I Saved $40,000 For My Wedding AND Had The Honeymoon Of A Lifetime. This Hack Isn’t For Everyone, But I’m Now Using That Money To Buy A House

An Australian bride who decided to ditch wedding tradition has saved $40,000 by getting married in a small ceremony on a tropical island overseas.

Annabelle and Hayden Newell, 32, from Sydney, got married in Moorea, a picturesque spot popular with tourists from French Polynesia in the South Pacific in May.

The couple were shocked when they learned it would cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars to book venues in Sydney or Byron Bay on the New South Wales north coast.

The couple reportedly had to pay up to $45,000 just for the venue and meal packages for 110 guests, before they could factor in other costs such as drinks, accommodation and photography.

Although both newlyweds earn decent salaries in their professions, both are feeling the effects of the cost of living crisis.

The couple explored other options and decided to flee to Moorea in front of five family members.

The entire elopement ceremony and reception dinner for seven cost the couple just $6,500.

“The price of weddings in Australia has been completely overstated and it’s not something we want to spend our money on,” Ms Newell told Australian jewellery company Shiels.

The entire elopement ceremony and reception dinner for seven cost the couple just $6,500.

Ms Newell did her own hair and makeup and wore a $1,500 second-hand wedding dress, which she paired with $300 worth of local flowers.

The couple paid $700 total for the wedding reception dinner for seven.

They were also able to spend their honeymoon in Italy and throw a party at their house to celebrate the wedding with their friends.

The couple hired a local content creator in Sydney instead of spending huge amounts on a photographer and videographer.

“I think we saved $40,000 and had two celebrations and a honeymoon,” Newell said.

“We were able to stay in amazing places, eat and drink whatever we wanted, and give each other a little wedding gift.

The couple used the savings to put together a deposit for their first home and have now bought a house off-plan.

They live with Mrs. Newell’s parents.

She said their low-cost wedding allowed them to avoid stressing about their big day and they were able to enjoy the event without worrying about money.

The average cost of a wedding in Australia is between $36,000 and $51,000, according to figures from ASIC’s Moneysmart website.

Australian couples are turning to cheaper wedding alternatives as people struggle to afford necessities such as housing and groceries.

Figures from online digital marketing site Semrush revealed that online searches for “how much does it cost to elope” have increased by 40% over the past year.

Searches for “micro wedding” increased by 49%, while “average cost of a wedding in Australia” jumped by 85%, Yahoo reported.

Ms Newell said people should not be afraid to celebrate their wedding differently by thinking about how they want to mark the occasion.

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