Couple throws stunning budget wedding for just £1,500

The couple's biggest splurge was the wedding photographer

It's said that your wedding day is supposed to be the happiest day of your life - but that doesn’t mean it has to be the most expensive.

Jenny and Rob Somerville from Raleigh, North Carolina, recently proved that a ceremony can be beautiful and affordable - and the pictures will inspire future brides to update their Pinterest boards.

The couple, who tied the knot in a backyard wedding ceremony, spent just $2,000 (£1,500) on their special day - a decision they made after seeing friends go into debt with their own weddings.

For the thrifty bride and groom, this meant planning their elopement nuptials in their own backyard, and creating DIY-decor to transform the space.

Of the details, Jenny told PureWow: “Think to yourself, ‘What do I want?’ No, really, though, ‘What do I want?’

“If you like a tradition, keep it. If you don’t, skip it! There’s so much freedom when you decide to do things the way you truly want, rather than how you think you’re supposed to.”

Sticking to her own advice, Jenny incorporated things she already owned, such as a beautiful wooden altar, and decorated on a budget - finding bottles and vintage letters at Goodwill.

The couple's wedding looked more expensive than it was (Danielle Riley Photography)

The decor was inexpensive (Danielle Riley Photography)

For the dress, she opted out of bridal boutiques in favour of a white lace floor-length dress from boho-brand Show Me Your Mumu and accessorised with a jean jacket her mum decorated with white lettering to read: “Just married.”

The bride's mum decorated a jean jacket (Danielle Riley Photography)

The seating was provided by the couple’s own dining room and decorated with lavender bunches tied with twine - and the outdoor reception was creatively-crafted out of disposable cutlery, materials from Home Depot, Amazon, Ikea and Walmart, and items borrowed from friends.

The seating was from the couple's own living room (Danielle Riley Photography)

Lavender was tied to each seat (Danielle Riley Photography)

The bride and groom didn't want to go into debt planning their wedding (Danielle Riley Photography)

Jenny’s makeup and hair was done as a wedding gift by a friend - and the 22 guests were fed Mexican food from a favourite nearby restaurant and miniature blueberry pies for $100 instead of a wedding cake.

The couple only spent $2,000 on the entire wedding (Danielle Riley Photography)

The couple catered with Mexican food (Danielle Riley Photography)

Jenny designed the wedding programs (Danielle Riley Photography)

The couple’s biggest splurge was on the wedding photographer, Danielle Riley, who captured the stunning shots of the outdoor wedding.

As Jenny’s “number-one priority and a non-negotiable expense,” the $1,000 elopement package was worth it.

The bride and groom had their first dance on a friend's rug (Danielle Riley Photography)

The couple danced as guests held sparklers (Danielle Riley Photography)

The picture-perfect wedding ended with a sparkler send-off and the couple’s first dance - while Jenny’s younger brother DJ’ed.