How To Have A Cheap Wedding You Really Love – Meet The Thrifty Couples Who Kept Costs Low
Claire and Royston had their perfect, dreamy DIY Greek wedding on a beach in Anaxos, on the island of Lesvos in front of 65 guests. They spent £5,000 in total, which included the flights and hotel, the ceremony, wedding outfits, and food and drink for their guests. It was affordable, Claire says, as Lesvos isn’t as well known as other islands such as Santorini.
“We were very fortunate because Royston’s mum and stepdad live in a little village just outside Anaxos,” she explains. “We’d gone over to visit them the previous year and that’s when Royston was taken by the Greek fabulousness and proposed – so having someone living out there was helpful.” His mother Val and sister Jo really helped with planning and organisation, Claire says, including help with finding the venue for the reception.
“We have four daughters between us so we paid for their flights and accommodation, which was a main expense.” The couple then had a ceremony on the beach before having a meal in a nearby restaurant, which came with a constant supply of Greek food and beers and wine. “For 65 people it came to about £1,200,” says Claire. “It was incredible and very, very hospitable – we had so many traditional Greek dishes one after the other.”
Val and Jo decorated a gazebo for the ceremony on the beach, while the restaurant provided the chairs which guests then took back for the reception. “It was an informal but amazing experience.”
Claire saved on items like her wedding dress which, she says, wasn’t expensive. “It was about the experience of getting married to someone I loved rather than spending a fortune on a dress. For brides who do want to do that, it’s their day and their decision but for me it wasn’t a priority.”
If you’re considering getting married abroad, Claire suggests being open-minded – rather than searching for wedding venues, she and Royston chose their favourite restaurant. Picking a less popular spot can also make things more affordable for your guests, she notes: “If someone is thinking about getting married abroad it’s only fair to think about the expense that’ll be for friends and family too. If you’re not going to a headline destination that helps as well.”