Frugal Bride Shares How She Only Spent $500 For The Whole Wedding With 40 Guests And People Are Applauding Her Ingeniosity
The fact that weddings can get expensive is nothing new. However, high demand and inflation just keep pushing up the prices and making expenses much higher than anticipated. Wedding company Zola revealed two-thirds of more than 3,000 surveyed couples are going above budget for their big day in 2022. But one duo has gone viral on TikTok after the frugal bride shared how she decided to take a different approach.
Joel and Kiara Brokenbroughs did not want to go into debt by tying the knot and focused on planning their big day at little cost. The pair managed to host a beautiful minimal wedding and reception off a scenic highway for just under $500. And that includes the woman’s $47 dress she purchased from the e-commerce website Shein.
When the woman uploaded the video of how she looked while walking down the aisle, it amassed over 970K views with thousands applauding her decision and asking for advice. Continue scrolling to find out how the couple did it and share your thoughts about it in the comments!
Joel and Kiara Brokenbroughs from California did not want to go into debt by throwing a fancy wedding
Image credits: kiarabrk
So they decided to keep it “as minimal as possible” and pulled it off for just under $500, dress included
Image credits: kiarabrk
The couple revealed how they were able to keep the costs low
Image credits: kiarabrk
Image credits: ABC7
Image credits: kiarabrk
When Joey proposed to Kiara in December last year, they pledged that their big day would be “as minimal as possible”. And it turns out that all it takes is meticulous planning, donated decorations, and understanding family and friends.
“I knew I wanted to be with him,” Kiara, a social media manager, told NBC News and added that it took Joey two years. “She already was ready, but it was me,” her husband, a high school basketball and physical education coach, added. “As men, we tend to wait for the perfect time, and there’s no perfect time.”
Originally, the couple wanted to have a courthouse wedding but couldn’t because of Covid restrictions. “We looked into the courthouse and … we couldn’t have any witnesses or anything,” Kiara said. “We can’t do that.” They got the idea to plan something special to celebrate with their families. However, the pair didn’t want to break the bank by having a fancy celebration, so they decided to be as frugal as possible.
The budget-savvy bride purchased her dress from Shein for only $47
Image credits: KIARA BRK
Kiara shared how she tried on some dresses just for the experience but didn’t plan on buying any of them
Image credits: kiarabrk
Image credits: kiarabrk
Image credits: kiarabrk
Probably the item that received the most attention from Kiara’s TikTok and Instagram followers was the backless slip gown that cost $47. Joel’s suit was a bit more expensive and came to $100. “I didn’t want to spend hella money on a dress I would wear one time for a few hours [and] that would get dirty,” the bride wrote on Instagram. However, she still decided to try out a few expensive dresses, just for the experience. “Was it my dream dress? No ma’am, but no regrets on this dress decision at all,” she added.
It turns out that Kiara wants to let this dress live on, yet in a slightly different form. She told Los Angeles Times she plans to cut a slit into the gown and use it again. “I’ve just seen how, culturally, we’ve gotten so far away from how weddings were something so simple as bride and groom coming together, bowing to God to stay together, and bowing to each other to stay together and in front of witnesses,” Kiara noted.
“I’m not going to go into debt over this. I’m not going to spend a whole bunch of money, or stress and get in people’s pockets over such an event that’s going to last one day.”
“I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a dress because I had the mindset ‘I’m gonna wear this one time for a few hours'”
Image credits: kiarabrk
Image credits: kiarabrk
Image credits: kiarabrk
The woman later shared a TikTok video, which got over 970K views, about her dress-shopping experience
@kiarabrk Reply to @maalikaelise dress included! $47 on @SHEIN 🤩🤩 #weddingtiktok #weddingdress #cheapwedding #blackbride ♬ audio credit is rennyxaudios – 70s80s90s00s
Image credits: kiarabrk
Another thing that helped cut down on costs was a free wedding location
Image credits: kiarabrk
Joel and Kiara Brokenbroughs planned their budget wedding in two months. And one thing that really helped the couple to keep the costs low was skipping on booking a venue and paying a hefty price. They decided to have the ceremony at a free public place and found the perfect location right off one of California’s freeways.
