Cutting Costs

I am pretty much paying for my whole wedding by myself and am trying to cut costs as much as possible. Has anyone ever heard of the bride ordering flowers and arranging them herself. I have a knack with arts and crafts and I don't want a big bouquet, I just want to carry long stemmed tulips or calla lillies tied with ribbon (same for my bridesmaids). Is there anyone else out there that is planning anything similar?

Cutting Costs

I've never heard of it being done, but why not?? Sounds like a great idea to me! : )

Trish: Cutting Costs

Hi. I just saw a message on Ultimatewedding.com about someone arranging their own flowers. It can be done. I am having a friend of my FI's family do my arrangements because she use to own a floral shop... Are you planning on doing your own invites and/or favors??? I am going to try. Nancy

Something to think about...

I think it is a great idea. Just remember, they will need to be done either the night before or the morning of the wedding. Will you have enough time?

I thought of ideas too but...

When I first got engaged I thought of all of these ideas of things I was going to do myself... As Mary just said (time) you will see as the wedding gets closer you really have so much to do. If you don't work it's a different story. I feel doing things yourself causes a lot of stress - I did a lot for my engagement party and it became very stressful and I didn't enjoy myself b/c I was to involved. Anyway if your trying to cut costs - you will se there are venders out there that will cost half the price of others. Use a local florist - cut favors (you dont' need them) - Your flower idea is great but I doubt you'll be able to do it - if you can have your family or bridal party then it works. I don't suggest that the day before your wedding - putting flowers together. You should be enjoying the day relaxing. Good Luck.

Trish: Cutting Costs

HI Trish, Like you, I'm paying for the whole thing myself and have to save money where I can. Doing your own flowers is a great idea. Did you try freshroses.com? They have fresh flowers at a great price. and in the Martha stewart web site they show you how to make the bouquet. Let me know if you come up with some clever ways to save money. Hope the info helps. Ana

TRISH - Arranging Flowers

You are NOT alone! It was sooo funny to see your post because I have been trying to figure out how to do the exact same thing. However, everyone I ask about it (even my most creative friends) think I've totally lost it! I found a site through this board called www.romanticflowers.com. Its great they have favor boxes, ribbons, wrappings, etc AND they sell bulk flowers. You can get a combo of two different kinds of roses 150 each for between $400-500 depending on what kind you want. A big savings from what I've seen some florists charge. I just want to hand tie the bouquets for myself and my party, but I have this fear that I'll cut them wrong and they'll be dead by the time I get to the church! This is something I really want to do, I'm just really afraid of caring for 300 flowers!

TRISH - Arranging Flowers UPDATE

I just checked out that site www.freshroses.com its seems like they offer a better deal with more variety, but I can't vouch for the quality of either company because I don't know anyone who has ever done this type of thing.

Cutting Costs - suggestions (long)

Hi Trish; I found a book full of some good ideas when I was planning. I think it`s called the Bridal Bargain`s Book by Denise and Alan Fields. Definately check it out - they make some recommendations on saving. Here are some other ideas on where to contain costs: Dresses - if you can wear the sample sizes you may find some great bargains. Try the shops that require appointments and help you try on the dresses - they remain in good shape. The 'self-serve' shops tend to end up with the dresses looking pretty worn. Flowers: I agree that it may be too much for you to have to worry about the morning of your wedding - do-it-yourself is good if you can rely on someone not in the bridal party, like an aunt or friend. Also, try the vocational schools - you might find a student that you could hire at a good price. Centerpieces: Some reception sites include them in the package - if yours doesn`t, consider using something else, like candles. I got small votives and candles on sale at A.C. Moore for less than $1.00 each that I`m using on the tables at my cocktail hour, instead of paying $10.50 for floating daisies that the florist was suggesting. Photography: Look for a package without albums - you can always have that done a year later, when your finances have bounced back a bit. Our photographer offered a full day - start to finish - with an engagement photo session, some enlargements, etc for under $1000. You`ll capture it all on negatives and can add the prints and albums later. Favors - Ours are about $1.00 each - I got pretty boxes from Romanticflowers.com, Ribbon from Papermart and Mints were purchase wholesale through my parents` country club. You can be creative here. Invitations: I ordered mine from Wedding Traditions catelog - great service! I spend about $400 for 175 invitations with a reception card and response card and formal note cards with our married name. I also went for the fancier style. You can drop that price a lot by having the reception info printed in the lower right corner of the invite instead of a separate card. Consider a response post card too - less postage! And look at the smaller 5 x 7 sizes - without the extra insert and the smaller size, you can probably mail for 34 cents instead of 55. Go for a simple, traditional style. Pew Bows - If I`m able to retrieve mine I`ll probably be selling them on e-bay. If you`re interested let me know! My wedding is the end of this month. Transportation: Limos are expensive. The Bridal Bargain Book tells of one bride that contacted a funeral home and booked their limo at a fraction of the cost - if you have an evening wedding that would work - they don`t use it at night! Ours is a Saturday morning/afternoon, so we are going with Town Car`s from a car service - it`s only 4 miles between church and reception - a limo would be a waste! Haggle - Haggle - Haggle! Don`t accept the first price, ask for extras, ask for a better price. Check out thrift shops: One of my bridesmaids gave me the MOST INCREDIBLE guest book, album and pen. Silk with soutache embroidery, embossed pages - something that would make Martha Stewart swoon. She paid $5.00!!! The original price tag was still on it and it was over $200 - and it was still in it`s cello wrap - never used! (PS - The shop was in Chicago) Extra touches: I went with a plain seating card and hot-glued little flowers from A.C.Moore into the corner - gave them an extra special look. I`m also making my programs and tying them with a ribbon to add to the romantic look. I`ll probably print a menu card too - all just small touches that will create an aura of oppulance and romance without spending a fortune. Good luck with your planning! Karen

