I feel like I'm by myself when I think it's silly to spend money on unnecessary things. For instance.... why do I need to get a bathroom basket? A slipper basket?
My save-the-dates cost $3.81 for 150 guests. That's right, $3.81. We typed them on our computer and then went to Staples to print them on colored paper that matches our wedding colors. Other friends of ours have done fancy ones that had no info. All of our guests are from out-of-town and many have already booked their hotel rooms, because we included that on the STD.
My gown cost $80, brand new!! One girl told me she wouldn't pay less than $1000 for a gown. Why? It's the exact gown I was looking for. I just know how to shop. It's an $80 gown that originally retailed for $850.
Does anyone else feel like they don't need to spend enormous amounts of money to have a great wedding? (It also helps that we are paying for this wedding ourselves.) Don't get me wrong, I am very excited about the wedding!
I'm just wondering if I'm the only one that doesn't get all crazy over spending. Some experts have said that too many spend so much time and energy on the wedding that they forget about the marriage.
KerriSteve
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
Well honestly I'm not really sure what you are asking. Many of the brides on here are having modest weddings, & just as many are having elaborate weddings.
I'm not really sure what kind of bride I am. I will spend $20 on something I like as easily as I will $200 or $2000. No big deal, I want what I want.... And thats just that.
As for the many experts... Thats great!!! Nine out of ten dentists choose crest. What's the point?
Tracy06
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
I am a no frills bride as well !!! I made my own save the date magnets for under $ 1.00.. I am making my own wedding favors for under $ 50.00, my grandmother is making my bridesmaids dresses for about $ 30.00, my tiara and veil I bought in a wedding warehouse for $ 30.00, and let me tell you you dont have to spend $$$$$ to have a great wedding
jes81276
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
I'm not really sure what kind of bride I am. I will spend $20 on something I like as easily as I will $200 or $2000. No big deal, I want what I want.... And thats just that.
______________________________________ I agree 100% - if I find something cheap then that is great, but I want what I want....I am all about bargains but there are some things that I will splurge on and some things I won't. For example, I'm getting a chocolate fountain - some people think it's a complete waste of money- I happen to think it's really cool. However, I got my dress for under $500 - some people spend $5,000. It's totally personal preference.
I have gotten so many cute ideas off of this website - I never thought about out of town of bathroom baskets before....some people might think that it is unnecessary to have this stuff, but I know that I am a very detail oriented person and truly love and appreciate the cute 'detaily' things that people do, so when my OOT guests get their bags after a long drive I am sure they will be grateful for that cute note and water that is waiting for them...and when someone has a terrible headache and needs some Advil, or ate that too garlicy sauce at the cocktail hour and needs a breathmint and it's right there in the bathroom for them I'm sure they will be grateful as well.
Not to say that these types of things are necessary, but I would appreciate it if I were a guest, so I will do the same for my guests and assume that they will appreciate it as well.
jimmysgrl
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
I'm a little bit of both. I look to everything as 'Do I really need this?' and the extra frills I let slide. But the way I see it is my reception hall and dress are pretty frilly so I try to balance it out. But yes, invites, STD's, programs, menus, all the cheapest I could find or DIY.
gigles319
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
i'm a little bot of both i got some great deals on things and i paid the normal on others
Mrs. dleeny
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
I don't think I qualify as a no frills, but I am definitely a practical bride!
Goldi1021
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
I do not consider myself a no frills bride at all but what some of us consider 'must haves' many of us consider 'unnecessary'.
prncssrachel
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
Posted by waterspout4
I'm just wondering if I'm the only one that doesn't get all crazy over spending. Some experts have said that too many spend so much time and energy on the wedding that they forget about the marriage.
Just because you spend a lot of money and energy on your wedding does not mean you have forgotten about the marriage. We spent a ton of money on our wedding and never once did I forget about my marriage. People do what's best for them. If that means spending 50, 60, 100 thousand dollars on a wedding or 5 or 10 thousand on a wedding, it's all fine. Weddings reflect the people who throw them, and everyone is different. I think it is wonderful that you know what you want and can find it for a great price, but others do not need to or want to do this, and that's fine, too. JMHO.
ChrissynRicky
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
Posted by dleeny
I don't think I qualify as a no frills, but I am definitely a practical bride!
Me too! Working within a strict budget (however high or low) might not necessarily have to do with 'no frills' it could have EVERYTHING to do with what you can afford.
I'd love to blow 110K on a wedding, but I can't afford that. So, I'm spending 20K and having an amazing wedding (at least I think so.)
I find as many budget vendors as I possibly can, but it doesn't mean I'm sacrificing quality or quantity b/c of price.
As far as the 'No frills' part goes. I interpret that as one of tose 'Oooh Aaahh' brides that fawns over EVERYTHING. That's not me.
An invitation is a piece of paper to me and I could care less.
The dress is a piece of cloth that I'm wearing for 8 hours. No matter what the dress looks like, I personally cannot in good conscience spend more than $500 for something I wear once.
You can have a wedding within your means without having to be one of those 'frilly brides.'
070306
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
I love this post.
I am with you. It is just one day this affair doesn't have to make you broke. It is just one day.
