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I spent £800 on my daughter's wedding - she had plastic £8 flowers

10 June 2024 , 09:40
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Shelley even bagged her daughter
Shelley even bagged her daughter's dress from a pawn shop where one was covered in rat urine

IT was a case of all-expense banned for self-confessed cheapskate mum Shelley Watson who refused to fork out more than £800 for her daughter's wedding.

Even if that did mean serving cheese sandwiches to guests on plastic trays and hosting her daughter's big day in a school gym.

Ruthless Shelley planned her daughter's entire wedding for £800, 25 times cheaper than the average UK cost eiddixqiqhzprw
Ruthless Shelley planned her daughter's entire wedding for £800, 25 times cheaper than the average UK costCredit: youtube
Ashley was not impressed by her mum's scrimping branding her decisions 'ridiculous'
Ashley was not impressed by her mum's scrimping branding her decisions 'ridiculous'Credit: youtube
Shelley bought the wedding dress from a pawn shop where one dress was covered in rat urine
Shelley bought the wedding dress from a pawn shop where one dress was covered in rat urineCredit: youtube

According to Bridebook, the average cost of a wedding in the UK in 2024 is £20, 775 with the largest expense usually the venue, which costs an average of £9,877.

But super scrimper Shelley managed to plan the entirety of Ashley's wedding for more than 25 times cheaper than the UK average.

Ashley was aghast when she saw the venue which was furnished with basket ball hoops and a tennis net.

Are there illegal baby names? Surprising monikers that are BANNED in other countries, from Sarah to ThomasAre there illegal baby names? Surprising monikers that are BANNED in other countries, from Sarah to Thomas

"This is where you are going to get married", Shelley said, revealing how she'd managed to get the venue completely free because she knew people at the school.

Unimpressed, Ashley stormed out of the gym in a fit of tears.

"This is going to be the cheapest wedding ever!" she complained.

The savvy saver's budgeting plans did not go down well with Ashley's fiancé's mother either.

"No one in their right married would get married in a gym, this is ridiculous", she raged.

After securing the venue, Shelley turned her attention to the wedding flowers, which usually cost an average of £1,182.

Instead of using fresh flowers, Shelley headed to a Christmas decoration shop and bagged some off-season plastic Christmas flowers for just £8.

Ashley was desperate to have a nice cake for her wedding, but Shelley decided it was a waste of money to buy one, so asked her other daughter Britney to make one instead.

I'm scared I've ruined my daughter's life because of her nameI'm scared I've ruined my daughter's life because of her name

"We can feed that to the guests and then use something else for decoration she said," before asking a staff member in a bakery if she could use their plastic display cake for the wedding.

For many brides getting the perfect dress is the most important part of a wedding.

However, appearing on TLC's Extreme Cheapskates, a reality series showcasing people with creative ways to save money, Shelley took Ashley to a pawnshop, to nab the cheapest one she could find for her big day.

"This is just ridiculous and sad," Ashley said, whilst trying on the three unfashionable gowns on offer.

One of the dresses even had urine on it, from the rats that live in the shop.

"This is a good thing as it means we can get a big discount" Shelley said excitedly.

She bagged the dress for just £60, far cheaper than the UK average, which is £1,424.

Instead of hiring caterers for the wedding, Shelley asked her friends to help her out, by making cheese sandwiches, which she served on the plastic school dinner trays.

She also asked guests to bring their own drinks and food.

"They seemed very happy to do this," Shelley said.

Despite being unimpressed by her mother's extreme scrimping, Ashley and her partner Colby were still very excited about getting married.

"I cannot wait to get married," Ashley said.

Colby added: "I'm not excited about where and how we're getting married, but I am excited to make that commitment to Ashley."

Stream episodes of Extreme Cheapskates on Discovery+

Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.

Shelley's friends made cheese sandwiches for the wedding food and served them on plastic trays
Shelley's friends made cheese sandwiches for the wedding food and served them on plastic traysCredit: youtube
The wedding venue was a school gymnasium with basketball nets for the backdrop
The wedding venue was a school gymnasium with basketball nets for the backdropCredit: Youtube

Olivia Stringer

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