When Krissie Williams-Stewart, 36, and her partner Frankie Stewart, 39, set out to plan their dream wedding, they knew one thing for certain: they wanted to create a day that felt truly special, and were prepared to spend big. From their venue to their photographer, everything had to reflect their love story and the life they were about to begin together. Their wedding at the picture-perfect Merrydale Manor in Cheshire on Friday, 13th December 2024, was a beautiful celebration of love – and a perfect example of a high-spend wedding done right.
The Couple’s Budget Breakdown
Krissie, a homemaker, and Frankie, a security officer, made it their mission to make every penny of their £50,000 budget count. Here’s how it broke down:
Total wedding cost: £50,000
- Venue hire: £13,000
- Day catering (including drinks): £9,000
- Evening catering (including drinks): £3,000
- Photographer: £2,500
- Florist: £4,500
- Videographer: £1,200
- Wedding dress: £3,500
- Fashion accessories: £1,000
- Ceremony music: £800
- Reception music: £2,000
- Entertainment: £1,500
- Cake: £300
- Stationery: £400
- Hairdressing: £1,500
- Makeup: £700
- Menswear: £900
- Jewellery (excluding engagement ring): £450
- Transport: £600
- Decoration & hire: £850
- Wedding planner: £300
- Engagement ring: £2,000
A Dream Come True: “Worth Every Single Penny”
When it comes to reflecting on the day, Krissie has no regrets. “I have absolutely no regrets about what we got for our money,” she says. “Our day was a complete fairy tale, and my vision completely came to life.”
In fact, when asked if she’d do it all again, Krissie was unwavering in her response: “I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was worth every single penny.”
The Secret to a Successful Budget
Of course, a wedding of this scale takes careful planning. Krissie explains, “We had a budget in mind from the very start. I hadn’t ever looked at anything wedding-related before, so I was completely clueless when it came to costs of anything. Once I started to view venues, I was quickly aware of venue costs (before even factoring in any guests!) and found that this alone took up around 1/3 of the budget before I had even started!”
The Couple’s Top Wedding Budgeting Tips
Krissie has some great advice for couples who are looking to make the most of their wedding budget while making sure they don’t miss out on what matters.
1. Always prioritise your non-negotiables
“When it comes to budgeting advice, I would say prioritise; write down your non-negotiables and focus on those; and then see what you have left for all the other bits,” Krissie shares. For her and Frankie, their dream venue was always going to be Merrydale Manor. “If your dream venue is expensive, then consider a weekday or slightly out of wedding season to get a better price. We put the venue above any date and season – it had to be Merrydale Manor for us!”
2. DIY the little things
When it comes to cutting costs, “it’s the little things that are the most fun to add, so get crafty with these! DIY what you can, because it’s the little personal touches that really do add up fast,” Krissie says.
3. Never skimp on your wedding photographer
One thing Krissie recommends never skimping on is the wedding photographer. “Never ever skimp on the photographer. These photos are for life, so that’s definitely worth the investment,” she explains. The couple worked with @carpediem_photography1, and Krissie adds, “We had such an amazing vibe with our photographer, and the pictures speak for themselves.”
4. Don’t overdo the entertainment
Krissie’s final piece of advice for couples on a budget? Don’t go overboard on entertainment. “Guests honestly enjoy mingling and having a chat with each other, so don’t go overboard thinking you need entertainment for every second,” she laughs. “We did this, and to be honest, it did make the day seem very busy, as there was so much going on all the time. So, as tempting as it is to book everything, you really don’t need to! Just enjoy every second.”
A Wedding to Remember
With 91 guests attending their big day, Krissie and Frankie made sure to create a personalised experience. They also decided to cover the cost of their wedding party’s attire, adding an extra personal touch to the wedding. “Bridal party dresses and groomsmen outfits were paid for by us, which came to around £1,500. My husband also hand-built a watch for every groomsman and the father of the bride to complete the look!” Krissie adds with pride (you can check out Frankie’s bespoke watches @ohana_watches).
For Krissie and Frankie, the day was a celebration of their love, a reflection of their personalities, and a chance to start their married life exactly how they wanted – well and truly worth the £50K price tag. “We had an incredible time,” Krissie enthuses, “and the memories we made are worth everything.”
Plan Your Dream Wedding with Bridebook
Krissie and Frankie’s journey to their £50,000 dream wedding proves that couples can create the perfect luxury wedding they’ve always envisioned. But, with a little smart budgeting, prioritisation and the right investment, you too can have your dream wedding, whether you can and want to splash the cash, or would prefer something more budget-friendly. Whether it’s booking your dream venue or splurging on a top-notch photographer, the key is balancing your budget with the things that matter most to you and your partner.
Feeling inspired? Start planning your dream wedding today by exploring Bridebook’s top wedding venues, or check out our smart wedding Budget tool to help you break down your budget and learn how best to allocate your funds.
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