How much did it cost to throw intimate, fairy-lit wedding celebration right in our own back garden? (Spoiler: less than you’d think!)
With the average UK wedding now costing a staggering £23,250 according to Hitched.com, it’s no wonder more couples are ditching traditional venues in favour of something more personal—and affordable. For us, the answer was literally right outside our back door.
Hosting our wedding reception in our very own garden not only saved us thousands but gave us the freedom to celebrate exactly the way we wanted: relaxed, quiet and burgers for days. Here’s how we did it—and how you can too.
Quick Brief:
- 🗓 Date: Saturday 23rd September 2023
- 🕝 Time of day: Afternoon
- 📍Location: Our back garden
- 👰🤵 Guests (excluding us): 14
- 🐾 Best Dog: Henry (excellent job, no notes)
Our golden two rules? Keep it small, keep it budget friendly.
We invited immediate family, plus one friend each—and their partners, of course. Honestly, it was the best decision we made. We’re not big party people, and neither are our friends or family, so keeping things low-key meant everyone could just relax and enjoy themselves. No pressure, no fuss—just good food, good company, and a day that could be completely us.
It’s Showtime
The night before our big day, I popped into Asda on a mission: grab as much gypsophila (nothing says outdoor reception better than gypsophila – and I love it!) along with any reduced-price flowers as I could find. I threw together a little homemade bouquet—mostly so I had something to do with my hands while walking down the aisle—and used the rest to make simple centrepieces for our tables.
While I was at it, I picked up some classic salad ingredients—lettuce, tomato, cucumber, sweetcorn, the usual suspects—and very swiftly enlisted my mum to throw together a couple of big bowls. I also grabbed the essentials: burger buns, hot dog buns, cheese, and all the bits that make a BBQ feel complete.
That evening was also the time to give Henry a much-needed bath. After weeks of adventuring around Europe with us, our Best Dog definitely needed a freshen-up before making his VIP appearance to his loyal fans.
A week before we left for The Dolomites, we popped into our local butcher to place our BBQ order for pick-up once we got back. The butcher probably thought we were planning a carnivore convention, not a wedding—but no shame here.
In total, between the butchers and Asda, we ended up spending about £150 on food and drinks for 16 people—which, when you compare it to the cost of a three-course wedding breakfast at Mythe Barn, feels like absolute daylight robbery (in our favour). Tasty, stress-free, and no tiny portions in sight – Chris would never allow such a thing!
We woke up bright and early the morning of our ceremony. Chris’ best friend, Louis had stayed the night before so I immediately took advantage of this and put the boys straight to work – It’s go time!
Price Breakdown:
- Flowers – £10.79 (Asda’s finest, reduced aisle magic)
- Total Food – £98.45 (Butchers + Asda BBQ haul)
- Total Drink – £45.00 (Aldi & Iceland—classy and chilled)
- Satin Ribbon for Flowers – £2.00 (Hobbycraft, because details matter)
- Staff Wages – £0 (shoutout to my mum—florist, salad chef, and general legend)
Total – £156.25
Setting the Scene
Let’s be honest—my house was never designed to host a party of 16, so I “temporarily rehomed” three 6ft trestle tables from work (with full permission, I swear). To pretend we have a touch of class, I borrowed some crisp white table linen and napkins too.
In keeping with the theme of borrowing items from work, I also pinched some clear, glass tea light holders to create some small, simple centrepieces using the leftover flowers from my Asda haul. Nothing fancy—just a pop of colour and charm.
To give the table a bit of depth, I picked up a few metres of sheer, white organza with silver specks and clouded it along the centre as a makeshift runner. I had some short fairy lights tucked away (as you do), so I slipped those underneath, and they added just the right touch of sparkle to lift the whole vibe—soft, glowy, and a little bit magical – I have also reused this organza fabric a few times too!
Instead of risking our actual crockery (because outdoor + group setting + prosecco = no thank you!), I ordered white, plastic dinner plates with a gold rim and gold speckled plastic cups with matching cutlery – It’s sound cheap looking, I know but actually… it was adorable —simple, pretty, and zero stress if something went flying.
Bonus: I’ve also reused the whole set loads since the big day. Definitely got my moneys worth!
