic pub dishes. Just check if they are happy to extend their license if you want a proper London knees up. Most central venues will want you to agree to a £2000 minimum spend on a Saturday night.

Photobooth £150:

For £150 My Fun Photobooth is a brilliant budget option. The simple, DIY photobooth not only looks great but being compact it works in any venue and can be delivered in an Uber.

Gifts:

As your guests are paying for their own drinks you might want to help to keep their costs down by saying ‘no gifts’. But beware, you might just end up with unwanted surprise presents. For those who’d like to give you something, why not suggest a contribution to your honeymoon fund. Patchworkit.com have a readymade template for a Cote D’azur honeymoon. Just customise the patchwork and link it to your bank to collect cash contributions to spend on your trip.

TOTAL COST: £5726

COST TO GUESTS: £50 – £100

The guests you invite to your ceremony and lunch will need to budget £100. Extended friends and family will just need to pay for their drinks at the party and contribute to your honeymoon fund if they wish.

See the rest of the wedding concepts in our £6k wedding series here.

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Wedding Planning

£6k Wedding Budget: Festival Wedding Weekend

by Ismay Ozga March 23, 2017

written by Ismay Ozga

Want to get married in style on a super tight budget? Our £6k wedding series is here to help. We’ve got six fully-costed wedding concepts for under £6000 for you to choose from complete with a super-star list of suppliers.

To plan an amazing micro-festival wedding for a carefully chosen number of your closest friends and family, read on…

Who is this wedding perfect for?

It’s ideal for hippies-at-heart who want to celebrate their union surrounded by nature.

This DIY festival wedding allows you to bring people together in a beautiful, secluded, family-friendly location. And celebrating over a weekend means you both get to spend quality time with your loved ones – setting up the site with friends, sitting down to a wedding feast with your family, dancing with mates into the night, then enjoying a lazy breakfast with everyone the morning after.

Festival wedding concept:

It’s totally possible to plan an amazing wedding for 30 people on a £6,000 budget. You just need some perspective, a plan and maybe some promises from friends help out. You’re going to escape to an intimate little hideaway for a couple of days so you’ll need to get organised, be comfortable delegating and be confident that your friends and family will contribute time and skills to help make it happen.

If you’re a super resourceful bunch, a field with running water might be enough. But if you don’t fancy building your own compost loos and don’t have access to a generator you’ll need to look for a site with electricity, toilets and a space for your ceremony. The Green Escape in Surrey has the perfect set up with a pine tree lined aisle, crackling wood fires and lots of space for dancing beneath the stars. It also has Shepherds Huts with room for 22 guests so you’ll all be well rested (ish!).

If you want friends to help you’ll need to get them involved as early as possible. Don’t just vaguely mention to people in passing that you might need a hand. Get them excited about the plan and inspired to help using Patchworkit.com – where you can set out all the things people can fund, make or do. Then let your wedding guests choose whether to buy some booze, make a cake, do the decorations or promise to DJ. If you don’t need new toasters and towels, it’s a fun and practical alternative to a traditional gift list and allows you to keep track of who’s doing what.

Festival wedding in detail:

The day before:

Arrive on site with your team of helpers and all the tools, paints, materials and props you need. Then after a big group hug send everyone off to complete the jobs they promised to do – from painting signs to decorating the venue and doing the food shop.

For a cheap, easy and sophisticated look keep styling simple using limited materials and a neutral colour palette. White paint on wood signs, tea lights in brown paper bags and glass jars filled with local green and white wild flowers look effortlessly cool and cost next to nothing.

Ditch tablecloths in favour of bare wooden trestles and if budgets are super tight forget hire costs for china and glassware, opting instead for deliberately utilitarian white paper plates, napkins and cups and disposable wooden cutlery – cheap, chic and no washing up required.

Preparing a cold vegetarian buffet plus a hog roast is probably the easiest and cheapest way to provide food for 30. Just decide on a limited menu of simple but delicious dishes, buy all ingredients and then assign dishes to be made by your team of foodie volunteers.

If you give yourselves enough time and keep your jobs to a minimum it can actually be really fun working together to prepare for the wedding. But remember to give yourselves a chance to mentally and physically prepare too. Once you’ve delegated jobs just let everyone get on with it. Remember your friends are happy to help and don’t want you getting stressed. So take time to relax and be pampered the evening before the wedding.

The morning of the wedding day:

Sleeping together in your hut on your wedding night will be romantic. You’ll have a good night’s sleep and have got a space to get ready in the morning. Even the most low-maintenance couple needs a shower, mirror and hairdryer on their wedding day.

This festival wedding has a naturally laid-back vibe so style-wise think Sienna Miller at Glastonbury. Save money and stay true to you by doing your own hair, nails and make-up or ask a talented friend to help. Then choose a (non-wedding) dress in natural cotton, cheese cloth or linen and a flower crown to complete the look. Sandals, boots or wellies – weather dependent.

While you’re getting ready your kitchen crew can be finishing up the wedding feast and filling metal tubs with ice for cold beer and wine. And a couple of creative friends can make you a wild flower bouquet, corsages for the men and crowns for the kids.

As it’s a family-oriented wedding, it makes sense to have kids involved in the ceremony. And as children’s clothes are cheaper than adult outfits, having flower-girls rather than grown-up bridesmaids is another way to keep costs down.

Capturing your day is so important, so make sure to budget for an easygoing, festival-loving photographer who can join you for at least a few hours during your love-fest. And give everyone a disposable camera for the times they’re not around.

