reader wedding tips
While I don't have an order or question, I would
like to offer one of my ideas for
your "Inexpensive Weddings" section. I don't see
a place on your site for me to write in, and, I
don't know anything about "blogging". But,
here's my suggestion anyway:
For the "Inexpensive Weddings" section, I would
like to suggest to the readers that they can use
those square, plastic, see-through boxes that the
Roma Tomatoes come in as boxes for the groom's
boutinierre or bride's maids wristlets. That
idea came to me as I was trying to make space in
my fridge by putting the last two tomatoes in the
container that was full. Hope your loyal readers
(and I am DEFINITELY one of them!) can use this
bit of frugality from my own archives! Thanks!
Marcia W.
Hello! I saw on Oprah, years ago, a great way to save on a wedding cake is to decorate styrofoam pieces and have just the couples cake real (the one they cut) and then in the back kitchen have pre-cut pieces of cake from a local bakery or grocery store.
For our wedding we asked for our cake to be a gift instead of getting money, etc. My grandparents were very happy with that idea and that was there gift to us.
We also asked for Home Depot cards. We're not into the frilly things like crystal, china, gravy boats, etc. All the cards we received helped us redecorate our living room from dark panelled 70s blah into what we call a Moose Lodge (hardwood floors and matching panelling...all of which was installed by my hubby). I married TIM THE TOOL MAN TAYLOR....lol
Michelle
I enjoyed reading about Weddings on a Dime, and
wanted to share money-savings from my own
wedding.
* I bought my Scott McClintock dress from an
outlet for $16.32! Interestingly enough, I just
recently sold it on a used wedding dress site,
so the dress continues to be a blessing.
www.preownedweddingdresses.com; also
www.woreitonce.com are good sites.
* I had my bridesmaids wear the little black
dresses that were already in their closet (well,
one person had to borrow a dress), so no expense
to them for dress or shoes.
* We had a cake-and-punch reception, featuring a
coffee cart the church already had on-site.
* The wedding cake was from the local grocery
store - inexpensive and delicious - even a year
later!
* A friend prepared all of the flowers to
decorate the church and reception.
* Other friends created beautiful floral
arrangements for the church, using flowers and
plants that were growing in their gardens.
* A pastor friend married us and declined the
honorarium.
* Another friend is a wedding coordinator and
helped with the ceremony proceedings.
* We wanted to marry in a church, but wouldn't
pay the $1,200 fee usually charged to non-
members (our own church had no facility for
weddings). We finally found a beautiful church
that only charged $150, which included the
wedding coordinator, pianist, and a video! I
didn't even know about the church until I drove
by it, and in my desperate hunt, was leaving no
stone unturned. So I called, with great results!
* We used a wholesale flower warehouse to
prepare the bouquets & boutonnieres. The
bridesmaids carried only about three flowers
each.
I did actually have a "catered" rehearsal dinner
(trays from the local Chinese take-out) as well
as a "luncheon" for family and close friends
following the reception, at a restaurant. But I
picked a restaurant with very reasonable banquet
prices. My photographer was well under the
going rate. I did lots and lots of shopping
around so that I received maximum impact and
service for the best price. The wedding cost
more than $1500, but I am proud of what we
accomplished.
Best wishes!
Heidi Fritz
Name: Joy Bice
EMail: joybice@comcast.net
Question: Tawra & Jill,
Thanks for the wedding tips. I don't know if you
are still taking more tips from readers but I have
a few.
My daughters are teenagers and we have attended
many weddings in their lifetime. I began when
they were younger pointing out the simple and less
inexpensive ideas from other weddings. I have
been coaching them now for years on the beauty of
a simple wedding. I'm hoping that when the time
comes for them to get married they will already be
conditioned to think that way.
One idea we heard was to have an evening wedding.
A candlelight wedding could be very romantic and
the reception would just be deserts.
Another idea I have seen done is to have each
bridesmaid choose their own dress. For example,
the last wedding we attended had the bridesmaids
in black dresses. They were told what length to
choose but beyond that they were free to buy what
they would like and could wear after the wedding.
It not only looked beautiful but it was neat to
see the individual styles pulled together by
jewelery and flowers. The men in this wedding wore
black suits, and were given matching ties. They
were free to either buy a suit or borrow one or
use one they already owned.
Tawra,
Fireyourweddingplanner.com is a FABULOUS site to help brides save money as well! My wedding was cancelled (it's okay, it was a good thing) but I was already at a savings of $2500! Just to let the other brides to be know!
Susan F.
Bellingham, WA
like to offer one of my ideas for
your "Inexpensive Weddings" section. I don't see
a place on your site for me to write in, and, I
don't know anything about "blogging". But,
here's my suggestion anyway:
For the "Inexpensive Weddings" section, I would
like to suggest to the readers that they can use
those square, plastic, see-through boxes that the
Roma Tomatoes come in as boxes for the groom's
boutinierre or bride's maids wristlets. That
idea came to me as I was trying to make space in
my fridge by putting the last two tomatoes in the
container that was full. Hope your loyal readers
(and I am DEFINITELY one of them!) can use this
bit of frugality from my own archives! Thanks!
Marcia W.
