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With the average Australian wedding costing about $30,000, or the price of a small car, we asked you for tips on how you did it for less.
Here's what you told us.
Go small
"Don't invite people you don't really want at your wedding. People might feel entitled to an invitation but at the end of the day, it's your day." — Michael C
Helen and Tony Stevens married at a holiday house on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria with only a celebrant and their parents.
There were no bridesmaids or groomsmen and the couple made the surprise announcement on Instagram.
"We wanted the focus to be on our commitment and not on the trimmings of a wedding," she says.
"Tony's mum Lisa cooked us a big Italian dinner."
But they didn't feel the need for a cake.
"Why? Who actually eats it?" they said.
Helen and Tony plan to throw a casual barbecue for their friends and wider family later.
"A lot of our family have done the big wedding. All of the emotional stress and expense that comes with the big wedding, the expectations of parents and friends and extended family and acquaintances distracts from what it's really about."
"We had a breakfast wedding with pastries and fruit platters and champagne. We also limited the number to 15. Looking back, I'm so stoked we didn't spend heaps of money. Our wedding was intimate and amazing." — Erin B
"All you need to do is be realistic. Invite the people that matter and keep it at that. The day is about two people, the bride and groom committing to each other. The best weddings I've been to have been small and simple. The worst have been big and over the top." — Mark B
Or you could elope
"Just elope. Use a celebrant and two witnesses. Tell the family later. Often the bigger the wedding, the shorter the marriage." — Joan N
"Elope and have a great honeymoon overseas. No worrying about invitees, pleasing people and being stressed out on the day. Or bring a few close family and friends to your favourite and special place. It's between the two of you after all." - Anne M
Don't buy a bridal dress
Some of you found alternatives to an expensive bridal dress by buying a regular dress off the rack or second hand. Others made their own.
"I made my wedding dress so it only cost $200 in fabric. It had pockets so it was superior to all other wedding dresses." — Nikky P
"Find a dress design on Etsy. Get your dream dress made overseas (with a reputable vendor with reviews). Have it sent over here and take it to an alterations place to get it fitted properly. Saves a fortune." — Laura J
"My mother made a simple wedding gown for me, which I still have 43 years later. We hired the men's suits and my one bridesmaid bought her own gown. We are still very happily married. Keep it simple and sincere and let those who love you help, that makes it a wonderful day all round." — Karen W
Resist other people's expectations
"Don't buy into all the hype that people try to sell you as a "must have". You don't need it. Spend the money on good food, wine and music!" — Annie R
Ruby and Matt McGrath chose to have a small registry wedding in Brisbane because they wanted to save money for a house.
As we found, the bare minimum cost of getting married legally at a registry varies around Australia with the highest in New South Wales at $422.
Ruby's father had other ideas and wanted a week-long traditional Hindu wedding to recognise Ruby's family heritage.
"It just wasn't for me, growing up in Australia," she says.
"I haven't really grown up with those traditions other than watching them in Bollywood movies."
Along with not buying a bridal dress and printing their own photos, Ruby says she has no regrets about her wedding.
"We stood our ground. I've always put other people first and I just thought this is about me and Matt and no one else."
Ruby and Matt are now well on their way towards their first home deposit.
"The first lesson of falling in love is that no one is on this earth to live up to anyone else's expectations. Take it from there!" — Tom R
Have family or friends make the cake
With some wedding cakes costing more than $1000, you might want to consider DIY options. You might even be able to call in a favour from someone you know.
"An aunty made the cake. Is (the wedding) about status, blindly following fashion, societal brainwashing or is the day about love, laughter and celebration?" — Debra H
"My mother-in-law baked our cake and my sister-in-law decorated it. It was perfect." — Tara D
For Marie and Damian Trebilco, a family friend offered a homemade solution for their wedding in Brisbane.
"I just assumed because we had not much of a budget that we would buy a cake from a supermarket or something," she says.