Cutting Costs - suggestions

My friend works full-time and she did all her own flowers and they came out beautiful!!!

Cutting Costs - suggestions Flowers & Storage?

I thought of arranging my own flowers. I love to do it, gardening and flower arranging are a hobby. I have two snags with this idea: the minor snag is setting aside the time to it, it alsways takes longer than I think and the Larger concern is where to keep them before the ceremony. If you want a simple one or two flower hand tied boquet you can use floral tape to tie the stems and keep it in a vase of water until just before you need it. Assign the ribbon wraping to someone and add it at the last possible minute.

KAREN Cutting Costs - suggestions (long)

Whoaa!!!! Queen of all bargain hunters! Great advise! I am definitely printing your post!

Wow! Thanks ladies! Here`s more... (long)

Okay, I was just in my future SIL`s wedding and we were at the florist two days before the event and they had the flowers with the stems in water and they were still very pretty two days later so I`m thinking that I can do this. They say to leave the stems long and cut them just before the big day. I am requesting samples from romantic flowers, I can`t believe their incredible prices! I also plan on making my own invitations by ordering paper/envelopes from envelopemall.com and using my computer. For the cake - several months before I am baking a test cake (I bake a lot so I know what I`m getting myself into) and if I feel it`s too difficult then I`ll look into other options (I have a co-worker that went to the Culinary institute of America and has already offered to do an ice sculpture for cheap so if need be I can get him to do the cake too) but I plan on trying something I saw in Martha Stewart Weddings - a grape vine cake. I am looking into sovenier bottles of Long Island wine (only one per table) and wrapping pretty votive candles (enough for everyone) as favors. I am going to the look into the photography department at local colleges to maybe hire one of the professors or advanced students to take the pictures and give me the negatives to take care of the development and album arrangement myself (I am only willing to hire someone that has done something like this before and that is willing to sign a contract). I can not believe all the money saving tips I have been finding. I got my dress at David`s Bridal (not the one on Long Island, too hectic in that store)and saved so much money. One of my best friends is an artist and is making my tiara for me so I don`t have to spend $150 for the ones they charge in the stores. My other best friend is doing my hair and makeup (she`s been to cosmotology school even though she`s now a nurse). I plan on getting as much out of the way as soon as possible so I`ll have time just before the big day to get those last minute things done. I know that baking my own cake sounds crazy but you can actually make a cake days in advance and it will stay fresh as long as it isn`t cut into (the icing acts as a sealant). Also, many people are getting smaller fancy cakes these days and ordering sheet cakes to feed the guests, once cut they don`t know the difference. My goodness I think I`ve written enough. Keep the tips coming girls. We could all benefit from saving a little money!

Doing your own flowers - a friend's experience

A friend of mine did her own flowers, which she ordered from www.freshroses.com. The prices there are extremely reasonable, and I think they're even better than at Romantic Flowers.com. First, the flowers were gorgeous, and she did them the day before and had no problems. The only thing she would recommend is ordering a test sample a few months before the wedding to see how long the roses (or other flowers) take to open up. (The company suggests two, but she says her flowers were prettier on the third day. I couldn't say, since I didn't see them on the third day...just on the second. They looked lovely to me!) Good luck!