As guests made their way into the back garden, they had to pass through our conservatory—aka Henry’s personal gallery. I’d hung photo clip fairy lights with polaroids from our recent European adventure, starring none other than Henry himself. From striking a pose in front of the Eiffel Tower, to captaining a boat at Château de Chambord, to mooching around the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart—We all know Henry is the main character.
Price Breakdown:
- Tables – £0 (borrowed from work)
- Extra Chairs – £0 (Borrowed from family – It’s who you know!)
- Linen – £0 (also borrowed from work, and yes, I washed them before returning!)
- Tealight Centrepieces – £0 (yep, work again. I owe them biscuits.)
- Dinnerwear Set – £32.99 (Amazon)
- 3m of Organza Fabric – £21.00 (Hobbycraft)
- Fairy lights – £12.99 (I can’t remember where they came from, but Amazon similar ones)
Total: £66.98
Extra Touches
One of my favourite (and totally last-minute) touches was the welcome sign we popped outside the front of the house. I ordered an A1 foam board from Etsy that read: “Welcome to Mariah’s Wedding. Featuring Chris.” Some might call it tacky—we thought it was hilarious. I mean, credit where credit’s due, right? I don’t see Chris designing invitations or ordering the dogs bowtie!
In our conservatory, I set up a little guest book station with a wedding guest book I found on Etsy and some gold pens from Poundland. Next to it, I left my Instax Polaroid camera and a pack of glue dots so friends and family could snap some pics throughout the afternoon and stick them straight into the book alongside their well wishes. Knowing our small guest list wouldn’t exactly fill the pages, I dotted in a few extra snaps from our holiday just to pad things out and so our guests could enjoy some unseen footage from our travels. For the finishing touch, I popped a photo frame with one of our favourite shots from the wedding day in The Dolomites, plus a couple of special, little trinkets we picked up on our travels.
Price Breakdown:
- Welcome Sign – £55.00 (Etsy)
- Guest Book – £36.00 (Not on the High Street)
- Gold Pens – £1.50 (Poundland)
- 200 x Glue Dots – £1.99 (Amazon)
- 20 x Instax Square Film – £16.99 (Amazon)
- Photo Frame – €18.49 (“Alps Art” from Corvara in Badia)
Total – £111.48
+ €18.49
The Cake
I LOVED our cake!
Sure, we skipped a lot of the usual wedding stuff—no first dance, no three-course meal, no photobooth—but one thing we were absolutely not going to miss out on was cake. Our priorities were correct!
Thankfully, working as an event coordinator has its perks—I’ve helped run a fair few wedding showcases and had a few trusted suppliers in my back pocket for this very moment. We ordered our cake from Quality Cake Company in Tamworth (just 10 minutes down the road) and went for a small, round, two-tier design with a mountain backdrop to mirror our ceremony in the Dolomites. It may not look much but it was perfect—personal, beautiful, and absolutely delicious.
One thing we definitely weren’t skipping was cake tasting. After placing our order, we were able to collect some flavour samples from the shop a week later. With around 30 flavours to choose from, ranging from classic vanilla to the indulgent Double Chocolate Caramel, we had our work cut out for us.
Chris had his heart set on Red Velvet, which is a family favourite too, so that was locked in for the bottom tier. I wanted something lighter and fruitier for the top. As well as Red Velvet, we sampled Summer Fruits, Champagne Strawberry, Toffee Apple, and Raspberry Ripple. I had high hopes for the Champagne Strawberry, but the Raspberry Ripple completely was a surprise stand out with the fresh raspberries swirled through creamy vanilla sponge and white chocolate buttercream – Top tier secured.
If you’re in the West Midlands area, I highly recommend the Quality Cake Company. Communication was a breeze—any time I had a question or query, they replied super quickly. And they absolutely nailed the Pinterest inspo I sent over. Honestly, these ladies are cake artists. Talented, professional, and just really lovely to work with!