The couple held their ceremony off the Angeles Crest Highway with a picturesque view of the mountains. Because they did not purchase a public permit, they only invited around 30 to 40 close friends and relatives, Kiara revealed on TikTok. The only things they needed to pay for were chairs and an arch.
Plus, many of the things and decorations the couple used were gifted by family members
Image credits: kiarabrk
Moreover, family members and other guests were also willing to help. The couple received support from loved ones for expenses such as flowers, a runner, and the cake. “The energy was great, and people were just there to truly celebrate us,” she said. “When I got out of the car, I just ran because I was just so excited. I’m like, I’m ready to do this.”
For the reception part, guests agreed to pay for their own food and drinks
Image credits: kiarabrk
The couple cut down on costs with their reception as well. Kiara said guests were not looking to be entertained, and the couple was not looking to entertain them. She revealed that some of the guests flew in from as far away as the East Coast and understood they would need to pay for their own food and drinks. “Having people who truly understand the true meaning of a wedding, they were so excited just about our union,” the woman added.
Joel and Kiara were able to find a free and already pretty place so they wouldn’t need to spend extra on decorations. “After our wedding ceremony, we all migrated to @mistyslounge to celebrate,” Kiara wrote. “It felt so good to be around people who genuinely supported us [and] weren’t looking to be entertained. We wouldn’t have been able to pull this off if it wasn’t for the contributions of our families and close friends! It took a village and our village showed up!”
Image credits: kiarabrk
Image credits: kiarabrk
Image credits: kiarabrk
Image credits: KIARA BRK
“For any of you who say, ‘we don’t have money for a wedding’ as an excuse to not get married, I got you!”
Image credits: KIARA BRK
According to online wedding publication The Knot, the average cost for a wedding in 2021 was about $28,000, roughly the same as in 2019. But when broken down by state, the data reveals the price for a 2021 Californian wedding would be closer to $33,000.
“Right now, consumers are feeling the impact of inflation across every industry, the wedding industry included,” Emily Forrest Skurnik, director of communications for wedding company Zola, told NBC News.
But in 2020, the cost was around $19,000 because the pandemic caused weddings to downsize, and Kiara thought this was an attractive idea. “I was seeing other people getting married in nontraditional ways, and I fell in love with it,” the bride revealed.
The newlywed couple hopes their wedding would serve as both an inspiration and a reminder to others: “For any of you who say, ‘We don’t have money for a wedding’ as an excuse to not get married, I got you!”
“Was this the wedding of my dreams? No. Did I make the best of the resources we had? HEAVENS YEAH. I wasn’t going into debt or prolonging this day to save up to pay for strangers [and people] who know nothing about our relationship to dine [and] drink on our dime,” she wrote. “I believe this is what the origin of what a wedding ceremony is — you, your partner, witnesses [and] God.”
Image credits: kiarabrk
Image credits: kiarabrk
Here’s another popular clip Kiara posted on TikTok
@kiarabrk I’ze a married woman now!! 😜 Subscribe to my YouTube channel to see how I pulled this off! YT: KIARA BRK #wedding #weddingtiktok #weddingday #couples ♬ original sound – zaq 🦖
You can watch the wedding video right here
People applauded the couple’s efforts online, here’s what they had to say
Its a bit deceiving to claim to only spend 500 if her guests are paying for the food. We aee planning on getting married and all we will do is a simple lunch with the closest family. No rings, no dress (we will use suits that we already had). But i cant find any decent place for min 30 euros the person. And thats in spain where food is crazy cheap. Even if we invite very little people its min 1000+ euros.
Exactly. We had a similar ceremony in a small chapel with 7 people total. A couple months later we had a backyard reception with 50 people and catered sides. My FIL smoked several briskets that we bought. It was beautiful. We had alcohol but a lot of our friends are sober so there was enough for everyone who wanted it.
