A woman saved $28k on her big day by opting for a micro-wedding with just 12 guests and thrifting her decor.

Bride Sarah Hayes, 27, thought the idea of spending thousands on a big white wedding was "sickening"."

She and her now-husband, Jackson, 27, decided to hire out an Airbnb for $3k for just 12 of their close family in April 2025.

They spent three days celebrating in Guntersville, Alabama, and tied the knot on their final day.

Sarah thrifted her table decorations - including paper plates, candlesticks, and photo frames -

and created a wedding banner and invitations on Canva.

The bride estimates she spent $5k on the do - saving $28k on the average $33k wedding in the US.

Sarah, an engineer, from Huntsville, Alabama, said: "The thought of spending so much on one day was sickening to me."

"Look at yourself and make sure you're doing a big wedding because you want to."

"You don't have to go in debt for your wedding."

Sarah and Jackson, an engineer, got engaged in October 2024.

Sarah said: "Him and I are both pretty frugal."

"Growing up I wanted a big wedding."

"When I was actually engaged I didn't really want attention."

"I didn't want to entertain 100 people."

Sarah tied the knot on the final day of the Airbnb - and had a 15 minute ceremony at the boat house.

She spent $70 on rented chairs for the ceremony and $1.2k on a photographer.

Sarah bought her dress online for $300.

The family then came back to the house for a meal. She bought paper plates and spent $300 on catered tacos for the family.

Sarah had spent the last six months collecting items to decorate the table with - finding candlesticks, vases and photo frames in thrift stores.

Sarah said her friends were supportive of her decision to have a micro-wedding without them there.

She said: "My friends love a wedding so they were sad they didn't get to go to a party."

"They put together this little scrapbook."

"I opened it on my wedding day and it had letters from all my friends."

Sarah's estimates costs of the wedding -
Airbnb hire - $3k
Catering $300
Chair hire - $70
Photographer - $1.2k
Dress - $300
Decorations - $130
Total - $5k