Comments on: Five Real Money Saving Tips

By: Never teh Bride

Never teh Bride — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:54:11 +0000

PS: Chelle, your engagement photos are freakin’ fantastic!!

By: Never teh Bride

Never teh Bride — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:52:54 +0000

Toni: I really wanted to do that and started out with the best of intentions. The Beard and I were even really excited about making our own cakes ahead of time. Alas, I let my family convince me not to do any of it, robbing myself of the best excuse not to have to spend the three days leading up to the wedding visiting with people!

Chelle: Way to go! That has to be one of my absolute favorite money-saving strategies!

Amy-Jo: That’s fabulous — I think more people I know would have gone that route if they weren’t all apartment dwellers. Many people in my clique have their own houses (and their own gardens) now, but back then, we all lived in apartments without the space to grow much more than tomatoes and some flowers in pots.

By: Amy-Jo Tatum/Bride Chic

Amy-Jo Tatum/Bride Chic — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:12:40 +0000

I see so many brides spending a fortune on flowers. Doesn’t anyone have a garden? I have to tell you about my own wedding here. I trimmed the ivy off my eaves (a whole can full) and cut flowers out of my own and family;’s gardens not only for my own bouquet but the church and table decorations as well. Everyone has a styling eye and their own sense of design. Now’s the time to really use it.

By: Chelle

Chelle — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:29:07 +0000

We saved a ton of money on an awesome cake from a gourmet bakery.

We bought one of their regular sheets cakes, told them it was for a Halloween party. ( Wedding is on Halloween this year)

Sure it’s only one tier, but we have custom art work for a cake topper and their regular cakes are really pretty.

Cost difference? $141 for our cake, $500 – $1000 for a “wedding cake” in the same flavor but with nasty fondant and 3 or more tiers.

By: Toni

Toni — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:07:04 +0000

There’s also the option of providing the food yourselves, but hiring servers for the day of. We used family recipes, Sam’s Club, and Cracker Barrel for the food itself, but hired a lady to show up on the day of to heat the food up, place it in the chafing dishes, arrange the buffet table nicely, and keep the table stocked throughout the reception. She also provided all of the serving platters, and tablecloths for the buffet tables. For all of this I think she charged around $500. In this way, we were able to have my grandmother’s (ok, Cracker Barrel’s) chicken and dumplings, and at a bargain price.

By: Never teh Bride

Never teh Bride — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:31:07 +0000

Melissa B.: So true!

Nony Mouse: Way to save — it’s funny how much The Beard now knows about weddings. When we see wedding stuff out and about, he almost always has something insightful to say.

Suz: Those are definitely great tips, though I find that a lot of brides-to-be don’t want to serve lunch instead of dinner or skip the sit-down meal. It’s an easy way to save money…not always a realistic one. I’ll never hesitate to suggest it, but I’m always surprised when people go for that option!

7nina: I was delighted to learn how many of the museums in MA allow weddings — it’s a fun option that provides guests with plenty to look at.

By: 7nina

7nina — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:56:12 +0000

Another way to save is to be creative with your venue-many cities have smaller museums or facilities tthey rent very cheaply and restaurants can be really cost-effective particularly on a weekday evening. if you live in a larger city, consider places in the smaller less popular suburbs-they can sometimes be just as nice but 1/2 the price of things downtown or in larger areas.

By: Suz

Suz — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:33:06 +0000

Thanks for this article, it was a great reality check to keep finding real ways to save money on planning a wedding! Though to be honest I haven’t seen any invitations made with potato prints and newspaper, yet! ;o)

Another way to save money is with the catering, if you have an afternoon wedding and reception you could serve an afternoon tea with cakes and finger sandwiches, and lots of tea. This way your first evening as a married couple could be spent enjoying an intimate candle-lit dinner for two rather than a dodgey disco!

You could also have a canapes and cocktail reception for an early evening reception, again you are not needing to serve a full sit down meal at the reception which saves you money. You could use it for some excellent entertainment instead.

Use your wedding budget on things that you and your guests would enjoy, not on what is expected or what is labeled ‘wedding.’

By: Nony Mouse

Nony Mouse — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:52:38 +0000

Wedding candles: Target, $10 for all, marked as “Christmas”
Wedding champagne classes: Pier 1, $3 for both on clearance
silver Ring Box in lieu of pillow: Mom’s, Free
Flower Girl’s Basket: Yard sale, $1 plus $1. in ribbon and material decoration
Having my husband laugh at jokes that “Wedding” added 300% to the price of something instead of cringing and staying on budget: Priceless

By: Melissa B.

Melissa B. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:47:03 +0000

I cannot believe the sheer amount of stuff labeled as “wedding stuff.” Wedding candles, wedding champagne glasses, wedding cake servers, etc. All, of course, sold at an inflated price. I find myself constantly rewording that quote from Roast Beef: “Any candle is a wedding candle if you call it that!”