Load More Replies...
Loved everything and their approach to everything. There is never a need to go into debt or break your bank over a day BUT making guests pay for their own food and drinks is where I draw the line. Rest is just 👍🏻
The question mark is supposed to be a thumbs up emoji. Don't know what went wrong
Load More Replies...
If the venue was free, decoration was gifted, dress was $47 and guest paid for their food how did they manage to spend $500? Does she break costs on her video? Curious
My husband and I spent $1200 on our wedding and that included a new $500 camera that a friend (and guest) used to take pictures. Got my never been worn wedding dress for $20 at a yard sale (and free-cycled it to someone else after), got married at a community centre in Nova Scotia near my parents' house ($25) and we made all the food the day before and bought the liquor from the liquor store. Got the decorations from ebay and yard sales. Went to a local beach for our wedding pictures. My dad and two uncles sang and played piano and guitars and I had made music CDs to dance to. It was a great time and everyone had so much fun. wedding-62...a65123.jpg 
That wasn’t a $500 wedding. The couple paid $500 but the real price was $500 plus the cake plus the decorations plus the food and drink etc etc. it’s no different that having your family give you money for your wedding. Also, having your guests pay for their food and drink is tacky. If you can’t afford (or don’t want) to give them food and drink, then have what you can afford - cake and punch. Her dress was inexpensive, I grant you, if ill fitting
True, if they paid for those, it would have been waaay more. When my hubby and I got married we kept it under $1000.00, counting rings (titanium) and lunch at a favorite local independant restaurant. We went civil, but at a beautiful landmark courthouse (built in late 1800s) just after Christmas (it was tastefully and beautifully decorated with fresh flowers and refined trees for the holiday) and the grounds were also attractive and they were fine with us having photos done there. The thing we spent the most on was a professional photographer and that was so worth it (I hired a friend who was an excellent photog and made sure they charged their regular rates so as not to take advantage).
Load More Replies...
K well... It helps to be "gifted" so many of the usual costly items. Thrift your dress though, shein is evil. And I don't know how it is down there, but here in Canada, you can't hold a wedding in a public place like that without a permit, it's illegal.
I love this. My brother and SIL got married five years ago and spent $700 on the wedding. They got married in a courtyard of a beautiful home ($300 for the home and chair rental, $100 for candles, $150 for flowers, $50 for invitations, $100 for the dress and and shoes - brother wore a suit he already owned) and did cheesecake and a champagne toast afterward (her parents bought the cheesecakes and my parents bought the champagne, the rest of the siblings chipped in $50 each to provide a table of finger foods.) It was an absolutely beautiful ceremony and they are happy and healthy and I love my SIL and she is a wonderful addition to our family.
I got married in a $50 dress from Kohl's on the beach near my house for a $50 county beach permit fee. My sister gifted the flowers, we went barefoot, since the ceremony was short we didn't have chairs, paid $150 for the pastor, I did my own hair and minimal make up. Also had a free beach bonfire permit for the reception with beach blankets, floor pillows, coolers and appetizers for food. Amazing night with family and close friends for around $300. It can be done.
Rented a gazebo at the local botanical garden, bought taco trays from a local eatery (didn't have the guests pay for their own food), hired a family friend to make the cake, got married in costumes on Halloween. Around $300.00.
I actually made a profit on my wedding. I made my dress (fancy, but plain enough to wear later as well) and the cake, and picked flowers off my mother's bush for the bouquet (gardinias FTW!). Our church didn't charge for the sanctuary or reception hall. Friends donated music, food, and photography. Far away relatives who were invited to celebrate (but not expected to make a trip) sent checks large enough to cover the costs and a bit more. It was a lovely wedding. I regret nothing about it.
Spend your time, energy and money on your marriage. Of which the wedding is simply 'day one' So many brides are caught up in two years of planning the 'perfect day' and spend their parents and themselves into massive debt for it. True romance doesn't need a big bank balance..