The Ceremony:

The Green Escape isn’t licensed for weddings, so you’ll need to pop to the registry office before or after your wedding weekend. Then once it’s official you can celebrate together with Pimms and lemonade in the sunshine – cheaper than champagne and perfect for a summer festival vibe.

Dinner:

The Green Escape have both a BBQ and a pizza oven available for you to use – both are a good value way to feed a large crowd and also provides a bit of theatre and a talking point for people queuing up to be served. Combined with a self-service vegetarian buffet it offers a relaxed eating experience everyone can enjoy.

If you’re not fussed about where people sit forget about a table plan. Just organise your top table and let people decide who they want to talk to. Not only does this feel appropriate for a festival wedding but will save you time and money designing and printing name places and table plans.

Once speeches are over make sure you don’t forget to thank everyone who has helped to make your DIT (Do It Together) wedding happen. Ensure your ‘help-yourself-bar’ is stocked with plenty of cold booze and tie bottle openers on strings to stop them wandering off.

Party:

Asking everyone to list their three favourite songs will help you prepare an eclectic playlist for the evening. But if you have musician mates or friends happy to do a DJ set as their wedding gift then live music will massively add to your festival vibe.

The good thing about a countryside venue is you can often get a late night license, so you can party hard into the night before stumbling back to your hut at sunrise.

The day after:

More pizza the next day will help everyone emerge from their Shepherds Huts and cure their hangovers.

Budget breakdown:

Wedding website and organising tool FREE:

Use the party organising tools at patchworkit.com to share your wedding info, show friends and family how they can help and keep track of the things people promise to make and do.

Venue and campsite £4,400:

Getting married on a weekday is always cheaper. The Green Escape charges £4,400 for two nights, midweek. You’ll be cosy and comfortable in one of their seven Shepherd Huts which sleep 22 guests.

Photography £1450:

There are plenty of talented photographers who can work to this budget – Sidey Clark is based in SE London (but will travel!) and takes gorgeous, unposed, fun photos and has a 6 hour package priced at £1450.

Wedding Dress £98:

Wear an effortless maxi slip dress from Free People. Perfect for your festival-style surroundings.

Wedding Outfit No. 2 £88:

If you really want to save money encourage your partner to wear favourite shorts/jeans and footwear and just budget for a new shirt. Everlane does a lovely linen shirt for £82.

If you’re a same sex couple £88 will cover the cost of another festival-inspired dress from Free People.

Rings £50:

Opt for simple wooden rings to celebrate your love, the spirit of your festival wedding and to keep within your budget. You can always celebrate your first year anniversary with an upgrade once you’ve had time to save up for the rings you really want. Hartwood Co has an Etsy shop selling simple wooden rings from £25 each.

Buffet £200:

Budget £200 for a trip to the local supermarket to buy ingredients to feed 30.

Tableware £20:

Basic white paper plates, cups, napkins and wood forks will cost about £20 for 30 people. For biodegradable options check out eco-friendly party suppliers Little Cherry. Ask everyone to collect jam jars to use for tea lights and wild flowers.

Drink:

A local supermarket should be able to supply sufficient booze for 30 people for under £200. But if your budget is tight it makes sense to include cash contributions towards beer and wine in your patchwork so you can buy it upfront. Then include a request for people to ‘bring a bottle’ of spirits in your patchwork as another gift option.

TOTAL COST: £6,306

COST TO YOUR GUESTS: £50-£100

Festival vibes, a relaxed dress code and a gift list that asks for help rather than physical presents means this wedding works out pretty cheap for your guests too. The only essential cost is travel.

See the rest of the wedding concepts in our £6k wedding series here.

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Wedding Planning

£6k Wedding Budget: A Stylish Secret Cinema Wedding

by Ismay Ozga March 23, 2017

written by Ismay Ozga

Want to get married in style on a super tight wedding budget? Our £6k wedding series is here to help. We’ve got six fully-costed wedding budget concepts for under £6000 for you to choose from complete with a superstar list of suppliers. To plan a glamorous cinema inspired wedding ceremony for a star-studded guest list, read on…

Who is this low cost £6000 wedding budget perfect for?

This is for the film lovers. This concept provides a stunning cinematic backdrop to a wedding celebration that will make you feel like 1930s Hollywood stars. Guests recline on rows of red velvet seats to witness your epic ceremony. After this you all celebrate your marriage with popcorn and gin cocktails before heading to a bar for dinner, drinks and dancing.

The Cinema Wedding Concept

Celebrating your marriage in a cinema means you don’t have to worry about the weather. And a late afternoon ceremony means people can eat lunch before they arrive. So before you even start planning this wedding you’ve removed two of the biggest causes of stress right away.

With £6000 wedding budget to spend on one day you can create a truly magical experience. If you invite an intimate crowd and concentrate of the details that really matter.

The Cinema Wedding in Detail:

Entrance:

Ideal for a mid-winter wedding, aim to arrive at your chosen cinema for a 4pm ceremony. Then when you step out of your gorgeous vintage car the cinema will be all lit up. This really adds to the glitz and glamour of the occasion.

Inside, your friends and family listen to your prepared playlist. At the same time, watching a slideshow of black and white photos of you both on the big screen. If you’ve got iMovie you can turn your images into a mini film with title and credits. You can finish with a slide that swaps ‘The End’ for ‘The Beginning’ as your audience await your arrival.

Whether you chose the traditional walk down the aisle on your father’s arm or with an entire entourage Dirty Dancing style, entering the screen room from behind the curtain will be a real wow moment. And the cinema setup means you can play your ‘special song’ in surround-sound as you step up to meet your partner on the stage.

