A bride has admitted she splashed £77,000 on her wedding, including £8,000 on flowers, but others bashed the happy couple for their so-called ‘shocking’ marital choices
A bride who describes herself as “extra” confesses that despite making sacrifices, she spent over £70,000 on her wedding day, with a staggering £8,000 going on flowers alone. Christina Theofanous and James Dodd said their vows on April 5th at One Great George Street in Westminster, London, in the presence of 130 loved ones.
The pair, both employed in marketing, started saving together in 2021 for a travel adventure, but this gradually morphed into a wedding fund. When James, 30, proposed to Christina during a holiday in Dubai in September 2023, they spent the following 18 months making financial sacrifices to afford their dream wedding.
They splurged £33,000 on their wedding venue, which included an £18,577 wedding breakfast and a flower bill amounting to £7,836. Nearly £2,000 was spent to ensure the bridal party’s hair and makeup were flawless, including four makeup trials, which Christina humorously referred to as being ‘just extra’ on social media.
Despite spending an amount equivalent to the average price of a flat in Blackpool on their one-day celebration, Christina, 29, insists they have no debt or regrets about their decision. Recently, Christina shared a TikTok post detailing her wedding expenses and while some viewers found the amount ‘shocking’, she maintains it was ‘worth every penny’.
Christina, hailing from Hitchin in Hertfordshire, stated: “There wasn’t a budget. “We decided to have our wedding in London and had an idea it was going to be expensive, reports MyLondon.
“I knew exactly what I wanted so when I started researching I found that these were the costs. We had a savings pot before we got engaged that we wanted to use for travelling but this turned into the wedding pot and we naturally started saving from this point.
“It was a lot of money for sure but it was worth it for me (to feel good on my wedding day). The flowers, which included three bouquets and decorating the whole venue, set us back £7,836. This was quite a shocking amount and we did make changes to bring the cost down to this.”
Christina revealed that a family member had generously gifted them £5,000 towards their wedding expenses, and her bridal attire, including the dress, heels, and veil, were also presents from relatives. She acknowledged the shock expressed by some at the substantial amount they had spent on their nuptials but emphasised that they had diligently saved for it.
Christina stated: “I completely agree and I’m not stupid and think it’s not expensive. We saved for 18 months and we had a plan. Some people said it’s just one day and that is a waste of money and that’s fine as it’s not for everyone. But growing up I always wanted to get married and have this kind of wedding, and for us it’s worth it and we were both on the same page.”
She added, “I lived up north for three years and when I was looking for houses I did see some for £60-£70,000 so I do get people’s perspectives for sure. But, as bad as this sounds, this is our life and we work hard to do what we do. It was worth every penny and we have no regrets and we’re not in debt from it. The wedding day was perfect.”
Her TikTok video has since amassed over 190,000 views, and while some viewers didn’t take issue with the couple’s expenditure, others deemed it excessive. One user remarked: “My house cost the same as your wedding.”
Another penned: “It was your day. If you can afford it, enjoy it. Ignore the haters,” whilst a third remarked: “Sorry but this is a shocking amount to spend on one day! Each to their own obviously but could buy a house with that. And, let’s be honest, there’s a 50/50 chance of divorce.”
A fourth added: “If you didn’t go broke or into a lifetime of debt to pay for this – you win. Your money, your wedding. Absolutely stunning and I wish you both love and happiness.”
Wedding costs:
- Venue hire: £10,800
- Wedding breakfast: £18,577
- Supplier meals: £74.40
- Kids meal: £25
- Venue extension until 1am – £900
- Evening buffet: £2,670
- Bar tab: £1,500
- Dress and alterations: £8,800 (dress gifted)
- Second dress: £85
- Heels and veil: £850 (gifted)
- Hair and makeup: £1,640
- James’ custom suit: £2,150
- Rings: £2,300
- Perfume: £278
- Wedding cake: £290
- Photographer, videographer and content creator: £6,850
- Flowers: £7,836
- Music (Pianist and DJ): £3,495
- Bar: £864
- Registrar: £1,000
- Honeymoon: £5,500
- Two night hotel wedding stay: £590 (hotel stay gifted)
- TOTAL £77,074.40 (TOTAL minus gifted items and £5,000 from family £63,224.40)
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