A SAVVY couple spent under £3,000 on their wedding – by hiring an Airbnb for the reception and ordering Domino’s pizza for guests.
Jamie-Louise Phillips, 22, and Sam Phillips, 25, explained that they wanted to get married without all the “fuss.”
The couple started looking at ways they could tie the knot without breaking the bank and were amazed to learn the location of their local registry office.
Situated in Norwich Castle, the office was an unexpected bonus of the budget wedding.
In January 2023, the couple were able to book their legal ceremony for just £270.
“It’s in a castle. It’s stunning,” Jamie said, who works as a pastoral assistant.
However, they struggled to find an affordable venue for their reception.
Jamie and Sam ended up hiring an Airbnb for three days for just £600.
They decorated the garden themselves, hiring furniture for £300 and buying flowers for the tables from a local farm for £85.
Jamie and Sam, a site engineer, decided to scrap the caterers and spend £200 on food, including £130 worth of Domino’s pizza which the guests “loved.”
The couple saved £17,000 on the average £20,000 wedding in the UK.
“We didn’t want to be financially affected by it,” Jamie explained.
“We just looked at how budget friendly we could do it.”
The budget wedding proved to be a hit with the couple’s guests too.
“Everyone said it was the nicest wedding they’ve been to and they said they felt so relaxed,” she said.
Jamie and Sam met four years ago on Tinder and bought a house together in summer 2022.
They both decided to get married after years of talking about tying the knot.
Jamie-Louise and Sam Phillips spent a total of £2,995 on their wedding. Here is a breakdown of all their expenses:
“I was like ‘let’s just get married,’ I didn’t want all the fuss,” Jamie explained.
“We’re so close as people, we’d never be able to keep such a big surprise.
“We went to the beach one day and he gave me a ring I’d already picked out.
“It was really casual how it happened. It felt like there was no pressure.”
Each month the couple put what they could afford towards their wedding and created their own personal touches.
Jamie designed their wedding signage on Canva and found stickers on Etsy for their wedding favours.
She found her wedding dress online on For Love and Lemons, spending just £500 on a silky gown and alterations.
“I’d had it pinned on Pinterest for years,” Jamie revealed.
On August 22, 2023, Jamie got ready with her bridesmaids and did a first look with Sam in the garden.
She did her own makeup and spent £80 on her lashes and nails and £210 on her bouquet flowers from local business Posy Flwrs.
“It was the most relaxed morning,” she recalled.
“We spent an hour apart [and then] we drove to the venue together.”
The couple then had some photos taken around the city, costing them just £150, before getting back to the Airbnb for around 4pm.
“I loved doing the city walk – everyone was clapping us along,” Jamie said.
“We originally wanted a pizza van [but] it would cost £1,000 plus.
“In the end we ordered Domino’s, everyone loved it, it was such a good idea.”
The couple explained that in the summer heat, pizza was the perfect “light” meal for the outdoor reception.
They also had a bring your own bottle policy for any guests who wanted to drink.
Their best man did the rest of their photos for free and the couple wrapped up the night at 8pm.
“You don’t have to source stuff with the word wedding in, it hikes the price up,” Jamie explained.
“Our wedding fit us, it wouldn’t fit everyone.”