It seemed nice until the food and drinks part, that's the main reason it was $500. I personally think if you're inviting people to an event like a wedding you're responsible for providing something in the way of sustenance, but everyone has their own priorities. Nothing is right or wrong here, so kudos to them for making it what they wanted.
Please stay away from terrible fast fashion like Shein! If you want a lovely budget dress, there are plenty of new dresses sold in online thrift stores.
First off, that dress is going to go up in price by thousands once this pic makes the rounds because she is GORGEOUS. AND it looks like it was made for her. They are both so beautiful. And good for them for wanting to keep costs down. However you can do it you should because spending ridiculous amounts of money on what equates to a big party is so financially irresponsible. Hope they have a nice big house and their mortgage is paid quicker because they made good decisions.
If they paid for food, wedding would cost more, but I think it still would be affordable. Making guest pay for their food would feel avaricious. Also I don't think buying dress from fast fashion giant is frugal win, but whatever.
Good for her. Weddings should be less about extravagance and shameless self-indulgence and more about the promises two people are making to each other.
The thing is, Shein is HORRIBLE for the environment. So, buying a wedding dress and showing off how cheap but great it looked doesn’t help. Honestly, it looks just like a white dress, and I’m sure you could’ve gotten something more eco friendly. ( A small cost to pay for helping our world). That’s all I’ve had to say. Thanks.
I gotta say, I think the dress looks like it only cost 50$. The train and the way it's cut around the the boobs is pretty terrible. But it shows how beautiful the Bride is to manage to ot look ugly in it. I like who the family gifted ccertain things, but having my guests pay for their own food an drinks wouldn't work for me. I'D rather have a large barbeque in a friends garden than have guests pay for their own food.
If people give you stuff and you advertise that you are trying to prove you can do a cheap wedding, ask people to pay for their own attendance and the groom owns his own tux, I guess, you can have a really cheap wedding. Most places people think are free aren't actually, too.
I did the same but that was 40 years ago. A simple wedding, just immediate family, dinner at home. I love it when the marriage is more important than the wedding. Lasting love. I wish you both the best life has to offer.
I dunno, this is cool, but it's easy to only spend $500 when you have family paying for or "donating" most of what goes toward your wedding. Not everyone has a support system like this. Props to those who do and utilize it.
I think our wedding was like $1200, that was my dress tux, rings, officiant, license, 'renting' a city park (which was actually free), we had 12 guests and bought all their dinners at a nice restaurant, I made the favours and we had a 3 day 'honeymoon' in our city at a hotel, my mom made our cake and my step dad got us a case of wine to go with our dinner
Discussing and comparing wedding costs is tricky. It's confusing what's actually included and what isn't. I wonder if the pictures and the drone video was free (or included in the 500, which is practically the same). If so, it was a friend favour and I wouldn't call that free. Someone did put in the work and it should have cost even if it didn't for them. They also didn't mention the cost of the rings. My husband and me spent around 2700 dollars total including everything: photographer, venue for about 35 people, food, rings, my dress, government expenses. We spent way more than the officially admitted cost of the wedding in this post. At the same time, for us it was the whole cost without favours from friends.
You two totally scored with each other. Enjoy your glorious life together. You Rock!
Coming up to our 8th anniversary. We spent maybe $1000 all up. My dress was $99, hubby's shirt/pants $60, kids outfits $100 (2 kids). Venue was my mums nursing home, they allowed us to use it for free as long as the residents could watch --- of course, they also did the flowers Makeup we booked in first sitting which was the cheapest, $100 for 3 of us. Celebrant was a friend, she did it for free Cake was gifted from a friend Photos $100 to a student photographer, also for her portfolio. We had wishing stones for people to sign, $20 for bag of stones and silver pen. We had our reception at a pub, and yes people paid for their own meals without a fuss. We also didn't request gifts (got some still) We also had 4 flights interstate as we got married in our home town in Vic but live in Qld. A friend that got married the week before spent $35000 and now divorced.
