What's the one thing you scrimped on?

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Posted by marymoon

I was going to scrimp on invites. I think I might make them myself, but I don't know if this will be a 'scrimp' area because the invitation sets the tone of the entire wedding and I'm having a very formal affair.\, so we'll see as it gets closer to the date. It doesn't seem like we'll be able to scrimp on anything! Maybe just having a DJ instead of a band counts, also, we have a medium/small BP...

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I agree it seems like I can't scrimp on anything! I'll also be booking a DJ instead of a band.

i scrimped on a few things...

veil... $30 on e-bay

dress... mom made it... about $600 for material, buttons, etc

invitations... bought them online for about
$200

shoes... no ' bridal' shoes for me... i just got white dress shoes at famous footwear for like $20.... no one sees the shoes anyway

caterer- not really scrimpping, but we found an awesome caterer that, in addition to the buffet, included centerpeices, the cake, the DJ, extra vienesse desserts, and lots of decorating for just under $70 a person... and the food was amazing we weren't really trying to scrimp on that, but it was definitely just dumb luck

I saved alot with my hall getting married on a sunday in February

got my veil from barrons for $80

My shoes were my something borrowed ( from my sisters wedding)

borrowed my MIL's pearl necklace to wear

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Posted by erica1030

Centerpeices---Saved thousands by doing candles instead of flowers....

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We did the same thing...we couldn't see spending all the money on flowers...so we bought candle centerpieces at linens n things for $20 a piece. We saved tons....for 14 tables it only cost us $300 for the centerpieces.

Scrimped on invites - DIY for $50 at Michael's and look just as good as the real thing!!

Scrimped on unity candle holder - $15 on Ebay.
Same with Unity Candle, I'm going the DIY route

Shoes - $15 on Ebay (they were $60 in stores!!)

Veil - $60 at Tri-County

Tiara - $90 at Tri-County, I can't decide if this was a scrimp or if I just paid the going rate!!

CP's - I will more than likely DIY because the ones I want to do is pretty simple!!

Officiant - Came in at about $125 less than everyone else

Photographer - In a way we didn't scrimp. We're not getting the albums, just the proofs and negatives, but we can always get it later. But she still comes in at less than 3K.

DJ - The going rate we'll be paying is about $650 - 700 because we don't need the light show or giveaways or an MC, and we only need a 4hr package.

Videographer - We both agreed not to have one.

Limo - Since our ceremony & reception is at the same place and we're taking photos before the ceremony, our limo quotes are coming in at less than $800 so far because we only need 3 hours max.

Dress - Was going to scrimp, but ended up being 3x more than originally planned, however my parents paid for half, so it works out I'm spending the same amount as I would have anyway.

Hall - Cut some costs by having it on a Sunday night, we cut some of the food in the CH because there was so much & some of the things offered most of our guests wouldn't eat.

Cake - Our hall is including the cake in the price so that's one less headache.

Creremony flowers - May go the DIY route as we'll only be there for 1/2 hour and the room is beautiful enough that it doesn't require much decoration.

Flowers - I'm picking in season flowers, so hopefully this should be easier. FBIL offered to do all the flowers himself since he used to be a florist, but he's from OOT, and I would rather he enjoy his time here than do my flowers!!

One thing I scrimped on was decorations for the ceremony. And it's one of my biggest regrets now

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Posted by erica1030

I am not doing ceremony decorations except the pew bows...why do u regret it?

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I didn't think my wedding was going to be inside but due to the weather it was. And since I didn't have any sort of decorations for the ceremony at all (I was counting on the outdoors to be a nice backdrop), I hate my ceremony pictures. I mean, the most important part of the day, and the pcis are just blah. It's not the photographers fault...he got the pictures I wanted. Everyone looks great in them, but the backgrond is just so bare. I would have had more rose petals or daisys and I would have made sure I had the custom aisle runner that I really wanted but never got around to making. It just isn't the way I imagined.

On the day, none of it even occured to me. I was so happy. But now when I see my pictures, and other pictures people have sent, it really bothers me. I need to let it go and just move on.

Limos - we didn't have them. Ceremony and Reception were in the same place and I just couldn't justify $500 to have a limo pick me uyp and drop me off. It ended up being so nice to have my Dad drive me and my Bridesmaids to Raphael - we had a lovely car ride.


Centerpieces - floating flowers in wine glasses - much cheaper than full arrangements.


Calligraphy - it's all about the digital.


DIY - STD's, Program, Favor Label, etc...

We are not getting a limo - but will take the guest shuttle since it is rented for several hours.

No videographer - we will have family record the ceremony and make a home made video.

We might do candle and flower CP which will save some $$$

FML is making our invites, and we will make programs as well.

let's see
got my dress on ebay which is a copy of a carmela sutera that cost more than 3000 for 300.
my veil and shoes on ebay too.
I'm making my own invites
I will probably make my own centerpieces with floating candles and rose petals
I'm having my reception on a restaurant on a sunday afternoon and we are having less than 60 people.
I'm going to book an awesome photographer for 1500
no limos, probably just have someone to drive us.
I might get a dj but it has to be less than 600, I'm still not sure.

I will probably splurge on hair and makeup.

STD's - I am making them myself

Invites - making them too

Dress - having a copy of a Monique L'Huillier made

Video - my Uncle is doing it for us...it's his business

My splurge will be my bouquet, Peonies, since they will have just gone out of season by my wedding

Gift for FH - Mets season tickets...and I am a huge Yankees fan

I didn't want to do a limo either, but my mom keeps saying I should....We live 3 minutes from the church and about 20 minutes from the reception...is it worth the money?

For the ladies not doing video...please reconsider! Even if it's getting someone to tape the ceremony and part of the reception (like a bride posted above), get something because those images are priceless...and I'm sure your future children will love looking at mommy and daddy dancing, cutting the cake, laughing, etc. They may also get glimpses of loved ones that may not be with you at that time.

Too many brides have gone without video and ended up regretting it...it's so worth it!

Veil $125
FG dresses $40

Both purchased at Tri-County Flea Market. Though I assure you that the mothers of the FG's would not allow their daughters to appear in public in a dress that LOOKED like it was bought at a flea market - they are quite nice!!!

Instead of getting bridal shoes, I bought beautiful white strappy sexy sandals at the end of this summer (on sale) and will save them for my wedding next July.

Not scrimping, but my veil will be 'something borrowed.'

Did not scrimp on dress, but set a budget for myself and was lucky enough to find 'the dress' for only $760.

Skipping favors.

Bought invites on line for under $300

Did afternoon wedding instead of evening wedding and saved $55 per person on the price.

Have not decided yet, but considering doing candle/flower petal centerpieces instead of flower arrangements.