A savvy couple who didn't want to spend too much "for just one day" organised their wedding for less than £3,000. <br /><br />Lauren Vickery-Young, 25, and Connor Young, 33, decided to have a discount wedding as they both grew up working class and understand "the true value of money."<br /><br />The newlyweds from Southampton, Hampshire managed to get their wedding costs down to £2,721 by saving on a photographer and making the invites themselves. <br /><br />Lauren also bought her dress at a charity shop for £200 and Connor re-used a suit he already had.<br /><br />The pair tied the knot on September 23 and had the ceremony at their local registry office and the reception at a cocktail bar - costing £1,350. <br /><br />They made the wedding invites and decorations themselves and sought out bargains for the big day.<br /><br />They also relied on friends and family to take pictures on their phones and skipped getting a professional photographer.<br /><br />Lauren said: "I think it was a mixture of everything. <br /><br />"We are both from working-class families so we were brought up knowing the true value of money.<br /><br />"We were always taught that if you can't afford it, you can't have it.<br /><br />"I don't think either of us would want to spend so much money for just one day."<br /><br />Connor, a banker, popped the question in December last year and the pair started planning their wedding the following May.<br /><br />The average cost of a wedding in 2022 is £18,400 so the couple potentially saved over £15,000.<br /><br />Lauren, a customer service assistant, said: "Keeping within a budget meant thinking of creative ways to make the day special.<br /><br />"This meant that we had fun being creative and preparing for the day together.<br /><br />"Keeping the list of vendors to a minimum meant we didn't need to rely or worry about them dropping out on the day.<br /><br />"We think life is stressful enough as it is without the added pressure of putting on a big wedding."<br /><br />The couple felt even more at ease with choices after Lauren read some horror stories on Facebook, including DJs cancelling or photographers losing memory cards. <br /><br />Lauren said: "On these Facebook groups, there were multiple posts of couples getting into disagreements around wedding financing or fighting about what should and shouldn't be included. <br /><br />"So much so that some had second-guessed their plans with others cancelling altogether.<br /><br />"With our wedding, we knew we wouldn't encounter this which gave us peace of mind."<br /><br />The couple said they wouldn't change anything about their wedding if they could do it again.<br /><br />Lauren said: "I honestly don't think either of us would have wanted to do anything differently and, if anything, it went better than we thought it would.<br /><br />"I think you're always going to be apprehensive at your own wedding in the hopes that everyone is enjoying themselves.<br /><br />"We encouraged people to use it as a time to socialise, eat, drink and be merry.<br /><br />"Basically we just wanted one big party instead of a strict, fancy reception which I think we achieved."<br /><br />Rings - £700<br />Reception & Registry - £1350<br />Dress - £200<br />Car Hire/Flowers - £300<br />Hair - £30<br />Shoes and Veil - £35<br />Invitations - £30<br />Cake - £60<br />Welcome Sign £16<br />Total: £2721