Outfits:

Take inspiration from Hollywood’s Golden era and choose a floor-length ivory silk dress and stunning gilded headpiece. Then save your wedding budget by wearing a pair of your own shoes (that won’t be seen) and borrowing a vintage or faux fur from a friend to keep you warm and glamorous. This cinema wedding is the perfect opportunity for a groom to wear a classic dinner suit. And if you’re a same-sex couple you could go for double the glamour with another show stopping dress.

Ceremony:

This concept is all about drama, glamour and ritual. So make sure you choose a celebrant who is happy not only to conduct your marriage service but play the role as Master of Ceremonies. Free from the time constraints of a registry office you can truly indulge when it comes to your ceremony, taking the chance to show off your personalities, tell your unique love story and involve your audience in a cinematic way.

Maybe your celebrant can interview certain friends and share their stories of you both, you could have important people up to do readings, play film clips of family unable to make the day and even have your speeches at this point too.

Reception:

Once you’ve exchanged rings and kissed, you can enjoy a standing ovation full of whoops and cheers to celebrate your union. Then press play (and mute) on an old black and white movie (preferably Some Like It Hot), put an appropriately jazzy playlist on and mooch about chatting to your guests whilst drinking gin cocktails and eating popcorn.

Independent cinemas often have small screening rooms for private hire that can keep your wedding costs low. They are a flexible space for events. Some even have a bar. But if not, hiring The Lucky Pineapple Bar will ensure you have a lovely person serving you cocktails from a golden trailer.

If you’re lucky, your local cinema building will be an art deco gem. If not, even the most contemporary space can be given some 1930s glamour if you hire a couple of ‘cigarette girls’ to hand out popcorn. To keep your wedding budget costs down, why not contact your local drama college to see if you can find any students prepared to play the part?

Dinner and drinks:

Once you’ve all had enough cinema snacks head to the bar and restaurant to enjoy proper food and some fine wine. A few of the Picturehouse cinemas have a restaurant or tapas bar attached. This makes an ideal intimate wedding meal as people can mill around and chat while eating. Just put £1500 behind the bar for food and wine. Then let your friends know there’s a cash bar for post dinner drinks.

For extra cinema inspired fun swap a photographer for a videographer. They can make a movie of your marriage that you can watch over and over, forever and ever.

Gifts vs. Honeymoon:

If you want to continue your art deco inspired journey, ditch the traditional gift list and set up a honeymoon fund for a minimoon to Paris. Then instead of buying you department store wedding gifts, your friends and family can treat you to dinner in a beautiful brasserie, a night at the Moulin Rouge or a romantic ride on the Metro.

The Budget Breakdown:

Source L+R: The Golden Letter, Picturehouse

Invites £350:

This sophisticated wedding requires proper printed invites. For art deco inspiration check out The Golden Letter’s designs. They can create and digitally foil 50 invites from around £350.

Classic car hire £495:

Bespokes Sports Car Hire can organise a classic car for you with packages starting at £495. Alternatively book a black taxi or find a friend with a classy looking car who’s prepared to drive you.

Cinema hire £480:

Compare local prices but as a guide the small screen at the Greenwich Picturehouse seats 50 people and costs £480 for two hours.

Celebrant £750:

Getting the right person is crucial so take your time. Expect to pay £750 from your wedding budget for a celebrant.

Wedding dress £614:

If you’re lucky you might find an original 1930s dress that fits and looks fabulous. But you’ll also find vintage inspired dresses at Reformation. This Veria silk dress in ivory will look stunning on stage.

Head piece £285:

Feel like Liz Taylor as Cleopatra in the gorgeous Dawn Headband by Kelly Spence. Handmade with gold plated leaves and Swarovski diamantes it’s an investment piece you’ll treasure forever.

Suit hire £215:

If you have a partner happy to play the part choose a tuxedo and black tie. If they’re not likely to wear it again save money by hiring one from Yardsmen.

Rings £280:

For a theatrical take on the classic gold band check out Phoebe Coleman’s Brave Heart Warrior ring. Beautiful detailing and affordable at £140.

Video £300:

Instead of a wedding photographer consider asking a few creative friends to film the day with a Super 8 camera – the vintage aesthetic is the perfect compliment to this glamorous day. Cameras can be hired from as little as £60 per day, then send the film off to an online processor who can edit and load on to USB for you to share after the big day.

Gin cocktails £500:

The Lucky Pineapple can serve you delicious cocktails from a glamorous golden trailer – price starting at £500.

‘Cigarette Girls’ with popcorn £200:

It’s an acting job with a specific outfit required. Enquire with your local drama school or university and expect to pay £200 for two local actors for two hours.

Popcorn £20:

Order a bulk bag from one of the many wholesale suppliers on eBay and pack into paper bags yourselves.

Dinner and wine £1500:

Ask the restaurant/bar you’ve chosen if they can reserve a section of the space in advance and budget £1500 to provide food and wine. For 50 people this works out at £30 per head.

Honeymoon fund:

Check out the readymade honeymoon templates on Patchworkit.com, customise our Paris patchwork and invite guests to fund your trip – piece by piece.

TOTAL WEDDING BUDGET COST TO YOU: £5,989

COSTS TO YOUR GUESTS: £10 – £50

If guests want after dinner drinks then they’ll need to buy their own. They can then contribute as much or as little as they like to your honeymoon fund.

See the other wedding concepts in our £6k wedding series here.

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Wedding Planning

£6k Wedding Budget: Warehouse Wedding For Party People

by Ismay Ozga March 23, 2017

written by Ismay Ozga

Want to get married in style on a super tight budget? Our £6k wedding budget series is here to help. We’ve got six fully-costed wedding concepts for under £6000 for you to choose from, complete with a superstar list of suppliers. To plan a rock n roll wedding followed by a warehouse party that friends will remember forever, read on…

Who is this wedding perfect for?

