Weddings can be expensive – really expensive. Depending on how many people you invite, where you get married and what kind of party you want to throw, the cost can go up quickly. It’s normal for couples to spend thousands and thousands of dollars. In fact, the average wedding price is roughly $30,000.

Some couples choose to delay getting married or to elope because they think they can’t afford a wedding. Cost didn’t stop one couple from California. Los Angeles bride Kiara Brokenbrough shared on TikTok that she and her groom managed to get married for just $500.

Yes, that’s right, $500 for an entire wedding. That includes the photos, the cake, the dress, everything. Seems impossible, doesn’t it? Most people probably spend more than that just on a wedding cake.

Many people on social media originally criticized Brokenbrough for throwing such a cheap wedding. They assumed she must have cut corners, or that the wedding looked cheap, or that the $500 didn’t actually include everything.

Brokenbrough surprised nay sayers by sharing details of her wedding on TikTok. One example of how she cut costs was by not hiring a photographer. Instead, she gave a friend her camera to use to take pictures. The free pictures show that the wedding was actually gorgeous.

@kiarabrk Replying to @lienahslessons saved a lot of money this way! #500dollarwedding #kiarabrokenbrough #cheapwedding #weddingphotosession ♬ Future x Biggie – Catalina: Influencer & Creator

Another way the bride and groom saved money was by not paying a penny for a venue. They actually found a spot where they could get married for free. It’s an outdoor location on the side of a highway, but it looks simply gorgeous.

Many people wondered how the couple managed to have a reception with their meager budget. The answer is that guests paid for their own food and beverages at the reception. While that might seem surprising or rude to some guests, Brokenbrough explained that her guests knew it was a budget wedding and that the goal was not to go in debt. She shared that their guests “supported” them in their money saving efforts.

 

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A post shared by kiara brokenbrough (@kiarabrk)

Brokenbrough told Good Morning America, “You have a wedding, with witnesses there to witness you, vowing to your spouse, vowing to God that you guys are going to stay together for life, and then you celebrate with food, drinks and dance. And that’s exactly what we did.”

If you’re married, how much did you spend for your wedding? What do you think of this budget wedding?