A couple ditched their expensive wedding plans and spent just $500, including a stop at McDonald’s to celebrate with cheeseburgers.
In a bold move, a young couple decided to abandon their plans for a lavish wedding costing $10,000.
Instead, they chose to celebrate their love with a simple ceremony that only set them back $500.
This decision allowed them to focus on what really mattered: their commitment to each other.
The $10,000 wedding plans
Ellie, 26, and Alex, 27, originally envisioned a grand wedding.
They had dreams of a large celebration with many guests.
However, when they looked at the costs involved, they realized that their dream wedding would be extremely expensive.
The couple felt the pressure to impress their friends and family, but they soon realized that they could use that money for more meaningful experiences.
Couple cancels $10K wedding plans to opt for $500 celebration at McDonald’s with cheeseburgers
After discussing their options, Ellie and Alex came to a conclusion.
They decided that spending a large sum on one day did not make sense.
Instead of going through with the expensive wedding, they wanted to invest in their future.
They could use the money saved for a honeymoon or even a down payment on a house.
Their new plan was simple. They would get married at their local marriage bureau.
They informed their family and found two witnesses to join them on their special day.
“We couldn’t justify spending $25,000 to $25,000 on one day,” Ellie said. “It’s ridiculous. I just wanted to get married.”
The couple only spent just $500 on their nuptials
On the day of the wedding, Ellie wore a beautiful white dress that cost around $300.
Alex opted for a smart suit that he purchased for about $200.
The couple headed to the registrar’s office, where they tied the knot for a mere $70.
After the ceremony, they celebrated in a fun and casual way by heading to McDonald’s for cheeseburgers.
“We looked at venues and we were being quoted thousands and then our guests would have had to book rooms on top of that.
There were other things we needed,” Ellie said.
“We thought if we didn’t just do it then we never would so we got married in a registry office with my [mother] and Alex’s brother.
Afterwards, I was starving so we went to McDonald’s,” she laughed.
Both Ellie and Alex felt relieved and happy with their decision.
Ellie expressed that she wanted to get married without the stress of pleasing others.
She said, “It was amazing to just focus on us.”
Celebrating with family and friends
Even though they kept the ceremony small, the couple still wanted to celebrate with their loved ones.
They received help from family and friends to host a modest gathering.
Someone donated $100 for flowers, and a friend did Ellie’s hair for the event.
The parents of both Ellie and Alex contributed around $700 for a small party that included a buffet and a DJ.
About 20 of their closest friends and family members attended the celebration.
The groom’s brother was kind enough to take photos to capture the memories.
They also provided disposable cameras for guests to use, making the event even more special.