This is the wedding for party people to celebrate their love and marriage. And what better place than on the dance floor? This is a celebration on an industrial scale. Just find a venue with no neighbours that will let you bring your own booze and party all night with 200 mates… Then watch the sunrise together as newlyweds.

The Warehouse Wedding Approach:

This wedding is all about fun and that means removing all elements likely to cause stress. So just remember keep it real, stay cool, be creative and resourceful. And rely on your mates to help and get ready for the party of your lives.

The Warehouse Wedding in Detail:

Morning:

Enjoy your last morning ‘living in sin’ with a long, lazy lie-in. Then head to your favourite greasy spoon for a proper wedding breakfast before jumping on the bus to your local registry office. Make sure you take a few selfies along the way.

To stick within your budget and to make the evening celebration feel like the ‘real thing’ it makes sense to keep your official ceremony deliberately casual. Just the two of you dressed in jeans and t-shirts with a couple of witnesses will feel low key, but appropriately rock ‘n’ roll in advance of your wedding party, so no need to splash out on expensive outfits. If you do want to make a sartorial, personal and political statement, buy matching Choose Love t-shirts produced by Katherine Hamnet in support of the the charity Help Refugees. Then head to the pub for celebratory pints and a couple of packets of crisps. No need for a professional photographer at this point – the registrar and your pub landlord will do nicely.

Afternoon:

In the afternoon head to your venue to meet mates bringing PA equipment and decks, take delivery of booze and set the stage for the evening. To keep stress-levels to a minimum, make sure you have a plan, a list of jobs to delegate and your most practical friends on-hand to help. And keep things simple.

One of the great things about having a late night warehouse wedding is that you save yourself the cost and stress of seating plans, table decorations and the need for detailed styling. Choose an appropriately industrial space with exposed brick, white walls and concrete floors. Ensure you have flattering low lighting and then all you need to do is decorate with large statement pieces in specific areas for maximum impact. Choose hot pink, silver and petrol blue for a simple yet powerful colour palette. You can add to the disco vibe with neon signs over the bar, helium balloons on the stage and glitter balls above the dance floor.

Once you’re confident everything is under control, leave your most organised friend in charge. Then head to a unisex salon for blowdries, beard trims, neck massages and manicures – whatever gets you both feeling relaxed and radiant for your big night.

Back at home, get dressed in separate rooms so you can enjoy a big wow moment when you set eyes on each other all glammed up. This is an un-wedding, so no need for traditional outfits, instead invest in whatever makes you feel fabulous and shoes that you can dance in all night.

Evening:

Ask your guests to arrive at 8pm, giving them time to eat in advance. Then book a taxi to take you to the venue for 8.30 so your friends, family and photographer and are ready and waiting to celebrate your arrival.

The great thing about being officially married beforehand is that neither of you will have to experience the nerve-wracking wait and walk down the aisle. Instead, you’ll enter a room full of all your loved ones together. You can hands as you walk through the cheering crowds and onto the stage to declare your love and marriage.

It’s unlikely that a warehouse, archway or industrial building is going to have a marriage license. But that doesn’t mean your friends and family have to be denied a ceremony. Hiring a celebrant means you can create the marriage service you want without any constraints. Just find a professional that you connect with creatively and agree the words and rituals that you want to include in your own unique celebration.

If you’re having an evening party and people are standing to witness your marriage it makes sense to ask your celebrant to include all the other formal wedding rituals within your ceremony. It’s usual for your celebrant to tell everyone about your love and life so far. Then your friends can give readings and you to exchange vows, rings and kiss in front of a cheering crowd. But you could also add your speeches at this point. And get everyone to sing along to your favourite song and then cut the cake with a champagne toast before stepping onto the floor for your first dance. A great way to bring people together and ensure all the important bits are witnessed and captured by your photographer before the party begins.

Don’t forget the photographer…

For this concept to work within your £6000 budget it’s going to be difficult for you to pay for a wedding photographer yourselves.

But with the average gift list being valued at £3000 you could ask your guests to chip in towards an amazing wedding photographer. Find a creative photographer like Babb Photo to capture the colour and energy of your warehouse wedding. And use a cash gift list like Patchwork to collect cash contributions from your guests.

Bringing your own booze is a great way to provide a free bar on a budget. However, to reduce stress and mess make sure you have at least two helpers to serve drinks until midnight. At which point your aunts and uncles will have left and your mates can cope with beers in buckets for the rest of the night.

If budget allows, pay for a burger van to arrive at midnight to give sustenance to those party people planning to dance all night. And if you’re super hardcore, organise a coffee van to turn up with caffeine and pastries at 6am.

Then avoid the post wedding comedown by checking yourselves into a super-luxe hotel. You can freshen up and flop around in fluffy towelling dressing gowns for 24 hours. Room service. Netflix. Heaven.

Budget Breakdown:

Invites FREE:

Choose one of many free templates on Paperless Post to send free digital invites and keep track of RSVPs.

Wedding breakfast £10:

Cheap, cheerful and definitely fried.

Bus tickets £5:

Front seats. Top of the bus. True romance.

Marriage service and certificates £50:

The charge for a registrar to perform a registry office ceremony costs around £45. A printed marriage and civil partnership certificate costs £5

Matching t-shirts £50:

‘Choose Love’ is the perfect slogan t-shirt for conscientious couples wanting to celebrate their wedding with a personal and political statement. This modern twist on the iconic 80’s Choose Life slogan is a collaboration between Help Refugees and Katherine Hamnett. It’s printed on soft organic cotton and helps to raise funds and awareness for people caught up in the refugee crisis.

