Weddings are a labor of love. It takes a lot of work to bring together two groups of loved ones in the perfect setting and build the perfect night. Couples spend endless hours making decisions and getting every detail right. More often than not, this comes with a hefty price tag. As weddings get more extravagant, prices rise. A study by The Knot found that the average price of a wedding in America in 2018 was $33,931. That doesn't include the honeymoon! One bride putting together her dream wedding was determined to do it without breaking the bank. She did just that, putting together a beautiful wedding for just a fraction of that national average. You won't believe how she did it; let's just say it was an Amazon wedding!
Ashley Hicks and her husband, Tre, were married in North Carolina. They had 150 guests in attendance. In total, the couple spent $3,000. That includes food, attire, decor — the works! Wondering how they made it happen? Look no further than Amazon.
Weddings are an incredibly special experience for a couple. From the engagement to the celebration, there's a lot to do and, many times, a lot to spend. The average wedding in the United States in 2018 cost $33,931, according to The Knot.
Ashley Hicks was thrilled when her boyfriend, Tre, popped the question on Valentine's Day. The couple quickly realized two things. One was that they wanted a June wedding. The other was that they didn't want to go into debt to make it happen.
With a limited time to get everything together, Ashley enlisted in a wedding planner to get some advice. She was surprised when the planner suggested Amazon as a way to get items quickly while still being able to comparison shop.
Ashley took that idea and ran with it. She was surprised at how many items she was able to knock off her list, just by shopping on Amazon.
"We bought my dress, shoes, bridesmaid dresses, their shoes, their jewelry, my husband's suspenders, all the groomsmen's gifts — except bowties, our table settings, and the plates, it was a long list," she told ABC11.
For most brides, buying a dress on Amazon would be an anxiety nightmare. Ashley went about it the smart way, as she revealed in a vlog about the experience. She tried on dresses at brick-and-mortar stores to get an idea of what she liked. She was also able to get her measurements, which was crucial to buying a dress online.
Once she figured out the material she liked, the silhouettes that were most flattering on her, and her exact measurements, she was off to Amazon.
"I knew what I wanted and I wanted mermaid, I wanted lace," she explained. She was able to find just that.
Ashley found a Chinese retailer on Amazon that custom-makes dresses based on the measurements you provide. The risk with custom-made items is that you're unable to return them. When she saw the dress would cost her only $100 compared to the $1,000 dress she tried on, she knew she had to go for it.
The dressmaker had great reviews and was very open with communication. Thankfully, the result was perfect. In two weeks, Ashley had the dress in her possession and was able to try it on.
"It came, I put it on, and it fit perfectly," Ashley recalled.
Ashley was one of many brides who were satisfied with the retailer's results. Siqinzheng, which created the beautiful, budget dress, has 4.5 stars on Amazon with 91% of reviews over 4 stars. As Ashley's story continues to spread, business is sure to boom for this dressmaking shop.
Another key element in keeping costs down was turning to their loved ones for some help. Ashley and Tre were able to tap their network of family and friends to fill many of the vendor positions at the wedding in lieu of a gift.
The couple was also able to hit up some high-end grocery stores to stock their dessert table. They were able to get two cakes, cupcakes, donuts, and banana pudding shooters. The sweet spread only set them back $275.
The couple celebrated their special day, and everything went smoothly. The final price tag is jaw-dropping. The entire wedding came together for about $3,000. While everyone can't pull off a wedding this way, Ashley and Tre believe couples should seriously consider Amazon when they're trying to save.
For Ashley and Tre, not only was their "Big Fat Amazon Wedding" a resounding success, but it was everything the couple dreamed of. Their celebration of love was on their terms and didn't put them in debt, which is truly beautiful.
If you're considering an Amazon wedding of your own, the Amazon Wedding Shop seems to be the place to start. From planning everything out to the big day itself, it could be your key to saving big while still having your perfect day.
