How Much Does a Frugal Wedding Really Cost?

I remember googling how much does a frugal wedding cost? How much do you spend on a wedding? What is the average cost of a wedding? Like most things it’s a personal choice. It all depends on your values.

We had got engaged and were deciding on when to set the date. I was content enjoying being engaged but it seems as though the next question after congratulations was when is the big day? Being the TheFrugalDoctor I had been content for TheHandsomeSurfer and I to live in sin. After all we are committed to one another do we need to have a wedding? Weddings cost a lot of money, that’s money that could go towards the FI (Financial Independence) portfolio. I am practical, TheHandsomeSurfer is the romantic. Marriage is all about compromise. So let’s get the spreadsheet going, how I love Excel (let’s get those tabs going)!

We talked about what mattered to us, what did we not care about, what would be a non negotiable? At the end of the day this was us declaring our love for one another, with our loved ones what would we want that to look like? I am so glad I discovered the podcast Unbridely it gave us the impetus to do it our on way!

TheFrugalDoctor was not going to spend thousands of dollars on flowers. So what does one do? Collect natives and dry them, scavenge from local bushes, collect rose petals from our garden and our neighbours. Make the bouquet (was not going to have one initially), make boutonnières. Buy flowers from local markets and dry them. Total cost of flowers $184, that’s winning!

What about the dress? There was no way TheFrugalDoctor was going to spend more than $1000 on a dress. Apparently the average Australian spends $2637 on a dress. So what does one do. Frugality was getting the better of me how do I get quality for great value? Was lucky to stumble across this now we are talking quality, local (Australian) and designer dress for a steal. I had been content to wear a dress I had in my wardrobe (my sister who is always laughing about my “cheapness” would have been vindicated). I am not cheap, I am frugal those are two different things!

(To be continued)