Okay, time for a little confession – and I say this with shame. We all know the dreaded “wedding tax” is real. Say the word wedding and suddenly everything costs twice as much. So… when I ordered our cake, I may have strategically said it was for an anniversary. (Which it technically was – our 10-day anniversary. Valid, right?) This little truth bender shaved about £50–£100 off the price. I’m not exactly proud of it, but hey, desperate times and all that. I’d call it a top tip-but I also don’t fancy getting sued, so let’s call it a creative budgeting choice instead.
As a final touch I had to include a little nod to my best bud, Henry. After falling down a Pinterest and Etsy rabbit hole, I found the most adorable custom fondant dog cake topper. It was actually one of the very first things I bought for the reception. I went for the sitting dog with bowtie option (obviously), and once I’d placed the order, I sent over front and back photos of Henry along with a close-up of his custom wedding bowtie-crafted from Newfoundland Tartan, no less. My mom had made it herself using fabric she brought back from her trip to visit family in Canada. A small detail, maybe-but one that made the whole cake feel extra special (and very Henry-approved).
Price Breakdown:
- Wedding Cake – £98.00 (Quality Cake Company)
- Cake Sample Box – £8.75 (Quality Cake Company)
- Gluten Free Cake for my Mom – £32.00 (Quality Cake Company)
- Henry Cake Topper – £33.00 (Etsy)
- Cake Stand – £0 (Wedding gift from my parents)
- Happily Ever After Topper – £0 (Made by my brother on his 3D printer!)
Total – £171.75 … and worth every penny!
Getting Ready
Once the garden was set and the drinks were iced (£0 on ice – took that from the work ice machine…), it was time to relax and get ready. I headed off to the hairdressers where I was very set on keeping things low-key-no trial, no fuss-just a few Pinterest screenshots and a “go with the flow” attitude. In hindsight? I probably should’ve just done it myself. The hairdresser was lovely, don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t what I asked for.
That said, after the string of bad luck during our elopement, not loving my hair didn’t even phase me. It can always be worse! Honestly, just save the money and do it yourself. I did my own makeup, and I’m so glad I did.
When I got home, I was able to relax in my dressing room with my mirror and my playlist, spending about an hour on my make up before Chris helped me get into my new wedding dress.
Read my blog “Married on a Mountain: Disaster in the Dolomites” to find out why I ended up panic-ordering a dress from Debenhams six days before the legal ceremony—and trying it on for the very first time less than 24 hours before walking down the aisle! The same reason Chris needed to buy a new white shirt…
Price Breakdown:
- Hair – £35.00 (wouldn’t recommend, but hey, now I know)
- Hair Accessory – £24.90 (Etsy)
- Makeup – £0 (unless we’re counting the products I had bought a year prior)
- New Dress – £139.00 (Debenhams)
- New Belt – £16.99 (Amazon)
Total – £215.89
The Legal Part
Unfortunately, we had to leave Henry behind for this part – but he was more than happy to hold down the fort. He’d already completed his main mission back in the Dolomites and was enjoying some well-earned rest.
We drove to the registry office together and circled the block a few times to find parking (usually this is something I’d be more prepared for but my priorities were derailed). As we arrived with our friends and family, ‘Run Away with Me ft Carrie Manolakos’ by Kait Kerrigan & Brian Lowdermilk, was already playing, and we were greeted and taken to a separate room to meet the registrars. We’d opted to have the pre-ceremony interview together—just a quick confirmation of the details we gave at our notice of marriage. Five minutes later, it was go-time.
Chris headed into the ceremony room with his best man, Louis, by his side. Meanwhile, I had a very sudden, very real case of stage fright – cue me asking my dad, 10 seconds before walking in, if he’d escort me down the aisle. Classic.
One thing about me is I have a passion for musicality. Don’t bother trying to help me with my music timings, this isn’t my first rodeo!
‘You & I‘ from Pretty Woman the musical starts playing and exactly 8 seconds later, I start walking into the room to the words “Darling you look beautiful tonight…” (*chefs kiss*)
As I turned the corner, I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself – after all that stress, the aisle turned out to be about 20 feet long. Blink and you’d miss it!
You’ll be pleased to know that Chris cried. One job and he smashed it!
My dad, however, wasn’t ready for this kind of responsibility, completely unfazed , he passed me off to Chris like we were simply swapping seats.
We exchanged rings, Chris kissed the bride, and we both signed on the dotted line – short, sweet, and legally sealed!
