Tips and Tricks for the Bride on a Budget

[danniqi]

***The Budget Bride***

Due to the fact that my fiance and I will be paying for our wedding completely on our own -- and we _aren't_ independently wealthy xp -- I've been forced to find a few tricks for keeping the budget managable. I thought it would be nice to share them with you.

(the numbers have no significance, they are just there to keep things "orderly")

If you have any other tips you'd like to share, post them and I'll add them to the list ^_^

TIP #1

E-bay

Ebay is a great resource -- you can get everything from decorations (i.e. aisle runners, cake tiers, glass bowls for center peices, etc etc) to the wedding dress. Wedding dresses are the best deal if you get them from the Chinese tailors -- Most designers have their dresses made in China, so all the dresses will be (pretty much) _exact_ replicas of the expensive designer dresses!!

TIP #2

Shoes

~The Bride's shoes I mean ...
It is likely that you will spend most of the day on your feet, _and_ no one is going to see your shoes, so...
Be comfortable, and go affordable!!
Many brides have opted to wear their favorite tennis shoes -- or bought a new white pair. Or their favorite boots.
Other's have gone via the flip-flop route (these too can be comfy and white)...
My tip??
Ballet shoes!!
Seriously, they are cheap, they are white (or pink, burgandy, black, champange -- or any other color), and they are comfortable!
*****
{Ame no Tenshi}
When I was shopping for shoes, I figured I'd wear them once. Same with the jewelery. So I got a $15 dollar pair at payless and found a nice after prom necklace at Claires.

TIP #3

Invites, RSVP's, and Thank You's

Make your own! This is particularly easy since on most invitation websites you can go through the steps of buying the invites and it will generate a "preview" for you -- all the etiquette and wording is done for you. Then just save that "preview" and go make your own invites::
There are a few ways to do this:
1. They have kits to do so now -- design them on your computer and print them on your printer.
2. Make an example and bring it to Kinkos (or another copying place) and have them make them for you! They have card stock and everything.

IF you want those special invites, here's another way to cut the costs::
RSVP's!!
Instead of have the traditional card and envelope, just have it be a postcard!!! Have it pre-addressed and stamped (here's another money saver :: Postcard stamps are only $0.20!) ... its easy for everyone! ^_^

Thank you cards?? Go for the generic ones! You can get any kind of TY card off the rack at your local Walmart. Some of them look pretty classy too...and they don't cost you a fortune! Go for it! No one reads these anyway...hehe

TIP #4

Well Wishing/Guest Book

*This is my favorite!*
Instead of the traditional Guest Book or WW jar do this:
Take a picture mat (for an 8x10 picture) and have your guests sign that -- make sure that mat is pretty wide and that you use a nice pen/marker. But it is simple, and it makes an amazing keepsake -- put a wedding pic in it, frame it and viola!
This way people might actually read the well wishes (even you!).

TIP #5

Costco/Sam's Club

They make cakes!!! Really! and they have bulk champange and they have flowers. Check them out!
****
{delicatedisarray}
I'm buying my flowers wholesale and making my own arrangements.

TIP #6

Photography/Videography

Go to the nearest campus and put up a sign == there are likely to be some students (that studey either) and will be willing to make a quick buck doing your wedding -- they are cheaper AND they get to put it in their portfolio so it is really great for them. They are also easier to get along with since they haven't gotten all jaded yet! O.o
****
{Ame no Tenshi}
How obsessed are you with professional photos? If you don't care and if anyone in your family has a good camera have them take the pictures! My uncle did it for us, he took TONS of them (black and white and coloured), and if you want you can go to any photo place and can have them resized for you.
****
{Mrs Eddie}
We also bought a set of disposable cameras and set them on the tables at the reception, for anyone to take pictures. It makes for some cute moments.

TIP #7

Music

Make iPod lists. Most a/v equipment is iPod ready so it's easy and you get _exactly_ what you want. Turns out you can rent a/v equipment for pretty cheap too, so that makes things really easy!

