Last week, Vogue Weddings published an article called “The Real Budgets of Vogue Weddings“, sharing the costs behind a selection of weddings previously featured on its pages. It was behind a paywall but from the Instagram post alone people had thoughts. Lots of them.

Transparency around wedding costs is something the industry desperately needs. The more we talk openly about money, the better equipped couples are to make decisions that work for them. But the main issue people had with this article was that the wedding photos featured alongside those “real budgets” weren’t actually the weddings those budgets paid for. They were used for “illustrative purposes”, which literally negates the whole point.

It’s fair to say that Vogue tends to favour a certain type of wedding, and those weddings often come with six (or even seven!) figure budgets. Couples spending that kind of money rarely want to publicly share detailed breakdowns of what they spent, which is completely understandable. But that does raise the question: why even attempt an article like this without the real weddings attached? We totally appreciate what they were trying to do, but this kinda missed the mark and if anything, made the whole topic even more confusing.

Whether someone spent £5,000 or £500,000 on their wedding, people naturally want to understand what that money actually looked like because they’re trying to work out what’s possible for their own celebration.

How are you supposed to know if you can afford a certain venue, create the floral installation you’ve fallen in love with, or hire a specific photographer if the photos don’t show the reality? There are suppliers out there for every couple at every budget, but certain factors like the supplier’s experience, the wedding location, time of year and guest numbers pay a huuuuuuge part in companies putting together quotes. This is why the whole thing can be so confusing and frustrating for couples and suppliers alike.

Weddings are not a one-size-fit-all purchase. All weddings are different because people’s needs, values, priorities and access to resources are different. Sure, a £10,000 backyard wedding might have been totally achievable for one couple, but what they failed to mention is that the “backyard” was actually a sprawling field owned by their rich auntie. Good for them, but it’s not particularly useful inspiration for someone who doesn’t have access to a free venue like that.

The real issue here is that magazines like Vogue are only publishing these 6/7 figure weddings like they’re normal, when they are anything but. Then, other places are saying the average cost of a wedding is £20,000 and couples are thinking they’re getting ‘scammed’ when their dream doesn’t match the reality of what they think its going to cost.

Most people planning weddings right now aren’t operating with unlimited funds, and if they’re receiving help from family, it’s probably not six-figure help. So how do you take inspiration from all these beautiful weddings online without ending up feeling confused, frustrated, or inadequate about your own situation?

No matter how many budget-saving wedding planning guides you read, there are really only three ways to significantly reduce your costs:

1. Ruthlessly Cut the Guest List

More people means you need a bigger space, more food and more drink. Venue, catering and alcohol are almost always the most expensive parts of a wedding budget so every additional guest increases your costs.

If saving money is a priority, cutting your guest list will make a huge difference. And if the idea of a large wedding doesn’t excite you anyway, consider eloping. It can be one of the most affordable and meaningful ways to get married.

2. Think Beyond Traditional Wedding Venues

Look at alternative venues. Pubs, restaurants, village halls and community spaces are often already set up to host large groups of people without carrying the premium price tag that comes with the word “wedding”.

Hell, you could have a registry office ceremony and then host a giant bring-a-dish picnic in your local park afterwards. That would cost next to nothing and sounds like a genuinely brilliant day.

3. Be Ruthless With Your Priorities

Only you know what matters most to you. Maybe it’s the photography, your outfit or incredible food and drink. Pick two or three things that genuinely matter and allocate most of your budget to those. Then thrift, DIY or ditch the rest.

Seriously, you do not need a trendy drapery backdrop, fireworks which go off at the exact moment you first kiss, or a 25-piece live band. For you, amazing photos and the most delicious meal of your life might be far more important. And don’t let anyone tell you your choices are wrong. It’s your wedding and your decision.

If you’re currently planning a wedding and feeling overwhelmed by the numbers, here’s something worth remembering: you do not need to recreate somebody else’s wedding. You’re celebrating your love and your story. Sometimes we want something and we simply can’t afford it. That’s life, honestly. Take a break from doomscrolling TikTok and come back to reality for a sec.

Because, I promise you, the best weddings aren’t the ones that impress strangers online. They’re the ones that allow you to celebrate with the people you love without spending the next five years stressed about how on earth you’re going to pay for it.