Celebratory wedding drinks £10:

Depending where you live, you might just about be able to get two pints and a packet of crisps for a tenner.

Wedding Dress £248:

This gorgeous sequinned dress is super sexy – and perfect for dancing in. So a definitely winner for a warehouse party wedding.

Statement purse £60:

Just enough room for your phone, lipstick and bank card this adorable pink puffy bag by Em Davies is just perfect for dancing around. A stunning party piece and a daily reminder of your amazing wedding day.

Head piece £80:

Forget the veil. This wedding concept requires a headdress worthy of a Disco Queen. Dance all night with your own personal disco balls.

Somebody Else’s Guy | Sken Studio | Zena Birch Celebrant

Outfit number two £175:

For super stylish up-cycled gender-neutral pieces head to Newcastle-based clothing store Somebody Else’s Guy. for pieces like this fabulous feather jacket.

Rings £270:

Break tradition and just buy matching rings that mean something to you. These cute love heart signets from Sken Studios are so cute they’ll bring a smile to your face every day.

Transport £10:

If it’s dry and nearby enjoy a walk or take public transport and enjoy the attention of passersby. Otherwise budget for a cab.

Venue £2200:

The cost of venue hire will depend hugely on your city, day of the week, time of year and your individual requirements. But even in our super expensive capital it’s still possible to find an amazing party space at a reasonable price. As an example, Motel Studios in Shoreditch has a super stylish and versatile space under the railway arches on Long Street that can accommodate 200 people for an all night party. You can hire the space during the day to prepare, bring your own booze, set up your own bar and have vans turn up to supply street food with hire costs starting at £2,200 + VAT for a Saturday night.

Celebrant £700:

Costs will depend on your location and requirements. But expect costs to start around £700 for a professional celebrant.

Cake £120:

Hosting an evening wedding, without the cost of a sit down meal, means you can afford a statement cake. Check out A.R.D Bakery for incredible fashion-inspired cakes.

Wine £550:

Naked Wines have an excellent selection of red, white and sparkling wine from independent suppliers at wholesale prices. Budget £550 for 200 people.

Beer £500:

For a variety of craft beer from a range of independent brewers arrange a delivery from Beerbods. £500 should fill enough ice buckets buckets to keep 200 people happy.

Burgers £500:

Budget £500 and ask a local independent business to serve up burgers, tacos or jerk chicken from their van. For street food inspiration check out Street Feast.

Coffee van £200:

If you’re planning on partying all night make sure you’ve got hot coffee to welcome the new day. You’ll find mobile coffee companies all over the UK and prices will vary so do your research but expect packages to start at £200. In London, Bean About Town will supply coffee from a gorgeous grey Citron van and can be with you at 6am.

Night in a hotel £260

Recovering from your Saturday night wedding will mean you can get a good deal on your Sunday night sleepover. As an example The Hoxton in Shoreditch has ‘Roomy Rooms’ with super king sized beds for £260 on a Sunday night.

Gifts vs. Photographer:

We have a readymade photography fund that lets your guests choose to whether to pay for the confetti shot, the moment you cut the cake or your first dance. And then you to get to send everyone the photos to say thanks.

Laura from Babb Photo is based in Birmingham but happy to travel. Wedding commissions start from £2000.

TOTAL COST: £5,998

COST TO GUESTS: £0 – £50

As you’re providing beer and wine there really are no fixed costs for your guests. If you want spirits at the party you can ask guests to bring a bottle and they can contribute towards your photographer if they want to give a gift.

See the rest of the wedding concepts in our £6k wedding series here.

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Wedding Planning

£6k Wedding Series: Elope and Honeymoon in a Romantic European City, then Fly Home to Celebrate.

by Ismay Ozga March 22, 2017

written by Ismay Ozga

Want to get married in style on a super tight budget? Our £6k wedding series is here to help. We’ve got six fully-costed wedding concepts for under £6000 for you to choose from, complete with a superstar list of recommended suppliers. To plan a super romantic elopement to bohemian Berlin and party on your return, read on…

Who is this wedding perfect for?

This is for independent couples looking for a secret, spontaneous wedding in a romantic European city.
Whether it’s a city you both know and love or somewhere you’re discovering together for the first time, escaping everyone and everything to elope is a super romantic, thrilling and stress-free way to wed. And on your return you can host an amazing party to celebrate your love and marriage, armed with tales of adventure.

The Approach:

Getting married, just the two of you, means your wedding budget goes a lot further, allowing you to splash out on a wedding in a super cool European city that you might not otherwise be able to afford. To keep costs down, bare in mind the UK exchange rate when choosing your destination. While Paris is the undisputed romance capital and Copenhagen is super cool right now, both are expensive cities. Berlin might not be the most obvious option but for creative couples looking for a culture trip in an affordable and vibrant city it’s a great choice.

If you’d love to elope but are worried about the reaction of friends and family, don’t be. Most of your friends and family will have experienced the cost and pressure involved in planning a wedding and will want to make it easy and affordable for you. And most importantly remember they love you and want you to be happy. If you explain your situation and plans in a sensitive and thoughtful way you’ll probably find everyone will support you.

For a wedding abroad to be legally binding you need to contact the local authorities in the country in which you want to get married. If you follow the correct process according to local law you won’t need to register it separately in the UK, but you might be asked to get certain documents from the government if you’re a British National. You can visit www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad to find out more.

