Planning a wedding on a budget with expert North East advice

Want to organise your wedding but worrying about the escalating cost? Help is at hand with these top tips from North East-based Megan Fife from Ashleigh Money Saver…

1 Get your DIY on!
Homemade invites are super cute, and cost-cutting too. Use alphabet stamps or watercolour paints to make your invitations look more luxe and less '4 year old in art class'. Why stop at just invitations? You could even craft your own name place cards for the reception. If you're stuck for inspiration, head to YouTube or Pinterest for loads of gorgeous ideas.

2 Shop savvy
Don't wait to buy your bridesmaid dresses nearer to the big day, take advantage of the end-of-season sales and pick up your besties' gowns when they're reduced. Fab services like the Ashleigh Shopping Club even let you make extra savings on top of sale prices, for example, you can get an extra 7% off at ASOS!

3 Have your cake
One of the biggest expenses of nuptials is the traditional wedding cake, but there's a massive emerging trend of modern couples sacking off the fruit cake, and opting for something much more Insta-worthy. Wave goodbye to a typical 3-tier affair, and say a huge hello to 6 boxes of Krispy Kreme instead!
If you and your partner aren't all about the cake and have a swoon-y story about another tasty treat, it would be fun to be non-traditional and have a different dessert. Pick and mix, anyone?

4 Read the small print!
When you book a venue, photographer, make-up artist, or anything else for the big day, make sure you're aware of any hidden costs. Is your photographer's booking fee affordable? Could you find a makeup artist who doesn't charge an expensive deposit? A great way to keep track of these pricey add-ons is to create a checklist in your diary, or even in your bullet journal. Hidden fees? Thank you, next!

For more info visit www.ashleighmoneysaver.co.uk