A MONEY-saving mum has revealed how she saved £12,000 on the wedding of her dreams. Lara Joanna Jarvis, is known for her budgeting tips and tricks, sharing them on her YouTube channel where she boasts over 42,000 subscribers. She revealed the ten nifty tricks she used to save thousands on her wedding to husband Stewart […]
A MONEY-saving mum has revealed how she saved £12,000 on the wedding of her dreams.
Lara Joanna Jarvis, is known for her budgeting tips and tricks, sharing them on her YouTube channel where she boasts over 42,000 subscribers.
She revealed the ten nifty tricks she used to save thousands on her wedding to husband Stewart ten years ago.
From roping in friends with the catering to buying second-hand when it comes to your dress, we share her top tips.
Lara says that it is important to decide what you won’t compromise on early on.
She adds: “But make sure your mindset is right and you’re not deciding on those things because that’s what other people do – that’s not your priority.”
The mum-of-two says: “The main cost is going to be your venue.
“For us what we decided to do instead of booking a hotel package at around £200 per head we booked a private school.
“It was quite local to us, they didn’t really ‘do weddings’ and that was the key thing.
“We saved so much money doing that, we booked a venue that isn’t ‘normal.’
“Think of things like walled gardens, the grounds of someone’s house if you could.
“It doesn’t have to be that traditional style reception.”
Lara says: “Instead of doing a sit down meal we did a hog roast and it went from £6,000 to about £600 and we did veggie options, vegan options, jacket potatoes, salads.
“It was amazing because you weren’t constrained to your table where you have to chat to the people next to you.
“It made it a really sociable event.”
“A good friend of mine helped make sausage rolls and some cheese twists and things like that for picky bits when we got there” explains Lara.
“Obviously everyone’s famished when you first get to a wedding but those canapes can cost a fortune.”
Lara was desperate for an out-of-fashion lace dress at the time and managed to find a second hand one about a mile away from her house.
She said: “It was beautiful – and I think it probably cost me about £100.”
“I made so many of them myself” she says, “I took crafting, I took to eBay, I made things – it was brilliant fun, rope in your girly mates.”
Lara says: “My best friend from school was at the time a hairdresser and makeup artist, so she did it all for me.
“Think about who you can resource in, maybe do them a favour in return.
“I did my best friend’s wedding makeup for her a few years ago and I’m not even a makeup artist.
“Or do it yourself of course!”
Rather than relying on pricey professional photographers, Lara went in search of an amateur.
She says: “I found a lady on Facebook who was training to be a photographer and charged me about £50 or something ridiculous.
“I got all the prints for that amount, on a disc and she stayed all day and the first dance.
“Just find a friend who’s a keen photographer. If you have a friend on Instagram who can take nice pictures I’m sure they can capture your day for you.”
“My sister made the cake as she’s an amazing chef/ cook”, says Lara.
“She made us a three tier cake, the top tier was fruit because Stewart loves fruit cake and I hate it, and then it was a chocolate fudge cake and then a white chocolate cake as well.”
Lara explains, “You can do this yourself easily by making them, if not then get digital invitations.
“I love receiving a wedding invite but actually a digital one is just as easy and quick and it just goes straight into their calendar on their phone.”
Lara revealed: “I also did these little hampers in the toilets with loads of flip flops, deodorants, tampons, body spray, makeup, all these kind of things that were just helpful.
“Just think outside the box of little things that you want from a wedding.”
Rather than heading to a designer boutique, Lara picked up her bridesmaids dresses second hand.
She added: “I got them altered by my dressmaker and they fit on the day, so that’s hundreds of pounds saved.”
She says: “The car that I went from my parents house in to the venue, that was borrowed from a friend who was actually a driver and so he had all of the gear which looked amazing.
“That was free again.
“We put our bridesmaids in with one of their husband’s nice BMW and they drove them to the venue.”
“My shoes were Monsoon from eBay” says Lara, “I just waited it out until I found the right pair for me.”
The mum said: “We made CDs of our most favourite songs, and we got those printed out and then put them on the table.
“It’s such a thoughtful gift, really personalised and something that they’re gonna use as well.”
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