A newlywed couple from Birmingham have shown that a dream wedding doesn't require a hefty price tag after hosting a celebration for more than 50 guests for just £1,800. Paulina Gammon, 21, and her husband Stanley managed to keep costs low by doing as much as possible themselves, from styling hair to decorating the venue.
How they kept costs down
The couple planned the entire wedding in just three months after getting engaged in May 2025. Despite the tight timeframe and peak summer wedding season, they covered everything from rings and outfits to venue hire and a three-course meal within their modest budget. Paulina said: “Our wedding totalled approximately £1,800. My wedding outfit, including my dress, shoes and bag, cost just £45. My husband's suit cost £200 from Charlie Brown. The registry office cost £180, and the evening function room cost £200. Our rings cost £800 altogether.”
“We also had décor and a bar at our evening function room, which totalled approximately £150. We also had a three-course meal with the family between the registry office and the evening function room at the Cosy Club, which came to £300.”
Rings were the biggest expense
“The most expensive thing we paid for was the rings, which kind of makes sense because this is the thing that's staying with you for the rest of your life, whereas anything else, for example, food and décor, is just for the day,” Paulina added. With wedding costs often running into tens of thousands of pounds, the couple were determined from the outset to keep things simple and affordable.
DIY approach and family help
To cut costs, the couple avoided hiring professionals and relied on their own skills and support from loved ones. “We did as much as we could by ourselves,” Paulina explained. “For example, I styled my own hair and did my own makeup. I got family members to decorate the function room, and we did a lot of the things ourselves that you would normally pay someone else to do.”
Friends and family also played a key role, helping to decorate the venue using low-cost items sourced online. “I got a lot of my decorations, balloons and other bits from SHEIN, Temu and AliExpress,” Paulina said. “I also got friends and family to do the decorations, and they did such a good job. They created everything from scratch, including party activities and the snack bar, which was insane.”
Challenges of last-minute planning
Planning a wedding in just three months came with challenges, particularly as many venues were already booked or priced beyond their budget. “We decided to get married in May 2025, so the planning was very last-minute,” Paulina said. “There weren't many venues available, especially for summer. Most were very expensive, but we managed to find a function room for £200 that was big enough and had everything we needed.”
Advice for other couples
While she had once imagined a larger, more traditional wedding, scaling back expectations led to a more personal and meaningful day. “Invite people that really care about you and the people that make the day feel more special,” she advised. “If you want to have a wedding on a budget, ask family for help or do things by yourself. Weddings don't have to be expensive, and you don't need to have lots of money to get married. Weddings can be done on a budget, and that's something I discovered through researching different options.”