Shoutout to our fabulous witnesses, Ana & Louis, for stepping in and signing their names with flair.
We swiftly moved into the public gardens attached to the building and grabbed a few photos while the sun was shining – green trees, blooming flowers, and that lovely soft light you only seem to get on days like this. As we had already gotten professional photos while we were in Italy, our good friend, Nick was nominated as photographer for this part -armed with an iPhone, steady hands, and the promise of cuddles with Henry later.
Price Breakdown:
- Civil Ceremony – £300.00 (Lichfield Registry Office)
- Notice of Marriage Appotnment – £70.00 (£35.00 each)
- Photographer – £0 (Thanks Nick, you rock!)
- Confetti – £0 (something my mom just happened to have in her handbag – what a coincidence)
Total – £370.00
Favours
Everyone packed into their cars and made their way to our house. Don’t worry—we gave the neighbours a heads-up (they even lent us their driveway!). As Chris fired up the BBQ, I handed out gifts and wedding favours. Each guest got a little something we’d picked up during our travels through Europe, plus a more personal, homemade touch: sparkleberry jam.
This wasn’t just any jam—this was my jam. Growing up, my mom was always making preserves, but she made a glittery, magical version just for me, complete with edible sparkle and everything. I even took a jar to university with me. For the wedding, I made a special order: I bought empty jars from Hobbycraft, dropped them off with my mom, and we used scraps of fabric we found around the house to tie around the lids. A few custom labels from Etsy later, and voilà—fancy, nostalgic, sparkly jam for everyone.
As an extra thank you to our moms for their readings, I ordered two pretty flowerpots from Etsy and took them to our local florist, Garlands Florist, who created a beautiful display for us to present to our moms.
Price Breakdown:
- 12 x Jam Jars – £9.00 (Hobbycraft)
- Labels – £8.35 (Etsy)
- 2 x ‘Mother of the Bride/Groom’ Flower pots – £56.00 (Etsy, but shop no longer exists)
- Flowers – £70.00 (Garlands florist)
- Jam – £0 (from Chef mama)
Total – £143.35
Let’s get this (low-key) party started
After we cut the cake and endured another flurry of photos, Chris made a quick change into jeans and a polo shirt—comfort is king, after all. I, on the other hand, had committed to the bit. I was absolutely getting my wear out of that unplanned Debenhams gown, even if it meant tripping over it for the rest of the afternoon like a budget Disney princess.
Alexa was summoned to DJ, playing a wedding playlist I’d curated on Apple Music, and everyone gathered around the tables while Chris and his dad manned the BBQ like pros. At that point, my work here was done…
Our friends and family happily grabbed their plates and queued up like the Brits we are to politely place their meat orders and help themselves to the salad bar.
My husband can barely make toast… but boy can he whip up a good bbq! The burgers, the sausages, the pork belly? Juicy, smoky, and perfectly cooked—he truly peaked that afternoon.
With the smell of burgers lingering in the air, Henry made his grand entrance and happily stole the spotlight from us for a while (a welcome breather, to be honest). Dressed in his dapper tartan bowtie, he did the rounds like a true VIP—posing for photos, accepting cuddles, and strategically positioning himself near the BBQ for maximum sausage potential.
As the night drew in, guests slowly started drifting off with bellies full and hearts even fuller. With Henry curled up on the sofa, exhausted from appeasing his fans all afternoon, we ended the night with a little sparkler celebration to close the day with a flicker of magic.
With the goal of hosting a wedding reception on a budget, we managed to pull off the entire day—including an unexpected last-minute dress swap—for just £1,235.70. That’s a staggering £22,014.30 less than the average UK wedding. Proof that you don’t need a castle and a live DJ to have a magical day!
Looking back, our wedding day was everything we needed it to be—relaxed, heartfelt, and full of personal touches that reflected who we are. It wasn’t traditional, it wasn’t extravagant, and it wasn’t flawless, but that’s what made it so special. Surrounded by our closest people (and one very photogenic dog), we laughed, we ate, we celebrated love in the most down-to-earth way. And honestly? I wouldn’t change a thing.
HenryBoo Travel&Events 
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