In detail:

The day before:

Packing your bags for both your wedding and your honeymoon is super exciting but also terrifying. So once you’ve packed outfits for each day and double checked your passports and official documentation, reward yourselves with a gin and tonic on the plane to calm your nerves and toast the beginning of your amazing adventure.

If you fly mid-week with a budget airline you’ll find return flights to Berlin for under £100. So you can afford to treat yourselves to extra leg-room, speedy boarding and taxis to and from the airports to make your journey as stress-free and comfortable as possible.

As Berlin has a brilliant range of Airbnb options it’s easy to find a stunning apartment for half the price of an average hotel. This super chic apartment is perfectly situated by the Museum of Modern Art and the Wall Memorial.

Ask the owners if they can chill a bottle of champagne for your arrival. Then after lunch, pack an overnight bag with your wedding outfit and head off to Soho House Berlin to be pampered in preparation for the big day. Sleeping apart the night before the wedding isn’t a tradition you have to adhere to and might feel extra strange all alone in a new city. But it will definitely make your meeting at the registry office the following day even more magical. Plus, a night at Soho House means you can indulge in a massage and a manicure, order room service and watch a romantic movie in preparation for the big day.

Wedding day:

You’ll feel incredibly nervous but hugely excited getting ready on your own. After all, this is the best and most important date of your life. Just remember to stay calm and keep it simple. Choose a cool dress, a statement clutch bag and cute shoes that you’ll look and feel comfortable in all day, then do your hair and make-up as you usually do. To avoid prolonged nerves and to make the most of your day together, book a morning marriage service. Then get a taxi to the registry office at Standesamt, texting your partner on the way to make sure they’re awaiting your arrival.

Once you set eyes on each other on the steps of the registry office you might find it hard to resist a pre-wedding kiss. But then we’re picking and choosing our traditions with this rebellious wedding so that’s fine. The only rule is that you both turn up with your required legal documents and that you don’t forget the rings.

Most German officials will speak excellent English but check with the venue whether the service and legal documents will be in German and ask for a translator if necessary. Then just grab two strangers from the street to witness your wedding and add to the spontaneous joy of your day. If you’re feeling brave you could politely ask one of your witnesses to throw some confetti while the other one takes a photo of you both as newlyweds. Otherwise, feel no shame and use a selfie stick.

After your ceremony, hire bikes to explore the city together in the afternoon stopping to buy a bottle of champagne and a couple of classic German bratwurst from a street vendor to celebrate your marriage with a picnic in the park. Then ride back along the river to your house boat, making sure you’re carried carefully over the threshold, to avoid both of you ending up in the water. After dark head back out for cocktails and a romantic dinner at the top of the TV Tower with stunning views of the city lights below.

Honeymoon:

It’s up to you how long you stay for your honeymoon but it’s easy to spend a week soaking up Berlin’s alternative culture and discovering new places to eat, drink and dance. Whatever you choose to do make sure you take plenty of photos along the way to share with everyone when you get home.

Wedding party:

Send invites to everyone explaining your elopement and honeymoon plans and that you’d love them to come to a party to celebrate your wedding on your return. Ask people to arrive at 8pm and set out the timetable for the evening so the event feels sufficiently formal and wedding-y.

Request that people don’t bring wedding gifts to the party and instead suggest that those who want can contribute towards your Berlin trip. We have a readymade Berlin patchwork for you to customise.

To work to your budget avoid traditional wedding venues and instead look for a local art space, members bar or community club that’s happy to be creative and flexible to meet your needs. The Square in Bristol is a private members club for the film, creative and media industries that also offers private hire for parties at reasonable rates. A great choice not only because the eclectic interiors and relaxed outside space fit this wedding’s bohemian vibe but also because they can organise catering to keep your stress levels to a minimum and provide a PA system and a projector screen setup at no extra cost.

Budget £3000 to cater for 80 people for an evening party. This won’t stretch to a sit down meal but will cover the cost of hiring a nice venue with a buffet and plenty of booze. Just be open minded and curious, enquire at a number of different venues to see how they can make your budget work. For example, The Square is a members club so you have to pay £200 to join but then you can hire a room for free. There’s a minimum spend (£2000 on a Saturday night) but you can cover this by paying for a champagne reception and a light buffet and buying tokens to give to guests on arrival so they don’t have to pay for their own drinks.

If you’re a flea market or Etsy addict, find yourself 80 nice looking matchboxes so you can put four poker chips inside for each guest. A practical way to present people with pre-paid bar tokens and a nice favour for them to keep.

Budget breakdown:

Invites £35:

Check out design templates or upload your own image to create cheap and super cool postcard invites with Moo. You can print 100 postcards with offers starting at £35.

Flights £200:

Costs will vary depending on which UK airport you fly from as well as the time, day of the week and month you want to travel. But if you book in advance you’ll easily get two return flights for under £200.

Airport taxi £25:

If you don’t have too much luggage and want to save cash a train ticket to central Berlin costs a couple of euros.

Super cool hotel £260:

Prices for a double room in Soho House Berlin start at £260 for one night. Stretch out and enjoy the huge beds and stylish surroundings.

Wedding dress £150:

Wear this beautiful embroidered mini dress from Sézane – only £150 but you’ll feel like a million dollars.

Handbag £182:

This orange velvet bag from Dries Van Noten is super stylish and big enough to hold a box of confetti and your wedding certificates.

Rings £185:

You can buy this ‘two halves of a whole’ silver ring set from Frances Kirk for £185.

Marriage service £30:

Choose a simple civil ceremony for two at the Berlin Standesamt and you won’t incur the cost of having to hire a room.

Outfit number two £170:

Go secondhand with an outfit from Vinted or a vintage store – Beyond Retro have a great selection of formal wear. £170 should cover your partner’s wedding outfit.