TIP #8 {Tute Sweet}

The Groom's Suit

Most formalwear hire shops will offer the Groom's suit for free hire, if the rest of the wedding party (best man, bride's father, ushers etc.) hire their suits from the same place.

So if the rest of the wedding party all pay for their own suits (which is very common) you don't have to pay for anything!
It's also a nice way for any ushers to contribute to the wedding, if they can't afford to buy you an expensive wedding present.

TIP #9 {Tute Sweet}

An 'Alternative' Wedding Cake

Traditional wedding cakes can be very pricey, but there are less traditional (and less expensive) options.
You might have seen these, which have become quite popular lately:
1. Instead of a wedding cake, it's wedding cupcakes! Although they can still be very expensive if you buy them from a normal cake shop.
But why not buy the tiers from ebay, and make your own cupcakes?
2. Someone I know got married last year, but he really hates cake.
So they had a pyramid of donuts instead!

Less expensive than a traditional wedding cake, and much more personal!
****
{Mrs Eddie}
It was really easy, once my hubby and I decided that we wanted cheesecake for our wedding cake. We had a small bakery/restaurant do the food for cheap.

TIP #10 {Tute Sweet}

Wedding Favours

Wedding favours are an odd thing; they're an old tradition, they're a nice idea, but they do take yet another sizable bite out of your bank account.

However, you could always give away some of your decorations as a present, depending upon what you have.

For example, I had daffodils on every available surface; most of the guests were given one of the smaller vases of daffodils to take home, and anyone that had really helped out with the wedding (such as my friend that played the piano, my aunt that helped me find my shoes, an old family friend that served the rest of the wedding cake etc.) was given one of the larger flower arrangements.

A friend of mine also once went to a night-time wedding (a variation on the hand-fasting ceremony, I believe). The whole thing was candle-lit, and the guests were all given some of the candles to take home as a keep-sake.

Another wedding my cousins recently went to, had fish bowls with goldfish in as table decorations, instead of the usual flower arrangements.
At the end of the day, all the children (and any adults that wanted them, too) were given the goldfish to take home.

TIP #11 {Tute Sweet}

Flowers

Unusual/exotic flowers, flowers that are particularly fragile, or just out of season will cost more; as they have to be grown in greenhouses and are more difficult to transport.

Your florist should know which flowers are in season at the time of your wedding; so if you're struggling for money, they should be able to give you a list of flowers that would be less expensive.

TIP #12 {P l N K D O N U T}

Paper Nakins

Why spend $100.00 on rented cloth napkins that people are only going to wipe their face on, when you can get a good quality paper napkins for MUCH less!

TIP #13 {P l N K D O N U T}

Make It Yourself!

There are a lot of things you can do yourself, especially if you have a lot of family and friend that want to help out (like at my wedding!) things from the bouquets, to the decorating, to food!

~ We got a few dozen red and white roses at a chap price, and went to a craft store and got things from the flower arrangement section. Then we made all the bequests, corsages, and boutonnières our self. It was much cheaper and looked just as good. We also made the arch we stood under, and decorated it our self.
~ For food we cooked the ham our self and had a lot of appetizers, since it was a night wedding. I sat down and made the veggie kabobs, and stuck the ends of the stick in a piece of florist foam that was paced in the bottom of a big bowl. This was interesting because it looked like a bouquet of kabobs! We also had easy to clean up and eat things like sushi, shrimp with cocktail sauce and those little roll up sandwiches from Costco.
~ My grandma sat and into decorative cupcake sleeves (you know those little paper cup things) put in chocolate kisses and other wrapped candies and put a few on each table. It was decorative and edible, and made a nice little party favor thing.

TIP #14 {Rennie`}

Honeymoon

Probably the most expensive thing of the wedding ceremony, the honeymoon. Do you need to fly far abroad? Why not go somewhere nice but close to home. I live in England and my fiancé and I are planning to either go to Paris in France or Italy. Ok, it isn't as exotic as Sri Lanka, Bahamas and so on but the honeymoon is as romantic as you make it.
****
{Ame no Tenshi}
I haven't been on mine yet. Though a Cruise is a nice option for a person on a budget. I've seen them as cheap as about $300 dollars per person for 3 nights. When you go it pays for the trip, all the food, and various other things. If you wish to do something off the boat you have to pay for that. You also have to pay for photos they take and alcohol. My parents recently went on a seven day cruise and went to the bahamas and stuff and the trip (before the extras) cost them about 500 dollars.

