Any tips for a bride just starting out on how to save money? What's worth spending the extra money on? Anything you paid for that was unnecessary in the end? Thanks so much in advance!
MCDO15
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
Posted by leecr7
Hi!
Any tips for a bride just starting out on how to save money? What's worth spending the extra money on? Anything you paid for that was unnecessary in the end? Thanks so much in advance!
it really depends what your budget is and what you care about the most. What do you want your guest to expect? are you handy with the computer... you can save money with 'DIY' projects. there is a good thread with budget minded things that nadine has.. i see if i can find it or if somone has it already, bump it up..it would be perfect.
lcherian
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
dont skimp on your photographer/videographer. look into national floral and linden florist--i've heard that they've got the lowest prices. also look into www.gownfind.com to purchase your gown at a discount price.
divabride
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
Posted by lcherian
dont skimp on your photographer/videographer. look into national floral and linden florist--i've heard that they've got the lowest prices. also look into www.gownfind.com to purchase your gown at a discount price.
I totally agree with lcherian. You can save a ton of money by not going overboard on the flowers. Also, there are really nice candle centerpieces that you can make yourself. Keep a set budget on your dress and dont even look at dresses above that price. Dont spend a lot on invitations and just skip the favors. That should save you quite a bit of money!!
ChrissynRicky
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
I'm am the bigtime person on this! I'm setting my budget of $18,000 and so far I'm well under! Let me know if there's anything specifc you need help with. I've had a lot of posts up about vendors and comparative prices.
JimmysBride
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
If you haven't booked your hall yet, your biggest money saver will be choosing a friday, sunday or Saturday afternoon. The effect carries over to your other vendors alot of time. Most vendors charge less (or are more willing to negotiate) for these times.
isuser
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
hi there!
i think you need to think about what YOUR priorities are! i personally don't care much for flowers but am willing to splurge on a band. however, some of my friends are willing to spend a big chunk of money on centerpieces while playing CDs for the wedding. so it's all a matter of YOUR prefereneces!
but one thing i think most brides would agree on is spend on your photographer. good pictures are lasting memories!
TracyInQueens
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
I had a Friday night wedding, which saved us a lot.
The 'little' things can add up. Like unity candles, toasting glasses, etc. I saw unity candle sets for $30-$40. I made my own for less than $10 by getting plain white pillars and using ribbon to make them look fancy. Same for toasting glasses- my MOH got them for me, otherwise I was going to get simple ones and figure out a way to jazz them up.
Shoes and veil are other things you can save on. I got my shoes from Shoebuy.com for $40 and my veil from veilaccents.com for $25. There are lovely dresses out there too that don't cost an arm and a leg.
IMO, less expensive photogs are not a bad thing. I used Twelfth Night, as did many other ladies here. It seemed that most of us were very happy with our pics. If you do a search you will find a lot of info on them. Same with a DJ- less expensive than a band.
We also only needed one limo, so that saved us a lot too.
We did the whole thing for about $15k, not including the honeymoon, but we had a smaller wedding (we paid for 75 guests). If a small guest list is an option that will definitely save you money too.
CC59
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
Keep the list as small as you can. We're on a budget also and getting marrid ona Friday night. We only have 130 on our guest list and that helps keep costs down.
dpli
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
The biggest cost savers are keeping the guest list as small as possible and looking at booking a place at a less popular time of the year on a day other than a Saturday.
We only had a MOH and BM, which was our preference before planning anything, but that saved a lot too, less $ on limos, gifts, flowers, and extras.
We made our own programs and centerpieces and bought invitations and favors online (I would have een skipped the favors, but DH wanted them.) We did spend more money on the things that last - photography (although we didn't get a video) and our rings. We did the whole wedding for 100 for about $17k, including everything but the honeymoon. Do a lot of research and don't let people pressure you into spending money unnecessarily.
beansbaby
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
I am going to try to do my own invitations, print my own labels, programs. If it's possible for me to do it on my own i will try to. I figure a big chunk of my budget will go to the hall and than to a photographer so I am trying to save money elsewhere. Has anyone tried anna griffin invitations from Michael's?
cloddy
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
We printed own invites, are doing our own CPs, and using a DJ instead of band. I looked at a lot of sample gowns, that will save you a bunch. Also, I went with a very very inexpensive hall. Mainly, you just have to keep your head on straight and try to remember that it's just a party at the end of it all so don't mortgage your future together just so you can celebrate in style. Set a total budget and stick to it. FM me if you have any questions about saving money. I used nsgraham's website for starters to give me vendor suggestions before I started looking at LIW.
http://www.geocities.com/nsgraham/
GOOD LUCK
dpli
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
I used DIY Programs from Michaels and they were really easy to make.
cloddy
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
Posted by beansbaby
I am going to try to do my own invitations, print my own labels, programs. If it's possible for me to do it on my own i will try to. I figure a big chunk of my budget will go to the hall and than to a photographer so I am trying to save money elsewhere. Has anyone tried anna griffin invitations from Michael's?
I didn't use those, but I did use the uprint ones (Gartner Invites) from Michael's and they came out great. Everyone has been telling me that they'd never be able to tell they were homemade. I looked at the ones with the dried flowers pressed into the paper. I don't know if that's the Anna Griffin collection or a different one, but before I decided I received an invite to a shower printed on that wildflower invitation and it came out terrible. The print was really blurred. So, that's why we went a different way. Just a warning to be careful about the type of paper because some of Michael's kits are designed so you're printing on the vellum sheet, not on the paper and it's harder for the ink to adhere to that than to paper. When you order an invitation with vellum from a printer they print on the paper and use the vellum as a cover sheet. So keep this is mind when you choose. Sorry this is so long, but i'm really glad I saw them finished before i chose, so I figured you'd want to know also.
beansbaby
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
Thank you for letting me know I totally appreciate it. I saw the Anna Griffin ones and loved them but I will have to research them further before they buy them. I def dont want to buy something that won't look professionally done.
Mrs. dleeny
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Re: Big plans, small budget....
anything that you will have after the wedding is worth speding extra on - IMO
wedding rings honeymoon and pictures/video
flowers will be dead in 2-3 days, I wouldn't over do it.
