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What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
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Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
invitations... i got them from an online vendor (annswedding.com). they were pretty and nice, but not 'high end'. i figured i was only gonna save one of them and the rest would get thrown out anyway, so why spend a ton of money?
shoes- nobody sees your shoes under all that dress and crinoline!![]()
plus, they come off at the reception anyway! i just got a nice pair of white ones for about $25.
centerpeices- we did candles in pretty hurricane vases with just a few flowers around the bottom. it looked just as pretty as huge flower centerpeices
video- instead of paying $$$ for a videographer, we just had my friends dad do it with his digital camcorder. it recorded onto DVDs, and he put scene selection in there and everything! hes super religious and doesn't drink or dance, so he didn't mind doing it at all! we gave him a gift card for a nice restaurant
makeup- went to clinique counter and got a bunch of stuff and did it myself, instead of paying $$ for a make up artist.
guest list- kept it small!! you don't need to invite everybody you and your parents has ever talked to! small guest list = less plates to pay for + it makes for a more intimate party
shoes- nobody sees your shoes under all that dress and crinoline!
centerpeices- we did candles in pretty hurricane vases with just a few flowers around the bottom. it looked just as pretty as huge flower centerpeices
video- instead of paying $$$ for a videographer, we just had my friends dad do it with his digital camcorder. it recorded onto DVDs, and he put scene selection in there and everything! hes super religious and doesn't drink or dance, so he didn't mind doing it at all! we gave him a gift card for a nice restaurant
makeup- went to clinique counter and got a bunch of stuff and did it myself, instead of paying $$ for a make up artist.
guest list- kept it small!! you don't need to invite everybody you and your parents has ever talked to! small guest list = less plates to pay for + it makes for a more intimate party
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Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
I'm a wedding coordinator and there's a LOT you can do.
*Keep the budget in check. Shaving 10 people off the reception is about $1000 saved!
*Stay middle of the road when it comes to booking vendors. You can get great quality photogs, limos and florists that will work with your budget if you're willing to research and can haggle.
*Forget extras like cry packs, bathroom baskets, petal cones, aisle runners, pew decor (most churches are decorated anyway), and the like.
*Pick in-season flowers, and roses are always pretty inexpensive (depending on breed)
*DIY as much as possible with things like non-floral CPs, invites, cardboxes, etc.
*Skip upgrades in the reception, like Viennese, ice carvings, raw bars, chair covers and specialty cakes.
*Go the salon instead of having a traveling makeup artist and hairstylist.
HTH![]()
*Keep the budget in check. Shaving 10 people off the reception is about $1000 saved!
*Stay middle of the road when it comes to booking vendors. You can get great quality photogs, limos and florists that will work with your budget if you're willing to research and can haggle.
*Forget extras like cry packs, bathroom baskets, petal cones, aisle runners, pew decor (most churches are decorated anyway), and the like.
*Pick in-season flowers, and roses are always pretty inexpensive (depending on breed)
*DIY as much as possible with things like non-floral CPs, invites, cardboxes, etc.
*Skip upgrades in the reception, like Viennese, ice carvings, raw bars, chair covers and specialty cakes.
*Go the salon instead of having a traveling makeup artist and hairstylist.
HTH
Member since
Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
I still have alot of planning BUT!!:
Reception Hall: Found one that we LOVED with an all inclusive package.....
Date: Went for a Sunday Afternoon wedding, paid 3000 less!
Centerpieces: Even though they came with the package... To get them upgraded from no rose to roses was going to cost me around 250... I called and told them I wont take the CPs so I just saved 450... I am making my own with candles... Went and bought the stuff already today and it cost me 30....420 savings!
Shoes: Ill probably go to payless... Shoes are shoes so Im not going to spend a ton of money....
Bridesmaid Gifts: E.L.F makeup... Gonna get them makeup and some personalized bags and make my own giftbag for them....Awesome makeup and everything is only 1 dollar....
Rehearsal Dinner: Probably going to have it at my FMIL's house... Not too sure yet though...
Save the dates: Vistaprint... During their FREE sale... Cost me 10 bux for 100....
Im sure there are more... We dont have much money... We have a one year old daughter so money is beyond tight... Anything I can save on, I will!!!!
Reception Hall: Found one that we LOVED with an all inclusive package.....
Date: Went for a Sunday Afternoon wedding, paid 3000 less!
Centerpieces: Even though they came with the package... To get them upgraded from no rose to roses was going to cost me around 250... I called and told them I wont take the CPs so I just saved 450... I am making my own with candles... Went and bought the stuff already today and it cost me 30....420 savings!
Shoes: Ill probably go to payless... Shoes are shoes so Im not going to spend a ton of money....
Bridesmaid Gifts: E.L.F makeup... Gonna get them makeup and some personalized bags and make my own giftbag for them....Awesome makeup and everything is only 1 dollar....
Rehearsal Dinner: Probably going to have it at my FMIL's house... Not too sure yet though...