Photoautomat £10:

Take your own iconic wedding photos in one of the many photo-booths dotted around Berlin.

Bike hire £24:

You can hire bikes for £12 each for a single day. Or at a discount for an entire week.

Picnic lunch £30:

Food and drink is much cheaper in Berlin so you’ll get a good quality bottle of champagne for £20 and lunch from a bratwurst stall for £5.

Dinner £178:

207 metres above Berlin, you can book window table in the TV Tower’s revolving restaurant and enjoy a set menu for £89 per person.

Airbnb accommodation for a week £982:

Have a look on Airbnb for somewhere to enjoy the rest of your trip – this chic apartment in Friedrichstrasse costs £143 per night or £982 for a week.

Wedding party for 80 people £2904:

As a useful guide catering for 80 guests at The Square in Bristol costs the following:

Joining fee for a year’s membership: £200

Champagne reception: (£5.50 per glass of prosecco) £440

Light evening buffet: (£11.50 per person) £920

Bar currency: (4 drinks per person) £1344

Matchboxes favours for drinks tokens £150:

On a good day you could easily find 80 vintage matchboxes in a boot fair for a few quid. But if you’re looking for a contemporary option head to Etsy for a range of graphic matchbox designs.

TOTAL COST: £5,515

TOTAL COST TO YOUR GUESTS: £0 – £50

Your guests will need to pay for drinks if they want more than the four pre-paid by you. And the only other cost is a gift if they choose to contribute to your honeymoon fund.

See the rest of the wedding concepts in our £6k wedding series here.

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woman lounging in white dress on marrakech rooftop

Wedding Planning

£6k Wedding Series: Hen do, Marriage & a Mini-moon in Marrakesh

by Ismay Ozga March 22, 2017

written by Ismay Ozga

Want to get married in style on a super tight budget? Our £6k wedding series is here to help. We’ve got six fully-costed wedding concepts for under £6000 for you to choose from, complete with a superstar list of recommended suppliers.
To plan a fabulous wedding abroad with 10 best friends (including hen and stag dos, wedding celebration and mini-moon) read on…

Who is this wedding perfect for?

It’s ideal for globe-trotting couples looking for a unique wedding adventure in an exotic destination with a handful of close friends.

This 1970s inspired Moroccan wedding is all about laid-back luxury and deliberate decadence. A week long celebration, it involves you and your 10 best mates flying to Marrakesh for your hen and stag dos, your wedding ceremony, an all night party and a day of pampering before returning to celebrate your marriage with family and friends.

Marrakech wedding concept:

This amazing wedding abroad is totally achievable for £6,000 if you book everything at least a year in advance, plan the details carefully and have close friends willing and able to join you in your wedding adventure.

Marrakesh has beautiful weather from March so it’s the perfect destination for a spring wedding, when flights and accommodation are cheaper out of season. If you book in advance you’ll get 12 seats on the same plane for £150 each return. And whilst hiring a private riad with sun terrace, pool and hammam feels like the ultimate luxury, it’s totally affordable if you split the cost per room. Although travelling abroad for a wedding is an expense for your guests, combining the hen and stag do on the same trip helps keep total costs down and, as long as your friends have plenty of warning, five days in Marrakesh makes a pretty magical holiday for everyone.

With a £6,000 budget a professional wedding photographer is one of the things you’re going to have to sacrifice. But that’s okay. To capture and collect all the amazing moments from your trip just ask friends to upload photos with your wedding hashtag to instagram so everyone back home can follow your wedding adventure as it unfolds.

Although you can organise a wedding celebration in Morocco you can’t get officially married, so don’t forget to book an appointment at a registry office to make it legal on your return. Then arrange for family and friends to join you for a Moroccan meal at a local restaurant.

We need to note that while travel to Morocco is relatively safe for LGBTQ couples, travellers are advised not to show public displays of affection, so celebrating a gay wedding in Marrakech is not recommended.

Marrakech wedding in detail:

Day one: Arrive

Meet friends at the airport for breakfast bubbly and arrive in Morocco by midday. To avoid airport hassle arrange for your riad to collect you and ask for lunch to be laid out on your arrival. Having driven through the bustling streets of Marrakech entering a traditional riad through a small wooden doorway is like stepping back in time to an ancient kingdom full of secret treasures and pleasures. Spend your first afternoon checking out your bedrooms, plunging into the pool and organising your spa treatments in the hammam. Then relax on the roof terrace drinking fresh mint Juleps as you watch the sunset over the city.

Day two: Hen/stag dos

If you want your hen do to be a surprise let your girlfriends organise this day for you. From shopping trips and spa treatments to mountain climbs and camel rides in the desert, there’s plenty to do in and around Marrakech during the day. Then at night head out into the magic and mayhem of the Medina, enjoy a delicious meal in one of the many roof top restaurants and then head to a club for cocktails – taking care not to bump into your other half on the dance floor.

Day three: Preparation

Start the day with pancakes and fresh orange juice to cure your hangover, spend the morning enjoying spa treatments and then use the afternoon to check on your wedding preparations and practice your speeches. Then get an early night – switching rooms so you get to sleep separately if you’re superstitious.

Day four: Your wedding day

Enjoy a long, late breakfast with your girlfriends then head to your room to get ready. Find a floor-length flowy dress in a loose fabric and some colourful comfy flats. Then embrace a budget-friendly tradition by wearing a favourite old necklace or borrowing jewellery from your friends. To save money and ensure your desired hairstyle isn’t lost in translation, avoid local hairdressers and instead ask your most talented mate to help you with hair and make-up.