Great that everything worked out well for them. Weddings don't need to be fancy or expensive. But they can if the couple wants to and feels finde with it. Weddings should be a beautiful experience for all people involved. I love their photos and she looks so pretty in her dress. Personally i wouldn't want to have the guests pay for their own food and drinks though. For me a wedding is about treating my guests to good food, a little to give back to friends and family, who have helped me before. So i would want them to not have to pay for that, but to just enjoy the food. Other than that i love the concept.
There are certain legal protections that come with marriage, especially in the USA where they live.
Load More Replies...
Confused about the wedding photographer. Aside from clothes looks like you need talented supportive family
Save money by having your dress made in a sweatshop by children! Don't feed your "guests" that flew across the country to attend your wedding! There is frugal and there is cheap and tacky. These people have little class.
If you think the $5000 wedding dress from a big name bridal boutique is not made in a sweatshop, you are living in fantasy land.
Load More Replies...
That was a beautiful classic dress and she looked stunning in it. Well done! It's also possible to find dresses on Kijiji or Craigslist that have only been worn once and often they've also been professionally cleaned and boxed up. (Sometimes a never-worn dress is sold there, which always makes me wonder what happened.)
I'm applauding the headline writer for coming up with "ingeniosity"! I can only imagine that they dropped their dictionary in front of a lawnmower... p.s. The dress is too small
This is a Lithuanian site. English is not their first language.
Load More Replies... The more spent on the wedding, the quicker the divorce. If you spend a fortune and plan forever, then after the event it is like a death in the family. No longer saving or planning and you are looking for stuff to do. It feels like grief to many. Spend as little as possible and enjoy your life. Well done.
Its a bit deceiving to claim to only spend 500 if her guests are paying for the food. We aee planning on getting married and all we will do is a simple lunch with the closest family. No rings, no dress (we will use suits that we already had). But i cant find any decent place for min 30 euros the person. And thats in spain where food is crazy cheap. Even if we invite very little people its min 1000+ euros.
Exactly. We had a similar ceremony in a small chapel with 7 people total. A couple months later we had a backyard reception with 50 people and catered sides. My FIL smoked several briskets that we bought. It was beautiful. We had alcohol but a lot of our friends are sober so there was enough for everyone who wanted it.
Load More Replies... Loved everything and their approach to everything. There is never a need to go into debt or break your bank over a day BUT making guests pay for their own food and drinks is where I draw the line. Rest is just 👍🏻
The question mark is supposed to be a thumbs up emoji. Don't know what went wrong
Load More Replies... If the venue was free, decoration was gifted, dress was $47 and guest paid for their food how did they manage to spend $500? Does she break costs on her video? Curious
My husband and I spent $1200 on our wedding and that included a new $500 camera that a friend (and guest) used to take pictures. Got my never been worn wedding dress for $20 at a yard sale (and free-cycled it to someone else after), got married at a community centre in Nova Scotia near my parents' house ($25) and we made all the food the day before and bought the liquor from the liquor store. Got the decorations from ebay and yard sales. Went to a local beach for our wedding pictures. My dad and two uncles sang and played piano and guitars and I had made music CDs to dance to. It was a great time and everyone had so much fun. wedding-62...a65123.jpg
That wasn’t a $500 wedding. The couple paid $500 but the real price was $500 plus the cake plus the decorations plus the food and drink etc etc. it’s no different that having your family give you money for your wedding. Also, having your guests pay for their food and drink is tacky. If you can’t afford (or don’t want) to give them food and drink, then have what you can afford - cake and punch. Her dress was inexpensive, I grant you, if ill fitting
True, if they paid for those, it would have been waaay more. When my hubby and I got married we kept it under $1000.00, counting rings (titanium) and lunch at a favorite local independant restaurant. We went civil, but at a beautiful landmark courthouse (built in late 1800s) just after Christmas (it was tastefully and beautifully decorated with fresh flowers and refined trees for the holiday) and the grounds were also attractive and they were fine with us having photos done there. The thing we spent the most on was a professional photographer and that was so worth it (I hired a friend who was an excellent photog and made sure they charged their regular rates so as not to take advantage).