Save the dates: Vistaprint... During their FREE sale... Cost me 10 bux for 100....
Im sure there are more... We dont have much money... We have a one year old daughter so money is beyond tight... Anything I can save on, I will!!!!
Member since
Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
Invitations: I didn't really care too much about these since people are throwing them out anyway
RH: Didn't get any 'extras' because I think the basic package is nice enough. Off-Peak time of year, which saves money
Shoes: Paid 50 bucks on shoebuy.com, because no one will see them under the dress anyway
Centerpieces: Using a minimal amount of flowers to save money, lots of candles since those are cheaper
DIY Menus and Programs, I didn't make any extra stuff like bathroom baskets or OOT boxes
I think that's it as far as 'cutting corners' but I negotiated with all vendors and that helped a lot
RH: Didn't get any 'extras' because I think the basic package is nice enough. Off-Peak time of year, which saves money
Shoes: Paid 50 bucks on shoebuy.com, because no one will see them under the dress anyway
Centerpieces: Using a minimal amount of flowers to save money, lots of candles since those are cheaper
DIY Menus and Programs, I didn't make any extra stuff like bathroom baskets or OOT boxes
I think that's it as far as 'cutting corners' but I negotiated with all vendors and that helped a lot
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Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
Invitations from eweddings. Very reasonably priced
Flowers - half low, half high
No videographer. DH's uncle taped it.
Flowers - half low, half high
No videographer. DH's uncle taped it.
Member since
Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
We used LIW to find vendors we loved but that didn't cost an arm and a leg. We negotiated with everyone. My dress was less than $500..shop around with everything..if you're willing to be a little flexible and negotiate you will find you can have a beautiful wedding without it costing a fortune
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Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
So I think we are going to book the nyit desrversky mansion. While the mansion is expensive we are going to take our chances and wait to book on dec first and we will then save $3,000 on the site fee. Scary b/c the date may not still be available but it is so worth the savings. We will spend that on a photo booth maybe.
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Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
Flowers - going w/low centerpieces from a budget-friendly vendor
Limos - pick up/drop off only
E-party invites - printed ourselves
Prob not doing a vienese hour
No RD, but we're doing a morning-after brunch... don't know if that counts
No bathroom baskets, no menus, might not do programs
Limos - pick up/drop off only
E-party invites - printed ourselves
Prob not doing a vienese hour
No RD, but we're doing a morning-after brunch... don't know if that counts
No bathroom baskets, no menus, might not do programs
Member since
Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
photo package - got a top-notch photographer but are only getting digitals on Cds
favors - made a decent sized donation (tax deductible) and made cds ourselves for under a dollar a piece
Guest list - we were really stringent about who we gave a guest to
RSVP cards - used pre-printed postcards from the post office (yes, even a few centers per invite adds up)
DIY - we made and printed our own menus, programs, invites, etc. You can buy a kickass laser printer for 150 and it will pay for itself in no time
favors - made a decent sized donation (tax deductible) and made cds ourselves for under a dollar a piece
Guest list - we were really stringent about who we gave a guest to
RSVP cards - used pre-printed postcards from the post office (yes, even a few centers per invite adds up)
DIY - we made and printed our own menus, programs, invites, etc. You can buy a kickass laser printer for 150 and it will pay for itself in no time
Member since
Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
N E G O T I A T I O N!!!!!!!
we begged and pleaded...I think I have to name my first born after a few people....
plus we're getting married on a friday in April and paying about $70pp less then we would have if we got married when we originally wanted to
Flowers- all in season
SOOO MANY DIY's
and my Invites are avg, but we're gonna dr. em up a bit
we begged and pleaded...I think I have to name my first born after a few people....
plus we're getting married on a friday in April and paying about $70pp less then we would have if we got married when we originally wanted to
Flowers- all in season
SOOO MANY DIY's
and my Invites are avg, but we're gonna dr. em up a bit
Member since
Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
ordered invites from costco.com
got dress in the bridal building and saved hundreds of dollars
$10 shoes from ebay
got my headpiece in the wholesale district for $35
used the CP the hall provided
used a non-wedding florist and paid less than $300 for bouquets and bouts.
No limos b/c we are getting married at RH
No crypacks, Bathroom baskets, aisle runner,
bought pew decorations from an '07 bride
got married off-season and saved 10%.
No STD's.
got dress in the bridal building and saved hundreds of dollars
$10 shoes from ebay
got my headpiece in the wholesale district for $35
used the CP the hall provided
used a non-wedding florist and paid less than $300 for bouquets and bouts.
No limos b/c we are getting married at RH
No crypacks, Bathroom baskets, aisle runner,
bought pew decorations from an '07 bride
got married off-season and saved 10%.
No STD's.
Member since
Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
I narrowed down my guestlist...im planning on DIY CP's with silk flowers or candle, havent decided yet, im not going to spend a lot of$ on invites, people throw them out anyway....and not adding any extras to the v-hour or cocktail hour
Member since
Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
No STD's
Doing the cocktail hour centerpieces myself (using vases that I'd purchased at a going-out-of-business sale)
Getting married at the hall itself
Making programs myself
Had the videographer design the invitation, so we had to pay for just the mailing, and I printed the response cards and envelopes myself.
