I wanted to know what brides ARE ACTUALLY DOING . Thank you!
For example: I am NOT: Making baskets for out-of-towners, nor for the bathroom. OR making STD cards. No bubbles, no disposable camera, etc. No Candy Buffet...No custom Isle runner, no 'bride/groom' sweater/hats/etc. stuff. No Ice carving, no renting of linens, Keeping guest list to under 125 (hope total count is 75-100), Possible no limos (Ceremony at RH)...haven't decidied, no 'formal bridal party' just my fiance's kids walk, no program menus, no cry packs, no 'we do' letters, no Unity Candle.
I AM DOING DIY Custom projects: Invites, Card Chest, Ring Pillow, Sign-in book w/pen, Cake Topper, Table CP, Favors, Bride & Groom toasting glasses, table numbers, place cards, cake servers
novia26
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
There are a lot of good suggestions here.
little34
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
Am NOT: limos a big wedding party having flowers for CPs hiring a coordinator videographer getting married at a church
I AM: making Cps myself
EsquireBride
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
We cut out one of the four allowed cocktail hour food stations, limos, gift baskets, and perhaps an MC if we feel the DJ knows his stuff.
We are also having the wedding not on a Saturday and we are keeping it under 80 people.
eternitybride
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
we are having our wedding on a Sunday afternoon in January, no limos because we are getting married at the hall, no cry packs (if people know they will need Kleenex, they usually bring it, specially my family), no slipper basket, no OOT basket. Got my veil off of eBay, and will embellish it as needed. Looking into going to the salon for hair and makeup, instead of them coming to me. Got BM gifts on sale at Macys. Probably wont have programs, possibly no honeymoon (depends on finances at the time)
DIY Invites STDs Thinking of doing my own favors
Unsure on debating doing own flowers, but may be more hassle than its worth makeup (FH likes it when I do my own makeup more than when a professional does it, but I want to look good in photos, so may get a professional makeup artist)
Colleen214
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
to save money, we
-did not send out Save the Date cards...just told important people when it was -used a regular flower shop, not one that specializes in weddings -i got my hair and makeup done by my regular hairdresser, not a 'bridal' person -i bought my shoes at shoebuy.com -i bought my DOJ at Kohl's and it cost 10 bucks (haha) -i bought my BMs beautiful necklaces at Kohl's, those were also pretty cheap and I also bought them some body lotions at Victorias Secret which were on sale but still nice! -had our wedding in November, and were able to get an amazing price at the Woodlands, a place i never expected to be able to afford -mde our own favors (CDs). I made the inserts on photoshop and DH burned all 175 CDs himself over the course of severl weekends, but this saved tons of cash -I did not make bathroom baskets, OOT town bags, or an aisle runner -i got my dress at Estelle's...they are no frills and they dont do alterations there, but if you can find something you like, the prices are great. i just took the dress to a local seamstress to get the hem taken up and cups added in
i think that's it....hope that helps!
PattyK
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
We didn't do: -slipper baskets -menus, table numbers or placecards (we used the ones provided by the hall) -limos we got married at our RH so that cut that out -kept the guest list small -used the wedding cake provided by our RH -no video -no we do letters -no custom isle runner
What we did: -ordered our invites online -ordered favors online -made our cry packs, programs, chocolate favors and bathroom baskets ourselves -ordered our cake topper from ebay -std's were a diy -used ebay for our guestbook & pen, moneybag, and flowergirl baskets
dazies1011
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
Not doing: OOT bags, I dont think we will have any anyway Slipper baskets Bathroom baskets cry packs No limos, ceremony at RH
We are: Having a RH dinner but, only the BP and their guests, nothing crazy and probably at our place Using the halls Table numbers DIY invites DIY programs DIY cardbox DIY unity candles DIY memory candles DIY CD favors Used Vista print for STDs Buying all glassware for CPs and using the best florist Still have the best vendors with great packages at great rates, just knowing what is really important and not going overboard got cake set and flutes as gifts Having a honeymoon but, going to an all inclusive Island
Another thing we did to save money was by getting married on a Thursday night in the summer. It was cheaper then getting married on a friday night in March We got everything we wanted plus more.
We are only using one limo, we're using a house DJ so they free and provide the CH music. We're using a house florist so we got tons of extra stuff. I mean we didn't book these vendors solely on that, it's what we wanted and it ends up saving us some in the end.
failurebydsign
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
i found aweme deals so i didnt have to cut too many corners
-i did cadle centerpieces..flowers to me were a wasts to spend that money on something that dies
-didnt do flowers for anything except for BoKs ( it was valentines prices..yeah right
-invites from ltmparty.com (40% off all the time)
-DJ was someone my sister used to work for ( AMAZING DEAL)
-borrowed LOTS of things (sisters cake serving set from her wedding..DOJ..)
-wore my own sneakers all day
-got a runway makeup artist for $65 (from $500) craigslist
-used house vendors ( photo and video)
-EBAY!!!!!!!! ( veil..candles..rosepetals and other things )
doing this made me able to add things that i refused to compromise on ( Cigar Roller for DH and my dress)
trojo1521
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
Posted by BAL5-9-05
I wanted to know what brides ARE ACTUALLY DOING . Thank you!
