Whether you plan a big bash or a low-key intimate affair, getting married usually involves spending a significant amount of money.
Many couples are torn between sticking to their budget and giving their guests a wonderful day out, to celebrate their nuptials.
While we’re all in favour of a thrifty wedding, this couple’s decision took it to a new extreme.
According to the BBC, Ben Farina and bride-to-be Clare Moran have asked their 80 guests to pay for their wedding of their dreams, next June.
The couple knew they didn’t have enough money to cover the entire cost of the wedding, and came up with an interesting alternative.
They decided to present their three-day celebrations as an “all-inclusive holiday” to their guests, at a cost of £150 per adult and £50 per child.
The venue, Knockerdown Cottages in Derbyshire, costs £10,000 to rent, and guests’ payments will cover this.
The payments will cover three nights’ accommodation at the venue, a "hog roast", all alcohol on the day of the wedding, and a Sunday roast cooked by the groom's stepfather the day after.
While that sounds like a good deal, we all know from experience that being a wedding guest already involves shelling out quite a bit on an outfit, hair, makeup, etc.
The couple are spending about £2,000 of their own money, which will cover alcohol, food, the wedding dress, bridesmaids’ dresses, and cheap suits for the groom and best men.
The couple say if their guests had not agreed to the deal, they would have scaled down their wedding plans.
However, all of their guests (60 adults and 20 children) went along with their plan, and have already paid deposits.
Ben said: "People always pay a large amount of money to go to a wedding anyway, so why not have it paying towards the actual wedding rather than just to a business owner?"
Clare added: “We had spoken about marriage because we've got a little girl together, and I always said we wouldn't be able to afford to do it, or it would have to be a registry office wedding, not a big wedding.”
What do you think, mums? Would you pay towards the cost of someone else’s wedding? Let us know.