Hello! I saw on Oprah, years ago, a great way to save on a wedding cake is to decorate styrofoam pieces and have just the couples cake real (the one they cut) and then in the back kitchen have pre-cut pieces of cake from a local bakery or grocery store.
For our wedding we asked for our cake to be a gift instead of getting money, etc. My grandparents were very happy with that idea and that was there gift to us.
We also asked for Home Depot cards. We're not into the frilly things like crystal, china, gravy boats, etc. All the cards we received helped us redecorate our living room from dark panelled 70s blah into what we call a Moose Lodge (hardwood floors and matching panelling...all of which was installed by my hubby). I married TIM THE TOOL MAN TAYLOR....lol
Michelle
I enjoyed reading about Weddings on a Dime, and
wanted to share money-savings from my own
wedding.
* I bought my Scott McClintock dress from an
outlet for $16.32! Interestingly enough, I just
recently sold it on a used wedding dress site,
so the dress continues to be a blessing.
www.preownedweddingdresses.com; also
www.woreitonce.com are good sites.
* I had my bridesmaids wear the little black
dresses that were already in their closet (well,
one person had to borrow a dress), so no expense
to them for dress or shoes.
* We had a cake-and-punch reception, featuring a
coffee cart the church already had on-site.
* The wedding cake was from the local grocery
store - inexpensive and delicious - even a year
later!
* A friend prepared all of the flowers to
decorate the church and reception.
* Other friends created beautiful floral
arrangements for the church, using flowers and
plants that were growing in their gardens.
* A pastor friend married us and declined the
honorarium.
* Another friend is a wedding coordinator and
helped with the ceremony proceedings.
* We wanted to marry in a church, but wouldn't
pay the $1,200 fee usually charged to non-
members (our own church had no facility for
weddings). We finally found a beautiful church
that only charged $150, which included the
wedding coordinator, pianist, and a video! I
didn't even know about the church until I drove
by it, and in my desperate hunt, was leaving no
stone unturned. So I called, with great results!
* We used a wholesale flower warehouse to
prepare the bouquets & boutonnieres. The
bridesmaids carried only about three flowers
each.
I did actually have a "catered" rehearsal dinner
(trays from the local Chinese take-out) as well
as a "luncheon" for family and close friends
following the reception, at a restaurant. But I
picked a restaurant with very reasonable banquet
prices. My photographer was well under the
going rate. I did lots and lots of shopping
around so that I received maximum impact and
service for the best price. The wedding cost
more than $1500, but I am proud of what we
accomplished.
Best wishes!
Heidi Fritz
Name: Joy Bice
EMail: joybice@comcast.net
Question: Tawra & Jill,
Thanks for the wedding tips. I don't know if you
are still taking more tips from readers but I have
a few.
My daughters are teenagers and we have attended
many weddings in their lifetime. I began when
they were younger pointing out the simple and less
inexpensive ideas from other weddings. I have
been coaching them now for years on the beauty of
a simple wedding. I'm hoping that when the time
comes for them to get married they will already be
conditioned to think that way.
One idea we heard was to have an evening wedding.
A candlelight wedding could be very romantic and
the reception would just be deserts.
Another idea I have seen done is to have each
bridesmaid choose their own dress. For example,
the last wedding we attended had the bridesmaids
in black dresses. They were told what length to
choose but beyond that they were free to buy what
they would like and could wear after the wedding.
It not only looked beautiful but it was neat to
see the individual styles pulled together by
jewelery and flowers. The men in this wedding wore
black suits, and were given matching ties. They
were free to either buy a suit or borrow one or
use one they already owned.
Tawra,
Fireyourweddingplanner.com is a FABULOUS site to help brides save money as well! My wedding was cancelled (it's okay, it was a good thing) but I was already at a savings of $2500! Just to let the other brides to be know!
Susan F.
Bellingham, WA
posted by Tawra Jean at 10:46 AM
2 Comments:
i have been to weddings who used these ideas:
for the cake, they had the local supermarket make a small bride and groom cake just for them and for the guests they were served a piece of cake from a sheet cake...
for the bridesmaids dresses, one had them go to consignment shops and get used prom dresses and another went to jc penney and they bought the cocktail dresses that can be used over again...
instead of flowers for the bridesmaids, they carried a white bible and one rose with babys breath wrapped in ribbon, and the dinner tables, instead of using flowers, they were decorated with a floral arrangement made out of tissue paper...
for the dinner, they had a buffet and the rest of the food that was left was donated to the local homeless shelter... for pictures, they had a professional photographer to take the main pictures but the pictures taken at the reception, several friends and family members took pictures and everyone shared them and made a nice photo album for the families...
for gifts, gift certificates to various stores and shops, this way to let the bride and groom pick out what they would want... for the music, they got kids that played in the school band and paid them for the music or they got those cd's you can get from the stores with different themes...
i have seen weddings on the beach, in the park and even in someone's backyard...
when my niece got married, they went to las vegas, got married in one of those chapels and then went to one of those shows...
the person who is marrying the couple, i have seen notary's and also bible students that have just been ordained...
Love the wedding ideas. I was helping my daughter plan a wedding on a budget, when she and hubby decided to elope instead. We have a wedding dress that she never wore. Any ideas for selling it? Someone would get a GREAT deal!!!!
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