Hired students to play violins
Making my own 'love story' slideshow
Instead of the Viennese hour being purchased from the RH, we bought 10 custom made cakes (saved over $400 from just the cakes)
Doing the cocktail hour centerpieces myself (using vases that I'd purchased at a going-out-of-business sale)
Getting married at the hall itself
Making programs myself
Had the videographer design the invitation, so we had to pay for just the mailing, and I printed the response cards and envelopes myself.
Hired students to play violins
Making my own 'love story' slideshow
Instead of the Viennese hour being purchased from the RH, we bought 10 custom made cakes (saved over $400 from just the cakes)
Member since
Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
We too are getting married at the hall itself, and I'm not sure how this is saving us money! They charge $500. The reverend is charging $500 and I'm wondering if we need flowers??? Is it the limo rides and organist?
Posted by vika111
No STD's
Doing the cocktail hour centerpieces myself (using vases that I'd purchased at a going-out-of-business sale)
Getting married at the hall itself
Making programs myself
Had the videographer design the invitation, so we had to pay for just the mailing, and I printed the response cards and envelopes myself.
Hired students to play violins
Making my own 'love story' slideshow
Instead of the Viennese hour being purchased from the RH, we bought 10 custom made cakes (saved over $400 from just the cakes)
Member since
Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
-went with a RH that holds more than one event (rates are usually lower)
-Getting married in November when our RH's rates drop a little
-While invites were still weren't cheap, I decided to go with flat printing over letterpress, which I really wanted and was double the price. But ended up LOVING my invites anyway.
-Making own menus and ribbon wands.
-Decided to do a mix of high and low cp's to save $
-Doing caramel, candy, and chocolate apples for favors, but had to do plain--no toppings b/c they were more affordable.
-Bought my dress and BMs dresses during a trunk show to get a discount.
-Getting married in November when our RH's rates drop a little
-While invites were still weren't cheap, I decided to go with flat printing over letterpress, which I really wanted and was double the price. But ended up LOVING my invites anyway.
-Making own menus and ribbon wands.
-Decided to do a mix of high and low cp's to save $
-Doing caramel, candy, and chocolate apples for favors, but had to do plain--no toppings b/c they were more affordable.
-Bought my dress and BMs dresses during a trunk show to get a discount.
Member since
Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
Invitations - we ordered them at a 40% off sale at Party City. I printed all of the envelopes myself.
Place cards - I got them from AC Moore with a 40% off coupon and printed them myself on the computer.
Bride's attire - My dress was $550 and didn't need a slip underneath. My shoes were $35 and my veil was $60 from Barrons at Tri-County. My tiara comb was $30 from another booth at Tri-County and my necklace was $40 from Lord and Taylor.
Hair-makeup - I went to a place to have it done instead of having someone come to my house.
Videographer - we didn't have one, we had my uncle shoot things that were important to us.
We did splurge on a few items though - we added an extra hour, had a band and invited a lot of people.
Place cards - I got them from AC Moore with a 40% off coupon and printed them myself on the computer.
Bride's attire - My dress was $550 and didn't need a slip underneath. My shoes were $35 and my veil was $60 from Barrons at Tri-County. My tiara comb was $30 from another booth at Tri-County and my necklace was $40 from Lord and Taylor.
Hair-makeup - I went to a place to have it done instead of having someone come to my house.
Videographer - we didn't have one, we had my uncle shoot things that were important to us.
We did splurge on a few items though - we added an extra hour, had a band and invited a lot of people.
Member since
Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
I'm still planning, but I'm going to keep my invitations simple and classic. I'm not going crazy with extravagant centerpieces either. I also found a great discount website for our favors.
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Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
I cut down on the cocktail hour. I just saw that there was way too much food and I didn't want 'dinner' to be a second meal. I know some people would rather have an extravagant cocktail hour with stations, carving boards, etc....but I don't want people sitting and getting full. I am going heavy on the hors d'oeuvres.
Member since
Re: What are you/did you cut corners around for your wedding/
No bathroom baskets, slipper baskets, cry packs, etc...only DIY were menus and programs
Used RH's CPs
Dress was under $500
Didn't buy shoes--already had a pair that were worn once and still looked brand new. No one cared.
Bought invites on-line. Something simple but nice because they get thrown out anyway.
Didn't add any upgrades--negotiated whatever upgrades we were given.
Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. I pulled out everything I had and worked that military discount--you'd be surprised what you can get if you ask.![]()
Used RH's CPs
Dress was under $500
Didn't buy shoes--already had a pair that were worn once and still looked brand new. No one cared.
Bought invites on-line. Something simple but nice because they get thrown out anyway.
Didn't add any upgrades--negotiated whatever upgrades we were given.
Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. I pulled out everything I had and worked that military discount--you'd be surprised what you can get if you ask.