For example: I am NOT: Making baskets for out-of-towners, nor for the bathroom. OR making STD cards. No bubbles, no disposable camera, etc. No Candy Buffet...No custom Isle runner, no 'bride/groom' sweater/hats/etc. stuff. No Ice carving, no renting of linens, Keeping guest list to under 125 (hope total count is 75-100), Possible no limos (Ceremony at RH)...haven't decidied, no 'formal bridal party' just my fiance's kids walk, no program menus, no cry packs, no 'we do' letters, no Unity Candle.
DITTO, almost exactly!!!! You name it and I probably didn't do it...
2007 Crescent Bride
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
I'm not doing a bunch of things but not because of the $$$$ because the things I am cutting out don't cost much. I just dont want them. cry packets we do letters programs garter many more I am sure
To save money, I am cutting down on limos & changed my honeymoon location
Christine N Ralph
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
I havent even thought of doing half of the stuff on there...so i guess I was saving $$ that way..lol
fancyface1955
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
WOW! I never even heard of some of these things that you guys AREN'T doing. so i guess i've cut costs right there!! WE DO letters? cry packs!!?? what happend to good-old fashioned handker-chiefs?? Well to cut corners ony my end- i'm gettting most of my stuff through EBAY! guess book and pen, ring pillow, garter, cake cutters. even an invitation package thats all inclusive + extras!! i found whole-sale florists that are cheap, but i'm doing some real flowers and the rest silk. i'm DIY with the centerpeices, card box and the CAKE! my FH is an artist an we're building a 6 tier fake cake that has a little open space in the back to fill with a real piece of cake to show the 'cutting of the cake' once the cake is wheeled into the kitchen the guests won't know they're eating a flat sheet cake that only costs $100 bucks. I wanted to make that too! (a nice moist Betty Crocker cake- not some stale,dry cake) NO disposable cameras, no bubles, no isle-runner (church doesn't allow) Over-all i'm hoping for a beautiful day that won't empty my bank account.
PreshusSmurf
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
We didn't really cut too many corners, we tried to only leave out the things that we thought no one would notice or appreciate ... mostly because they seemed silly to us at the time.
In hindsight, I couldn't be happier that we didn't spend money on things like:
* Tears of joy packs
* Petal Cones
* Cigar Roller
* Percussionist
* I Do or We Do Letters
* Ribbon Wands
* Bubbles
* Outside Cake Vendor
But we did have a lot of extras, and I am really happy with everything we did spend money on. I wouldn't change any of it. Even the barrel matches that DH laughed at!
kimiequa
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
-went with a hall that was much cheaper (mainly bc the renovations have not yet begun) rather than a crazy place in montauk! -having it on a friday night -paying partially in cash (should i even admit that?) -not inviting +1 for people w/o a significant other -using house vendors -no slipper baskets (don't even know who would do that) -no cry packs -no limos (still debatable) -having a bus instead of limo (hopefully for around 250) -no we do letters -no custom isle runner -flower cp... i just can't see spending all of that money on something that is going to die!! and i love the look of candles- hopefully my DIY cp's look beautiful!! -DIY card box -FSIL is making our cake (ice cream!!!) -using jewelery i already had -using FMIL's discount at macy's (if i decide on the demitrous dress) -got a really great deal on DOJ for my girls (10 bucks at khols!!) and making them tote bags myself -my sister is doing all of the stationary: invites, std's, etc. she's an incredible talented graphic designer, so i'm lucky there! -either cd favors or note cards of my FH's photography -making our own OOT and bathroom baskets
that's all i can think of for now- great thread!! hahaha actually my dad would love it even more!!
MrsS4
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
wow...greatt topic
Danyell48
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
We're not doing limos, I'm doing the invites, no OOT bags, no aisle runner, no programs, no chair covers, no menus (Fox hollow provides those) no table numbers (Fox hollow provides those) no cry packs.
PrincessBride09
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
A lot of girls said they used/will be using their own hairdressers. I was thinking of just asking my regular hairdresser to do my hair but I am not sure. For the girls who did this, did you still do a trial? TIA!
beram63
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Re: What Are YOU Cutting Out to Save $$$?
we chose a RH w/ affordable prices and decided to satisfy our beachfront dreams by having the ceremony @ a public beach. we also: * cut out video, cameras on the tables, OOT baskets, cry packs * worked our connections (a friend is officiating, FH's cousin designed e-party invites/announcements and will do the same w/ STDs) * ordered invites through costco to save 30% * plan to do whatever we can ourselves (i.e. we're buying gerbera daisies in bulk and attaching donation favor notes ourselves for each guest)
here's what we're doing: -making all our own stationery (STD postcards-$12 + $28 postage; pocketfold invites-approx $250 + postage; menus, placecards, favor tags, etc-practically free, using the extra cardstock) i am lucky to have access to a color laser jet at work, and a very cool boss who lets me use it -using 2 limos to get us to RH (ceremony is there), and taking the free shuttle to the hotel after -a friend is doing hair and makeup. -never even considered things like cry packs, i do letters, cake topper, etc -wasn't gonna do cake cutter, but got one as an E gift -no isle runner--ceremony is out by the beach anyway -got my veil for $30 at Barrons -shopping for inexpensive jewelry that i can wear again
