DIY is the way to go!

Getting married is a hugely important day and a lot of time and effort and money goes into making it memorable. But according to a new study, couples are making the extra effort to get married on a budget. Though the study was carried out in Australia, the money saving tips are just as relevant across the water. The survey found that over one third of people are tying the knot for less that $5000 which is only €3400. A further 28%  said "I do" for less than $10,000 which is about €6800. Various Irish wedding surveys have revealed that walking down the aisle in Ireland will set you back an average of €20,000. If you're planning on getting married soon and are freaking out about the cost of the occasion, the Australian survey also revealed the steps couples took to save money. Here are five ways that Aussie couples are saving money, (which are all doable and realistic). Do your own hair Youtube tutorials, helpful bridesmaids, and a good curler is really all you need and could save you a lot of money, a few practices before the big day and you're set. 34% of brides did their own hair for their big day to save money. Do it somewhere local/your garden 31% of couples surveyed did not hire a venue. If you have a nice back garden and are getting married in the summer it could be the way to go, this option is becoming increasingly popular. Make your own invitations Pinterest is your saving grace when it comes to being creating for your big day. Shops like Tiger, and the euro shops are perfect for little bits and pieces to make the invites look just as good as bought invitations. 28% of soon-to-be married couples did this to save money. Get a friend/relative to make the cake Wedding cakes are far more expensive that most other cakes, and considering they are made of all the same stuff it doesn't make much sense. Everyone has a friend or auntie who just loves baking, and you can ask them to do it as a wedding present. 17% of those surveyed said they opted for a home made cake. Use your own cars Getting from A to B is obviously very important, but it's not the biggest or most important part of the day. Ask your friends and family who have nice shiny cars to offer their services and get some ribbon in Tiger. 20% of married couples did this for their wedding. So there you have it, simple, but cost effective steps for reducing how much you spend on your big day, but choosing even one of the steps above you can save money or put the money into another area of your wedding which you feel is more important. We'll be on our way to a €3400 wedding like the Aussies in no time!