"I didn't want it to be an elaborate thing because that's not us."
"We were lucky enough that this friend of my mother-in-law's offered to make a cake and it turned out beautifully. I think she had been working on it for weeks and weeks."
Another friend gifted a tiered tray of cupcakes.
"The trend of spending so much money on one day is getting ridiculous. We had a lovely wedding and we're still married. We didn't have to spend all our savings on it."
Make your own food and decorations
"A few years back I went to a great wedding where the happy couple asked everyone to bring their favourite cut flower. These were all gathered into bouquets for the wedding party. Best wedding, full of love and little tradition." — Simon J
"Got all our friends to contribute to the wedding. Some baked the cake, offered a venue to use, some cooked, decorated, DJed etc. It was a great party, no fortune was spent and we're still together 18 years later." — Geli D
Jenny and Tom Lloyd self-catered and had family lend a hand with the food at their farm wedding in the central north of Tasmania.
"My two sisters in law did all the catering. Sandwiches, rice paper rolls and fresh fruit," Jenny says.
"We roasted one of our home-grown lambs on a spit later in the evening.
"The kids made all the wedding decorations the day before the wedding as a craft activity.
"My husband wore a special shirt he bought when he lived in Mexico and I found a dress at the local Salvos store. It was $3 and found out (it was) half price at $1.50.
"Having our family share in our day was so great. Even better there was zero stress or nerves for me."
"Instead of presents, many family members and friends offered their help with decorations and flowers. It made everyone feel involved and became a whole family affair of fun." — Rhiannon S
"Friends and family did the cooking and preparation of the venue, each guest contributing from their skills and love. 45 years ago, and still going strong." — Arthur P
"I don't want to get married, but if I did, I would make all my own things. I like sewing, baking and crafting." — Rosalind H
Avoid fancy transport
"We skipped on wedding cars and just had our relatives, who had nice cars, drive us there." — Caitlin C
"The wedding car was a discount people mover with the bride as driver and the boys took Ubers." — Sara H
A grand entrance in a fancy car can be costly so Margie Kennard and Dave Lindley decided to use their own tractor at their farm on the New South Wales mid-north coast.
The tractor was given a good wash and a friend decorated it.
"I climbed into the bucket and we had a good friend drive out of the shed and no one knew it was coming," Margie recalls.
"People were crying, it was really so funny."
Margie has been married three times. Dave, twice.
Don't say you're having a wedding
"Don't mention the word "wedding" when getting quotes." — Sonya H
"First of all, get quotes for a general function. When getting quotes for a wedding you will have ammunition to negotiate the costs. Ask them to justify the extra costs for a wedding as opposed to another kind of party or dinner." — Tricia M
"Getting married this Saturday in a nightclub. Got 100 people coming. We never used the W word when dealing with vendors and thought outside the box on many things." — Grant R
Think about marrying during the off-peak
"My wife and I were married in the US in 2013 as same-sex marriage wasn't legal in Australia. We had a Tuesday wedding and that cut our venue cost nearly by half." — Briony R
"We got married in the shoulder season and slightly out of town to save costs. Still the best day of my life. People were shocked to hear how little we spent. It didn't feel like a cheap wedding. We just made smart choices." — Lizz M
"Have the wedding in the morning and save on reception costs by having a light brunch." — Mark J
Or have it at home…
"We got married in the backyard. Our parents cooked and we only invited 40 people. Easily cost us about $1500 and that was with the alcohol that we bought for guests. Anyone saying they can't get married because they can't afford it I call liars or perhaps aiming too high. All you need is love and family, oh and the celebrant." — Wayne B
Email your tips and stories to: life@abc.net.au
Disclaimer: This article contains general information only. The examples in it have not been independently verified. It should not be relied on as advice in relation to your particular circumstances and issues, for which you should obtain specific, independent professional advice.
Topics: marriage, community-and-society, events, australia
First posted