Load More Replies... K well... It helps to be "gifted" so many of the usual costly items. Thrift your dress though, shein is evil. And I don't know how it is down there, but here in Canada, you can't hold a wedding in a public place like that without a permit, it's illegal.
I love this. My brother and SIL got married five years ago and spent $700 on the wedding. They got married in a courtyard of a beautiful home ($300 for the home and chair rental, $100 for candles, $150 for flowers, $50 for invitations, $100 for the dress and and shoes - brother wore a suit he already owned) and did cheesecake and a champagne toast afterward (her parents bought the cheesecakes and my parents bought the champagne, the rest of the siblings chipped in $50 each to provide a table of finger foods.) It was an absolutely beautiful ceremony and they are happy and healthy and I love my SIL and she is a wonderful addition to our family.
I got married in a $50 dress from Kohl's on the beach near my house for a $50 county beach permit fee. My sister gifted the flowers, we went barefoot, since the ceremony was short we didn't have chairs, paid $150 for the pastor, I did my own hair and minimal make up. Also had a free beach bonfire permit for the reception with beach blankets, floor pillows, coolers and appetizers for food. Amazing night with family and close friends for around $300. It can be done.
Rented a gazebo at the local botanical garden, bought taco trays from a local eatery (didn't have the guests pay for their own food), hired a family friend to make the cake, got married in costumes on Halloween. Around $300.00.
I actually made a profit on my wedding. I made my dress (fancy, but plain enough to wear later as well) and the cake, and picked flowers off my mother's bush for the bouquet (gardinias FTW!). Our church didn't charge for the sanctuary or reception hall. Friends donated music, food, and photography. Far away relatives who were invited to celebrate (but not expected to make a trip) sent checks large enough to cover the costs and a bit more. It was a lovely wedding. I regret nothing about it.
Spend your time, energy and money on your marriage. Of which the wedding is simply 'day one' So many brides are caught up in two years of planning the 'perfect day' and spend their parents and themselves into massive debt for it. True romance doesn't need a big bank balance..
It seemed nice until the food and drinks part, that's the main reason it was $500. I personally think if you're inviting people to an event like a wedding you're responsible for providing something in the way of sustenance, but everyone has their own priorities. Nothing is right or wrong here, so kudos to them for making it what they wanted.
Please stay away from terrible fast fashion like Shein! If you want a lovely budget dress, there are plenty of new dresses sold in online thrift stores.
First off, that dress is going to go up in price by thousands once this pic makes the rounds because she is GORGEOUS. AND it looks like it was made for her. They are both so beautiful. And good for them for wanting to keep costs down. However you can do it you should because spending ridiculous amounts of money on what equates to a big party is so financially irresponsible. Hope they have a nice big house and their mortgage is paid quicker because they made good decisions.
If they paid for food, wedding would cost more, but I think it still would be affordable. Making guest pay for their food would feel avaricious. Also I don't think buying dress from fast fashion giant is frugal win, but whatever.
Good for her. Weddings should be less about extravagance and shameless self-indulgence and more about the promises two people are making to each other.
The thing is, Shein is HORRIBLE for the environment. So, buying a wedding dress and showing off how cheap but great it looked doesn’t help. Honestly, it looks just like a white dress, and I’m sure you could’ve gotten something more eco friendly. ( A small cost to pay for helping our world). That’s all I’ve had to say. Thanks.
I gotta say, I think the dress looks like it only cost 50$. The train and the way it's cut around the the boobs is pretty terrible. But it shows how beautiful the Bride is to manage to ot look ugly in it. I like who the family gifted ccertain things, but having my guests pay for their own food an drinks wouldn't work for me. I'D rather have a large barbeque in a friends garden than have guests pay for their own food.