TIP #15 {Rennie`}

Bride's Maids' Dresses

Why not get them to pay for all or a part of their dresses? Or why not rent them. Dresses like those which can also be worn at a prom are very expensive, so if the bride can pay less on their dresses the more she can spend on other requirements.
****
{Ame no Tenshi}
If you don't care about matching then tell them specifics (colour, length) and try to go after prom season, when the dresses are still out. There are a lot of choices and normally the dresses are on sale. If you want by the dresses, my friends were lovely and offered to buy them themselves.
****
{Mrs Eddie}
I wanted something the girls could (and would) wear more than just once. I chose a style of skirt I liked, found the material, and my mom made them. She also found the shirts to go with them. They turned out amazing.

TIP #16 {Ame no Tenshi}

The Cake

Do you know anyone who can make cakes? If so take advantage of that. My aunt can make (as well as decorate, I'm talking the fondant and flowers and all that jazz) cakes and so I had her do mine. It was a layered, covered in white fondant and had autumn leaves covering it. The cake was vanilla with strawberry filling and was delicious

TIP #17 {Ame no Tenshi}

The Veil

Can you sew, or do you know anyone who can? I went to a few places and the veils were between $50-300 dollars! That was crazy. Guess what I did? I had my cousin make me a veil, and it cost us about $5

TIP #18 {Mrs Eddie}

Bridal Attire

I visited several shops before I found my dress. The more I shopped around, the lower the prices went. I found my dress as I was ready to give up, and it was by far the cheapest of the bunch I tried on.
The shop we went to was also having a special, we bought the dress, and all the accessories (slip, shoes, tiara) were half off.
As for jewelry.. Recycle! I wore earrings and a necklace that I had since high school. NO ONE notices.
****
{delicatedisarray}
I plan getting my dress second hand. You can get them at incredible prices at resale shops. And its been worn like once before?! And if I find one I fall in love with but it doesn't fit quite right I'm just having it altered.


TIP #19 {Mrs Eddie}

Reception

1. The Hall ::
This does NOT have to be expensive, either. We had ours held in a church.. The gym as our reception hall. It really isn't tacky, as some people may think.. You just have to get the right decor and it's perfect. Plus, there's a dance floor readily available! 4laugh
2. The Decor ::
My mom's boss (who has 11 kids) and their neighbor (with 13 kids) got together and made a set of decorations, including tablecloths and chair covers to use at all weddings they would host.. They lent them to us.. Even letting my mom borrow his van for transporting them. They also had 6 pillars that they wrapped in white lights, and covered them with lace and ivy. The pillars, along with lamps around the outside of the room, lit the room. Very romantic.
3. The Music
We set up a stereo in the hall, and hooked it up to the PA system (all church gyms are equipped with them.. xd )

TIP #20 {delicatedisarray}

Something Old

I am actually going to wear my grandmothers veil, my mother wore it at her wedding too! Yay for making a tradition!

TIP #21 {Diavolina_Ivy}

Reception Food

It will cost more to have a sit down meal. You can plan to have the wedding and reception at a non-traditional time to eat (i.e. don't do it at lunch and then not feed people). Brunches have become popular recently, and we played with the idea of having a tea. Doing it this way means that instead of shelling out $20.00 + per person to eat, you can drop your price by providing appetizers and finger foods.

Doing full catering will also cost you a lot more than if you provide the food and have a wait staff serve it to your guests. (The price drops by more than half!! EVEN WITH PAYING FOR THE FOOD ON YOUR OWN.) You can go to Wal-Mart of Costco and have food prepared, and have your serving staff arrange it nicely and serve it. None of your guests will know it isn't gourmet dining. Going this route, you can also make a lot of the food as well (we were lucky and our moms and aunts offered to help make a lot of it).