A couple took the internet by storm when they shared glimpses of their incredibly economical wedding. Many wondered how they pulled off their big day celebration without breaking the bank, so the bride decided to share a few tips and tricks on social media.
The bride, Kiara, and her groom, Joel Brokenbrough, pulled it off by keeping things as minimal as possible for their big day.
The two reconnected in 2018 and began dating shortly afterwards. The couple said they both connected over their spirituality, and were engaged for one month before getting married on February 12.
According to ABC7 News, newlyweds Kiara and her husband Joel spent $500.00 covering her dress, venue, and reception. Roommates, you might want to pay attention for your big day because Kiara dropped some gems while speaking to Good Morning America.
Kiara explained, “Our goal was to just be as minimal as possible. And to spend the least amount of money as possible.” The bride purchased her wedding dress from the popular fast-fashion brand Shein which cost $47. “I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a dress because I had the mindset [that] I’m gonna wear this one time for a few hours,” she said.
The couple held their ceremony off the Angeles Crest Highway with Southern California’s San Gabriel and Sierra Pelona Mountains as a beautiful backdrop. Due to not applying for a public permit, they only invited about 30 to 40 relatives and close friends. For the ceremony, she only paid for the chairs and an arch.
“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,” said Kiara. “And then you celebrate with food, drinks, and dance. And that’s exactly what we did.”
Kiara had a lot of support from family and friends for her big day. Her godmother gifted the couple flowers, and her godsister and aunt chipped in with a wedding cake.
When it came to the reception at nearby Misty’s Lounge, Kiara said her guests, who purchased their own food and drinks, “Understood the assignment. They understood the things that we were trying to do, and they really supported us.”
While their approach may be unconventional, they believed that their matrimony truly reflected the essence of what it means to get married.
The couple said they did not want to go into debt prior to marriage, and hope their wedding day inspires other couples to save money.
“Don’t let a budget stop you from marrying that person. If you feel like you need to get married, let our wedding be a sign to you that it doesn’t take all that and it can definitely happen,” said Kiara.
Kiara is a social media manager and content creator and hopes to become a full-time content creator. Joel is a former professional basketball player who played in several countries and now coaches basketball at North Hollywood high school along with teaching P.E. at several schools. He hopes to someday coach at the college level and mentor young men and women about their purpose.
Watch the video below:
ABC 7 reports that an average American wedding costs $30,000, so if you were in Kiara’s shoes would you make your wedding guests pay for their meals to avoid going into debt? Drop a comment and let us know!