After being quoted thousands for their dream wedding, a couple discovered they could tie the knot for less than £500 and enjoyed their first meal as newlyweds at McDonald’s
A couple who were engaged and dreaming of a big wedding had to rethink their plans when they realised the price tag was too steep.
Ellie, 26, and Alex, 27, had initially planned on having a large farm wedding with 50 guests, but after discovering it would set them back an estimated £8,000, they overhauled their plans. They also didn’t want the “pressure of impressing guests”, so were delighted when they found out they could tie the knot at their local registry office for just £57.
The mum-of-two found a stunning white gown for £250, while footballer Alex’s suit cost £150, bringing their total spend to a mere £457. After tying the knot, the newlyweds celebrated with a trip to McDonald’s drive-thru for a cheeseburger. “We couldn’t justify spending £20,000 to £30,000 on one day,” Ellie admitted.
“It’s ridiculous. Alex would have preferred a big wedding but that’s my idea of hell. I just wanted to get married.” She added: “We looked at venues and we were being quoted thousands and then our guests would have had to book rooms on top of that.
“There were other things we needed. We wanted to buy our own home, we’ve got two kids and we wanted a nice honeymoon. We thought if we didn’t just do it then we never would so we got married in a registry office with my mum and Alex’s brother.”
The bride continued: “Afterwards, I was starving so we went to McDonald’s drive-thru and I had a cheeseburger and Fanta. It was an amazing day. It completely took the pressure off. We didn’t feel like we had to impress people.”
Ellie expressed that their “perfect” day in June last year wouldn’t have been possible without the help of friends and family who contributed. The bride’s mother gifted Ellie a £90 bouquet, a friend styled her hair, and the couple drove to the ceremony together, reports Jam Press.
In the evening, they invited 20 of their nearest and dearest to join them in a function room. Both sets of parents contributed £500 towards the venue cost, which included a buffet of burgers and chicken wings and a DJ.
Alex’s brother captured the special day in photos and disposable cameras were given out for guests to capture their own memories. Ellie shared: “It was so good.
“When my friend was doing my hair, she was asking if I was nervous and I wasn’t at all. It’s an amazing thing to celebrate but people should just do it how they want it.”
Having saved money on their wedding day, the couple treated themselves to a lavish honeymoon instead. They jetted off to Paris for their “mini-moon” and are planning a week-long trip to Dubai in May.