How New Zealand couples saved on their wedding (and what they splurged on)

There are many big-ticket items competing for the finances of young couples in New Zealand - paying off education debt, a mortgage, the increasing costs of raising kids and, some would argue, butter.

Weddings are another big expense that young adults might face. One wedding planner recently put the average cost of a wedding in New Zealand at more than $87,000. However, many couples are using creativity and compromise or bucking the big wedding extravaganza to keep costs down.

Here’s what five couples have done recently (or in the case of one couple, are about to do) to end their big day on a budget that is far below average:

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Budget: about $20,000

The splurge: McKenzie designed her own dress that was a 2-in-1. For the Friday night ceremony, it was a long dress. The overskirt was removable so it became a mini version for the Saturday night reception.

The only way the Christchurch couple could afford a big wedding was to add more debt to their mortgage and they didn’t want to do that. Instead of one massive event, they broke their big day into two days with a smaller ceremony and dinner followed by a low-key reception a day later for 60 people.

“Instead of paying for a sit-down meal, we got some pizza and literally sat down and chilled out and had some pizza and beverages,” said McKenzie, 28, of the ceremony and intimate family pizza party that followed.

The ceremony was held at the Starling Homestead, a barn-style venue with Portaloos that caters to couples on a budget. Couples can bring their own food and alcohol to the venue and take their photos in the surrounding farmland. All wedding packages at the Starling Homestead include a night's accommodation for the couple on the property.

For the reception, the 60 guests thought they were attending an engagement party. A board at the doorway announced that this was a wedding reception. McKenzie’s parents surprised the couple with a videographer who captured the reaction of guests as they walked in.

“I’m just beyond thankful that they decided to surprise us with that because it was just the best thing ever. We bawled our eyes out watching our wedding video.”

Rather than a sit-down meal, the Browns opted for canapes. There was a bar tab, but once it ran out, it was up to guests to buy additional drinks.

Budget: $3000

The splurge: the couple had two photographers with different styles to capture their day.

Felicity and Acacia had big plans for their Christchurch wedding - catering, flowers and a helicopter to fly them to nearby mountains for photos. Then Acacia ran up against some health challenges so the couple pivoted to a scaled-back wedding they planned in two and a half days.

“[Eloping] is less about running away and jilting everyone and more about holding what is important to you close and not spending so much,” says Felicity, 29.

They secured Kineta Knight Booker, a celebrant and wedding planner who specialises in elopements and micro weddings. Booker dealt with the Births, Deaths and Marriage office to secure the legal paperwork ahead of the tight deadline.

The day ended with a dinner at an Italian restaurant for the couple, Felicity’s parents, Felicity’s son and close friend.

Budget: $4000

The splurge: Jodie had her bouquet professionally pressed and framed as a keepsake.

The couple had a small wedding with two witnesses and a celebrant at Hamilton’s Woodland’s Estate. The historic homestead and gardens has a Tie the Knot Thursday option for couples who want to stick to a budget and are happy to avoid the weekend business. The ceremony and canape package lasts for two hours and gives couples time to take photos in the grounds.

“I think it was just perfect for what we were wanting, just like the intimacy of it all.”

Ben is in the band Retro Valley and he wrote a song for Jodie that was played during the small ceremony.

Because Jodie had plans to press her bouquet she was happy to spend more to get the flowers she wanted - roses in white and various hues of pink.

Although her dress looked somewhat bridal, it wasn’t from a bridal collection helping cut costs on the wedding.

“...it was a quarter of the price of a normal wedding dress as well.”

Budget: $6000

Splurge: a choreographed dance. The couple started out with group lessons to learn basic dance moves and will move on to private lessons that will include custom choreography for their wedding dance.

Abigail is due to marry Joshua in July. The large wedding of about 250 people is budgeted to come at a remarkably low $6000. The key: a potluck reception in a large church hall in the Nelson region. She knows it will work because her sister did the same for a wedding with more than 300 guests.

When guests RSVP, they are asked to include what type of dish they will bring to “make sure we don’t run out of food or only have lettuce salad leftover,” says Abigail, 28.

“I guess it is not as conventional but I've said I would rather invite more people...”

Due to licensing restrictions at the venue, they can’t bring their own alcohol. Instead, they will have a mocktail bar.

The venue doesn’t supply plates, cutlery and cups so Abigail has purchased these rather than hire some. She anticipates making most if not all of her money back by passing the dinnerware on to another couple through the Wedding Items Swap, Buy & Sell NZ Facebook page.

Budget: $6000

The splurge: securing the right photographer for the ceremony.

The couple did their ceremony during the day on a Tie the Knot Thursday at Woodlands Estate for 20 people followed by a “delayed” reception for 50 people on the Saturday night, says Olivia, 26.

“Our biggest reason [to save money] is we have a mortgage and we also have a young son so the last thing we wanted to do was get into more debt,” says Olivia, 26.

Her husband’s suit was hired and she bought her wedding dress from an outlet shop.

The reception was held at a local restaurant and the couple catered with canapes rather than sit-down meals to keep costs down. They also told guests that they would be paying for the first drink only. However, in a pleasant surprise, their wedding came in under budget so they could increase the bar tab on the night.

“...come day it was like ‘Oh, we've still got a decent bar tab’ so we'll just start telling people to grab another one.”