Cheap weddings taking off amid cost-of-living crunch

This Qld couple has joined a record number who are ditching extravagant celebrations for intimate nuptials as the cost of living bites with this pair spending just $384 on their ceremony.

Emily Hill and Ryan Burton say their vows on Tuesday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

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A record number of Queensland couples are ditching extravagant celebrations for intimate nuptials, with 2248 weddings held at Brisbane Registry and Brisbane Powerhouse in 2024.

Newlyweds Emily Hill, 27, and Ryan Burton, 37, tied the knot at Brisbane Registry on Tuesday in an intimate ceremony with less than 20 people.

“We were finding the wedding process and the wedding industry quite overwhelming,” Mrs Hill said.

“We were well and truly going down the path of planning an entire wedding, and we chose the Brisbane Registry about a year ago.

“We are based in Central Queensland, so having the registry locked in prior to the process was really helpful for us.

“We knew that everything was consistent, there was very little risk of cancellation, and that was really comforting for us.

Emily Hill and Ryan Burton say their vows on Tuesday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“We’ve been surprised with how nice and classy it has been, it hasn’t felt like a downgrade.”

With the cost of the ceremony just $384.10, Mrs Hill estimates the couple saved more than $10,000 by exchanging vows at Brisbane Registry.

“We put our money toward our honeymoon, we have also just brought a house,” she said.

“We closed on our house two days ago and our wedding budget went on to the house.”

This month, a total of 175 couples will exchange vows at the Brisbane Registry, a 31.58 per cent increase from 133 in January 2023.

As of the time of publishing, almost a quarter of available slots for 2025 have been booked, with 12 additional dates between March and October now available at Brisbane Powerhouse due to increased demand.

Originally published as Cheap weddings taking off amid cost-of-living crunch