I am not doing a bathroom or slipper basket. My hall has stuff in the bathroom. Slipper baket no.
Soon2BeMrs2006
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
I think its a matter of what the bride wants and likes. If the person has the money its their decision. you can have a great wedding no matter what the price. i'm a bargain hunter and try to negotiate prices down wherever i can, or get things added so i'm getting more for my money. so far I've done pretty well.
lreigada
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
This is interesting - if you would have asked me this before I got engaged - I would say absolutely. However, as the planning process continues I have changed what I want and what I am willing to spend on things. However, I thought 10K was an asorbant amount to spend for a wedding, which is just 1 day - now I know it is not and would be really difficult (although I think some can) to plan a wedding with this amount of money. At times I do have to 'check myself' and ask is that necessary or can I find a better deal. I think it also makes a difference if you have help paying for the wedding too.
Some things we are cutting costs - making our own centerpeices, invites, favors, other DIY projects.
Some things we have splurged on - reception site and photography.
Interestingly, my FMIL had bought a beautiful white dress at Loewmans for $24.00 for her second marriage. I don't think anyone would have thought she spent less than a few hundred dollars on the dress.
Goldi1021
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
I had a discussion about this with my sister in law. She can't understand why anyone would go nuts on a wedding. She and my brother had a lovely wedding. I know mine will cost more but thats none of her business and it certainly wasn't necessary to say so. HOWEVER, we did grow up in very different socio-economic homes. I was one of four growing up in a 5 bedroom house in Roslyn with few financial limits. She was an only child who grew up in a one bedroom apartment. Things came easy to me and not so easy for her. I can certainly understand why she would not see the need to go overboard with a wedding. Even with the 'budget' () that we have, I know that I would spend 5 times as much if I had it to spend. My dress was expensive but if ever there was a day to go nuts on a dress, this would be the day. It would certainly never happen again.I have said it before and I will say it again, if I had carte blanche, I'd go all the way.
My sister recently found the paper work in my parents home for my OTHER sister's wedding back in 1990. Relatively speaking, if you factor in inflation and the cost of living, even though her wedding was $10 less per plate, my wedding is cheaper. And she didnt contribute a dime. WE are contributing 20%.
edsprincess
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
I guess I'm a no frills bride. I don't see paying so much for things. For example, my shoes I bought at payless $20 bucks!!!! For me to wear them for 1 hr or so. I have co-workers that say they spend 60-over 100 for damn shoes.
EmberLynn
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
I hear you. I'm getting my flowers and wedding cakes at King Kullans. My Fh family is beside themselves because that seems cheap, but I don't care. I'm not spending $1000 for a cake! I have a 100 people and since when does a slice of cake cost $10? If I go to a diner I would pay at most $3. Also reception plate are NUTS! Honestly can anyone remember paying $85-250 for a chicken dinner? Plus site fee? like we have to pay to eat in the restaurnt. The whole wedding industry is a scam, thats why you have to be sharp. But now a days a wedding has become the mordern dowery. Parents will put up their house on a morgage to pay for the daughters weddings. Good for you found a dress for $80! Your a lot smarter than the one who couldn't look at a dress under $1000. I'm not insulting women who payed that much or more on their dress, but the woman who wouldn't even look at dress that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
Goldi1021
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
When you pay $80 (or whatever amount) a head you just arent paying for the dinner. You are paying for the dinner, the cocktail hour, the alcohol, the desserts and the service. Alchohol adds up. Different types of service adds up. Buffet is cheaper than table service. Butler and white glove service is more than other types. It is all about what you can afford and what you would like to have. If a person has the money to spend on a wedding then that person should be free from judgement but that is not always the case. The person who spends beyond their means and starts their marriage off in debt may have more issues in the future. JMO.
babybug631
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
I'm both. My reception hall is not expensive (less than $100/head), but my dress and shoes are. My favors were $68 for 130 people. I'm not getting a videographer, but I am getting a photojournalist. I went with a DJ instead of a band, significant savings. My invites were only $400 for 100 of them. I also want a chocolate fountain, people love it. And I want to have a Santa Clause at my wedding. So I guess I could say some things I just have to have ie. the dress and the choclate fountain. Other things aren't as important to me ie. invitations.
PegaLega
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
Im both!
I will make my own STD but I would pay $1000 for my dress if it was the one I want-or Id pay $100 for the dress, it all depends on what you deem important to you
Mrs.Z
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Re: R U a no frills bride?
Posted by prncssrachel
Posted by waterspout4
I'm just wondering if I'm the only one that doesn't get all crazy over spending. Some experts have said that too many spend so much time and energy on the wedding that they forget about the marriage.
Just because you spend a lot of money and energy on your wedding does not mean you have forgotten about the marriage. We spent a ton of money on our wedding and never once did I forget about my marriage. People do what's best for them. If that means spending 50, 60, 100 thousand dollars on a wedding or 5 or 10 thousand on a wedding, it's all fine. Weddings reflect the people who throw them, and everyone is different. I think it is wonderful that you know what you want and can find it for a great price, but others do not need to or want to do this, and that's fine, too. JMHO.
