Bride's £20 Wetherspoons wedding reception included £14.99 meal deal and Monster Energy toast

A bride who swapped a traditional wedding reception for a trip to Wetherspoons says the budget celebration was perfect – and has encouraged other couples to ditch expensive wedding traditions.

Michelle Russell, 47, spent just £20 on her wedding day food and drinks after marrying husband Brad, 41, with the newlyweds celebrating alongside 16 guests at their favourite pub chain.

Instead of hiring an expensive venue, arranging a wedding breakfast or booking entertainment, the couple simply pushed a few tables together at The Thomas Ingoldsby Wetherspoons in Canterbury, Kent.

And rather than champagne, they raised a toast with drinks from a cocktail pitcher containing Monster Energy.

Michelle's wedding meal was equally unconventional, with the bride choosing a £14.99 small plates deal featuring halloumi fries, chicken wings and chips.

The couple, who met on Facebook Dating in 2024, married at Canterbury Registry Office on August 8 after deciding they would rather have a relaxed celebration than spend thousands on a lavish event.

"We both knew we didn't want a massive wedding," said Michelle, a civil servant from Dover.

"Brad's not really one for crowds and making a big display.

"We both like going to Wetherspoons every now and then anyway and no one ever complains about the food.

"It's one of our favourites. It's cheap and cheerful. We go three or four times a month."

No first dance, no speeches and no expensive wedding breakfast

The newlyweds dispensed with the traditional speeches and first dance, while guests ordered and paid for their own meals.

Michelle said: "We just pulled a few tables together and enjoyed the evening. People ordered burgers and chicken wings.

"It was so relaxed and easy.

"A lot of people in the pub said 'congratulations' and it was really sweet. Everyone was wishing us the best."

After the celebrations, the couple didn't even have to arrange transport home. They simply headed upstairs to a £157 hotel room above the pub, where they had also prepared for the ceremony.

£35 Shein wedding dress helped keep costs down

Michelle's savings weren't limited to the reception.

She found her wedding dress on Shein for £35, added a £20 pair of shoes from Amazon and completed the look with a £22 wig bought through TikTok Shop.

The bride said she fell in love with the first dress she ordered and saw no reason to spend hundreds more on something she would wear for a single day.

The biggest expense was the ceremony itself, costing £590, with a further £108 for marriage registration and certificates.

Altogether, the couple put the cost of their wedding at around £1,200, including outfits, flowers, beauty preparations, accommodation and their own food and drinks.

How much did the Wetherspoons wedding cost?

The couple provided the following breakdown of their spending:

• Registry office: £590
• Marriage registration and certificates: £108
• Bride's dress, shoes, tiara and veil: £75
• Wig: £22
• Flowers: £30
• Nails and lashes: £14
• Bridesmaid dresses: £40
• Groom's outfit and shoes: £150
• Hotel room: £157
• Bride and groom's meal and drinks: £20

Total: £1,206, excluding meals and drinks paid for separately by guests.

Michelle believes couples can avoid unnecessary debt by concentrating on what matters to them rather than trying to meet everyone else's expectations.

"Getting married can be done on the cheaper side if you just stick to the bare minimum," she said.

"Just forget about everyone else. At the end of the day, it is just about you two.

"I can't speak highly enough of Spoons. I'd recommend it! And you won't put yourself in any debt.

"Don't knock it because it was a good laugh. It was cheap, cheerful and catered for people with dietary restrictions without the stress."