I was planning a huge Lake Como wedding but sacked it off to elope – my day was still luxe and I saved £12k
NOT everyone dreams of walking down to hundreds of eyes staring back at them.
Facing a £20,000 bill for her dream Lake Como wedding in 2025, Rebecca Gluyas, 30, decided she’d rather elope – and get the same luxury look on a budget.
Her and husband Leejay were planning to fly out to see their dream venue back in 2023.
But when his mum said “imagine you just got married while you were there”, a lightbulb went off in their heads.
At that moment, the couple decided instead of continuing to plan their grand wedding, they wanted to elope instead.
Within three months, they were in Italy alone and ready to tie the knot with just the two of them present.
They officially became husband and wife on June 3 last year, after nearly five years together.
As their original venue in Lake Como was fully booked, they chose Malcesine Castle in Lake Garda for their nuptials.
Rebecca says that one of her favourite memories from the day was walking down the aisle with Leejay.
“There were no nerves, just the two of us,” she recalls.
The couple, from Port Talbot, South Wales, didn’t even book somewhere to have their wedding breakfast.
That meant they found themselves running through cobbled streets after the ceremony desperately trying to find a restaurant as rain loomed.
“We were running around the castle trying to find some steak and Aperol,” she says.
“My dress was dragging along in the leaves, with my shoes in one hand and my bouquet in the other.
“Everyone congratulating us and wanting photos with us.
“We then found the most perfect restaurant right on the lake in the castle, with the best steak and Aperol we could have asked for.”
By eloping, customer service manager Rebecca reckons the couple saved themselves a whopping £12,000.
They enlisted the help of The Wedding Travel Company, which specialises in budget packages for couples looking to wed abroad.
The company doesn’t require years of notice to put your destination wedding together either, as Rebecca and Leejay realised.
They paid £5,000 for their full package but splurged an extra £1,5000 to upgrade their hotel to a “beautiful resort”.
5 ways to save £10k on your wedding
Josie Griffiths, Deputy Digital Fabulous editor and bride-to-be shares her tips to cut the cost on your big day.
“There’s no getting around it, weddings are expensive, but there’s some easy ways to strip back the cost without your guests noticing.”
Ditch pricey invites
We made our designs for free on Canva, and then sent them out on email or WhatsApp. If you want to post invites to important people, VistaPrint is brilliant and cost us less than 30p per guest to sort. SAVING: £600
Cut back on flowers
I was pretty stunned that lots of wedding florists quote £3k-£5k as a MINIMUM spend. Your wedding flowers will be dead within days, save your cash and invest it in pics and video instead, as these actually last. Keep shopping round until you find someone reasonably priced, or speak to your local florist two months out to arrange bouquets. SAVING: £4.5k
Ditch wedding favours
They don’t fit in people’s handbags and were cleared away by catering staff at half the weddings I’ve been to as a guest. The best way to save cash here is just not to bother. SAVING: £300-£700
Be ruthless with your guest list
No one’s ‘entitled’ to a plus one and the groom’s second cousin doesn’t need to come. Your true friends won’t kick off and if anyone chooses not to come over guest list dramas, that just means you’ve saved twice. SAVING: £150 PER HEAD
Do your own booze
Make finding a venue where you can do your own bar a priority, ideally with no corkage or a £500 max cost. Aldi’s £22 Champagne beat Veuve Clicquot in a Which? blind taste test and they have tasty wines for less than a fiver, you won’t do better on a paid bar. SAVING: £2k
The average wedding in the UK cost £20,700 last year, according to figures from Hitched.
“Although eloping can be done for a fraction of this price, we just loved the Lake Garda castle venue,” Rebecca says.
“For my wedding dress, I went to an outlet where all the dresses were under £1,000.
“I have no regrets at all.
I dreamed of having my family at my wedding… but when the idea came to us, it just suited us the most
Rebecca Gluyas
“The only thing I do second guess myself on is my dress.
“It was beautiful, but I wish I took a little longer to look for one.”
Rebecca and Leejay only told their mums and her best friend about the big day – to “make it more special with no pressure and no expectations”.
When they announced that they’d tied the knot in a social media posts, it lefts friends and family stunned.
“Eloping is a big decision as many dream of having their families at their wedding,” Rebecca adds.
“I did too growing up – but when the idea came to us, it just suited us the most.
“We are spontaneous and like to be a little quirky in life.”
She urged other brides and grooms to “think of yourselves” when it comes to planning your wedding day – your bank balance will thank you after all.