Budget wedding bliss

For many, the cost-of-living crisis has meant sacrifices – going without meals, concerts, new clothes or celebrations.

But the founder of a local charity said it doesn’t have to mean giving up everything.

She just got married on a budget of $1000 and said her frugal approach made the day “even better”.

Locals know her as Tammy Robinson – now Tammy Robinson-Heynatz – the founder of Formally Ever After, a home-run service that has provided free formal gear to over 4000 students.

Mrs Robinson-Heynatz said while some of her friends had paid up to $70,000 on their weddings, her big day was made possible with the help of the local community and less than $1000.

“You don’t need to spend that much money, and your guests won’t mind,” she said.

“So many people came together and used the skills they have to help out.

“Everybody said it was so community-minded and that it was the best wedding they’d been to – it was full of love.”

She said the biggest expense was booking a venue, which came to $400.

Mrs Robinson-Heynatz chose Ben Matthews Playground, the home of the Amputees and Family Support Group Queensland.

“My new husband’s son is a double amputee, so they have spent a lot of time with the amputee group,” she said.

“It was more about how the place made us feel, not so much where it was.”

Her next order of business was buying a dress, which she bought from a local op-shop for $50.

Alterations and cleaning were carried out by friends.

“My veil was the full length of my dress, but cost me only $7 on Temu,” she said.

Her boots and jacket cost an extra $40, and her bouquet was made by Logan councillor Teresa Lane.

A local musician offered to play music and MC for free as a thank you to Mrs Robinson-Heynatz for her community service.

“A young girl I dressed through the formal program sang for me,” she said.

For decorations, Mrs Robinson-Heynatz and a friend got crafty.

“I got my flowers for $2.50 a bunch from one of the cheap shops down at Logan Central,” she said.

“Someone had given me some jars, so my friend and I got some ribbon, hot glue and love hearts, stuck them on the front and put the cheap flowers in – they were beautiful.”

Food was a huge money-saver, Mrs Robinson-Heynatz said.

“Nobody wants to spend $70 on a plate of food no one is going to like, and then they’ll go to Maccas on the way home, so we asked people to bring a plate of food to share instead of presents.

“Instead of bringing a plate, a friend made a lolly buffet table.”

She said she asked her friends for help, just as people did in “the good old days”.

“Everyone knows someone who can do something,” she said.

“It’s little things that can make the day perfect.”

A lot of the decorations and materials used in the wedding will be recycled, Mrs Robinson-Heynatz said.

“All the extra flowers I have no need for, so I gave them to Linda from amputees support service so she can use them for future functions and other special events.

Mrs Robinson-Heynatz and her husband, Athol, started planning their wedding around six weeks before the date.

They first met in 2019 after she helped his son find a suit for an awards ceremony.

“Athol and I became friends, and fast-forward four to five months… he asked me out on a date, and I said yes,” Mrs Robinson-Heynatz said.

“We got engaged later that year and sat engaged not doing anything about it.”

But things changed two months ago when Mr Heynatz had a health scare.

“I got a phone call from his boss in the morning saying they think Athol had a heart attack,” she said.

Mr Heynatz ended up being ok, but Mrs Robinson-Heynatz said it made her think: “what are we waiting for?”