I had my wedding reception at a Spoons for £20 and toasted with Monster Energy pitchers – every couple should try it

A BRIDE who hosted her wedding reception at Wetherspoons for £20 is now urging others to try the “cheap and cheerful” hack, with £14.99 small plates and Monster Energy pitchers. Newlyweds Michelle and Brad Russell tied the knot at Canterbury Registry Office followed by a meal at the local pub with 16 guests on August 8. The bride is encouraging other couples to try a unique wedding reception at Wetherspoons Credit: KennedyNews/MichelleRussell It cost them £14.99 on a small plates deal and toasting with a Monster Energy pitcher Credit: KennedyNews/MichelleRussell The couple, who met on Facebook Dating in 2024, decided to plan a low-key, budget-friendly wedding after getting engaged in December last year. Michelle, 47, says they just pulled some tables together in the pub and spent £20 all day – including the £14.99 on a small plates deal of halloumi fries, chicken wings and a bowl of chips. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Mum-of-two Michelle bought her wedding dress for £35 from Shein and £20 shoes from Amazon, as well as donning a £22 wig from TikTok shop. The biggest expense of the day was £590 on the registry office before a further £157 on a hotel room above The Thomas Ingoldsby Wetherspoons in Canterbury. The small plates included halloumi fries, chicken wings and a bowl of chips Credit: KennedyNews/MichelleRussell Michelle also saved money on her outfit – sourcing her dress from Shein and shoes from Amazon Credit: KennedyNews/MichelleRussell There they enjoyed a pub meal as well as a first toast with a Monster Energy and vodka pitcher. Michelle said Spoons is one of her and her new hubby’s favourite eateries for date nights, frequenting the pub chain on a weekly basis. Civil servant Michelle and Brad, 41, decided to ditch the traditional first dance and speeches for a more “relaxed” nuptials before spending their wedding night upstairs in the pub’s hotel. The bride said she “can’t speak highly enough of Spoons” – urging other brides to consider a budget-friendly option. Most read in The Sun The pair got married at Canterbury Registry Office Credit: KennedyNews/MichelleRussell They booked out a room in the hotel above so they could get ready before the special occasion Credit: KennedyNews/MichelleRussell Michelle, who lives in Dover, Kent, said: “We both knew we didn’t want a massive wedding. Brad’s not really one for crowds and making a big display. “If people are coming to our wedding and paying for their own food, they’re not going to want to pay that much per head. “We both like going to Wetherspoons every now and then anyway and no one ever complains about the food, and they cater for people who are gluten free and everything. “It’s one of our favourites. It’s cheap and cheerful. We go three or four times a month.” Michelle added they decided to book a room above the pub for the night to get ready in. Speaking on her dress choice, Michelle said: “That was the first dress I bought and I really liked it. I just thought some of the dresses from Shein are amazing. “Getting married can be done on the cheaper side if you just stick to the bare minimum. “Just forget about everyone else. At the end of the day, it is just about you two. “Don’t knock it because it was a good laugh. It was cheap, cheerful and catered for people with dietary restrictions without the stress.” Comment now