A beautifully tailored linen suit is the perfect choice for a stylish wedding in a hot country. Just make sure the riad has an iron or steamer your partner can borrow. Relaxed yes, creased, no.

Block booking an entire riad like Dar Habiba means you can use the whole space for your wedding day and with a traditional yet stylish interior you won’t need to do much to decorate the space. With only 12 of you, you’ll be able to set up seats in the courtyard for the ceremony, head up for champagne on the roof terrace, sit around a huge candlelit table for dinner and speeches, then enjoy late dancing and pool party antics until dawn.

While most riads will be able to arrange all your catering requirements it might not be so easy to find a host happy to act as a celebrant. But it’s worth asking. Just explain your wedding plans upfront when making enquiries and see if hoteliers or riad owners are happy help or able to recommend anyone who can. It doesn’t need to be too formal and you might actually prefer a friend to bless your union.

Either way, the idea is that you both script a simple service that includes the exchanging of rings and a celebratory kiss and ask someone to act as Master of Ceremonies. You can involve best friends formally in the roles of Best Man and Maid of Honour or just ask people to choose a poem or reading. The beauty about having a non-official ceremony is that you can make it what you like – borrowing the best bits from different traditional ceremonies and rituals.

Make sure your most instagram-obsessed friend is in charge of photographing the ceremony and ensure there are bowls of rose petals, fresh from the market, for that all important confetti shot.

woman sunbathing by pool in riad in marrakech

Day five: Mini-moon

Plan for a hangover. Lay in ‘til midday, enjoy a long lazy brunch together followed by a swim and a couples massage in the afternoon before heading out for dinner just the two of you.

Day six: Depart

Spend the day sunbathing. Then treat your friends to a last glass of champagne to say thanks for being part of your special celebration, before heading back to the airport for an early evening flight.

If you fly out on a Sunday and return on Friday your flights will be cheaper and you’ll have the day on Saturday to head down to your local registry office to make your marriage official. Dress casual, take a couple of witnesses and share your selfies to complete the story.

Then hire a room in a local Moroccan restaurant paying for a cold buffet so family and friends can hear all about your wedding, toast your marriage and enjoy a taste of Marrakesh too.

Marrakech wedding: The budget

Invites £10:

Send beautiful matte finish postcards with your own designs rather than traditional invites.

Moo does small print runs with offers starting at £10 for 20 cards.

Flights £200:

Costs will vary depending on which UK airport you fly from as well as the time, day of the week and month you want to travel. But if you book in advance you can easily get midweek return flights from Gatwick to Marrakesh in March for under £100 per person.

Deposit for the Riad £2000:

Costs will depend on the number of guests and the type of riad and location you choose. But as an example, the luxury riad Dar Habiba is in a great location in the centre of Marrakesh can be hired exclusively, sleeps 12 people and has a range of rooms starting at £59 per night. Budget up to £2000 upfront in case your riad requires a deposit, then your guests can pay for their rooms on arrival.

woman wearing long white draped dress by Nocturne

Hen/stag do £300:

You might want to leave the plans up to your mates but budget £150 each for your hen/stag do activities.

Spa treatments £200:

Book some relaxing treatments to prepare you for the big day and to help you recover afterwards.

Wedding dress £118:

Look and feel cool and chic in the Moroccan heat in this draped long dress by Nocturne at Wolf & Badger.

man wearing beige linen suit from Sandro

Sandals £45:

Go for some easy colourful flats like these raffia sandals from Boden.

Linen suit £430:

A linen suit is the perfect choice for a sophisticated yet laid back Moroccan wedding. Check out Sandro’s super chic linen suit – currently priced at £430.

Rings £318:

This wedding is all about storytelling so choose rings that symbolise this too. Mordi Studio’s ‘Spirit’s Vow’ ring features two hands connected, entwined in leaves and branches, with Nsibidi symbols meaning ‘love with affection’ and ‘love and unity’ inscribed on the hands.

Luggage £285:

Pack for your wedding trip with this understated but classy canvas bag by Paravel.

gold tea pot and biscuits next to pool in a Moroccan riad

Champagne reception £100:

This is one tradition you need to stick to. Budget £100 to cover the costs of your champagne toast.

Wedding day meal with wine £600:

Your friends will be happy to pay for their meals most days but treating everyone to the wedding day dinner makes sense and will be appreciated.

Thank you drinks £100:

You might all be in need of a hair of the dog before you get back on the plane so budget £100 to say thanks to all your mates for making the trip.

outdoor seating by pool in Moroccan riad

Registry office service and certificates £55:

The charge for a registrar to perform a registry office ceremony costs around £45. Marriage and civil partnership certificates cost around £5 each.

Dinner at your local Moroccan restaurant £500:

Find a local Moroccan restaurant happy to provide a hot buffet for 50 people working to a budget of £500. Then invite friends and family to come along, explaining that you’re providing food and that there’s a cash bar for drinks.

Gifts:

Obviously with a wedding abroad you’re not expecting or wanting physical presents. So if people do want to give a gifts you could suggest they contribute towards a wedding treat while you’re in Marrakesh. Use Patchworkit.com to show all the things you’re planning to do from camel rides to cocktails, manicures and massages, then let people choose what they’d like to buy you. To make it easy we even have a readymade Marrakesh honeymoon fund.

TOTAL COST: £5,261

COST TO YOUR GUESTS: £800

This includes flights, accommodation and activities in Marrakesh for your 10 best friends. Friends and family coming to your UK celebration will just need to pay for drinks and contribute to your Marrakesh mini-moon if they wish.

See the rest of the wedding concepts in our £6k wedding series here.

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