If people give you stuff and you advertise that you are trying to prove you can do a cheap wedding, ask people to pay for their own attendance and the groom owns his own tux, I guess, you can have a really cheap wedding. Most places people think are free aren't actually, too.
I did the same but that was 40 years ago. A simple wedding, just immediate family, dinner at home. I love it when the marriage is more important than the wedding. Lasting love. I wish you both the best life has to offer.
I dunno, this is cool, but it's easy to only spend $500 when you have family paying for or "donating" most of what goes toward your wedding. Not everyone has a support system like this. Props to those who do and utilize it.
I think our wedding was like $1200, that was my dress tux, rings, officiant, license, 'renting' a city park (which was actually free), we had 12 guests and bought all their dinners at a nice restaurant, I made the favours and we had a 3 day 'honeymoon' in our city at a hotel, my mom made our cake and my step dad got us a case of wine to go with our dinner
Discussing and comparing wedding costs is tricky. It's confusing what's actually included and what isn't. I wonder if the pictures and the drone video was free (or included in the 500, which is practically the same). If so, it was a friend favour and I wouldn't call that free. Someone did put in the work and it should have cost even if it didn't for them. They also didn't mention the cost of the rings. My husband and me spent around 2700 dollars total including everything: photographer, venue for about 35 people, food, rings, my dress, government expenses. We spent way more than the officially admitted cost of the wedding in this post. At the same time, for us it was the whole cost without favours from friends.
You two totally scored with each other. Enjoy your glorious life together. You Rock!
Coming up to our 8th anniversary. We spent maybe $1000 all up. My dress was $99, hubby's shirt/pants $60, kids outfits $100 (2 kids). Venue was my mums nursing home, they allowed us to use it for free as long as the residents could watch --- of course, they also did the flowers Makeup we booked in first sitting which was the cheapest, $100 for 3 of us. Celebrant was a friend, she did it for free Cake was gifted from a friend Photos $100 to a student photographer, also for her portfolio. We had wishing stones for people to sign, $20 for bag of stones and silver pen. We had our reception at a pub, and yes people paid for their own meals without a fuss. We also didn't request gifts (got some still) We also had 4 flights interstate as we got married in our home town in Vic but live in Qld. A friend that got married the week before spent $35000 and now divorced.
Great that everything worked out well for them. Weddings don't need to be fancy or expensive. But they can if the couple wants to and feels finde with it. Weddings should be a beautiful experience for all people involved. I love their photos and she looks so pretty in her dress. Personally i wouldn't want to have the guests pay for their own food and drinks though. For me a wedding is about treating my guests to good food, a little to give back to friends and family, who have helped me before. So i would want them to not have to pay for that, but to just enjoy the food. Other than that i love the concept.
There are certain legal protections that come with marriage, especially in the USA where they live.
Load More Replies... Confused about the wedding photographer. Aside from clothes looks like you need talented supportive family
Save money by having your dress made in a sweatshop by children! Don't feed your "guests" that flew across the country to attend your wedding! There is frugal and there is cheap and tacky. These people have little class.
If you think the $5000 wedding dress from a big name bridal boutique is not made in a sweatshop, you are living in fantasy land.
Load More Replies... That was a beautiful classic dress and she looked stunning in it. Well done! It's also possible to find dresses on Kijiji or Craigslist that have only been worn once and often they've also been professionally cleaned and boxed up. (Sometimes a never-worn dress is sold there, which always makes me wonder what happened.)
I'm applauding the headline writer for coming up with "ingeniosity"! I can only imagine that they dropped their dictionary in front of a lawnmower... p.s. The dress is too small
This is a Lithuanian site. English is not their first language.
Load More Replies... The more spent on the wedding, the quicker the divorce. If you spend a fortune and plan forever, then after the event it is like a death in the family. No longer saving or planning and you are looking for stuff to do. It feels like grief to many. Spend as little as possible and enjoy your life. Well done.
121
63