10 Budgeting Tips for the Frugal Minded :)

Sorry, my edit showed as a duplicate.

A couple of things that saved me money:

1- Vistaprint. Things are cheap and easy on this site. ALso, the prices change day by day, so if something is a little costly, wait a day or two. Also, google search vistaprint coupon codes, and you will get 50% off your order almost every time. I did my save the dates thru them, and one day they were free, so I only paid for the postage to have them send them to my uploaded mailing list. I just did a postcard, and it was FREE! Plus, I think a postcard is a really cute way to do a STD for a Destination Wedding. For 100 STD's was a total of like $20 sent out and everything. Also, I did a newsletter/FAQ to put in OOT bags. It was great and cheap!

2- Invites by Rexcraft.com. I used the seal and sends on their site. One had a seashell theme, and was much cheaper than a standard invite because there werent envelopes and inserts, etc. The only problem is that a lot of people send back a gift check in the return envelope if they cant make it, and you wont have a return envelope. It basically folds up, seals shut and then the address is on the outside.

3- We printed our own mailing labels on clear avery labels. We used one of the cursive fonts and matched the color to our invite font color. It saved time to print them, and was cheaper than having the addresses professionally printed on them.

4- Amazon.com has phrasebooks for $2. If you cant get them at target, try Amazon.

5- Check out artscow.com. Kind of like Kodakgallery.com, but cheaper. And when you place an order, you get a ton of free credits for TONS of cute stuff. I found a coupon code with them for 99 cent coasters, and had a bunch printed with our monogram. They do charge for shipping, even on free stuff, so be aware of that. Also, they ship from Hong Kong, so it can take a couple of days.

6- Veil. I wish I knew that veils dont have to cost so much. When you go to the bridal shop, you arent thinking about a veil, and then when you find a dress you like, they say "lets see it with a veil". You are all excited then and end up buying the veil for them for $100 or more, probably much more. A search of websites and ebay, and you can veils for under $10 bucks. Mine was very simple and was $175 at David's bridal. I do regret that.

6 - I bought all the crinolens and stuff, and then ended up wearing JCP version Spanx. The thought of the crinolens (which I hate because they are scratchy) in the sun and heat was awful. My dress had enough poof on its own, and those things are $$$$. JCP Spanx are like $40.

7- Old Navy has flip flops online for @2.50. We put them in OOT bags and everyone wore them all week. I got white ones. I also got pashminas at a gift show, but if you have a chinatown near you or markets like that, you can probably get them for around $5.

Hope that helps!

PS- I am doing folded thankyou cards to send out on vistaprint now. I am actually uploading a picture from the wedding to the card. 100 cards is $38 thanks to an online coupon code for 50% off!

Great ideas, and I really feel your energy and positivity! Thank you!

This is a great thread, thank you! And thank you for reminding me to write my To Buy list.

I remembered one more thing...hope I haven't hijaked this thread too much! I made my own wedding programs. First, I had downloaded a template for fans and bought a rotary cutter and glue roller, and tongue depressers, and it didn't really work. I am not really a big DIYer. Anyway, I had also bought 65 weight speckled cover paper, which was really cute. I ended up trashing the fan idea, and did a bi fold program.

What I did was I folded the long way (I thought that would look more modern than the traditional hallmark card type fold) and I found cool templates that other girls used. I put my monogram on the outside with a Welcome to Las Caletas and the date. On the inside left fold I put the bridal party and parent ie Joe Blow Best Man, etc. Then on the inside right fold I put the ceremony, ie processional - canon in D, readings, etc. And then on the back I put an apache love poem that was used in our ceremony.

It took some finagling with margins and stuff, but the end result was cute. I will post the templates etc. I hope this helps!

program outside.ppt

program.ppt

alright sooooo, i went to the jessica mcclintock outlet and didn't stay long. it was a major FAIL. gross. i needed anti-bactierial spray the minute i walked out. it was cheap. because everything was CHEAP - the material, the hems, the designs. that's my opinion, anyway - call me picky, but that was a no-go. it was way different than a regular jessica mcclintock store. wow. for bridesmaids gowns, however, GREAT SPOT...if you don't mind picking through racks as if you were at ross or marshall's! the store in sf had $10 gowns, and they were buy one get one free. can you believe that??

didn't make it to glamour closet yet, but DID make an appointment at a bridal shop in the jewelry mart here in the city. the woman who owns it is fantastic and her gowns were decent in price. i would recommend anyone to look into their local jewelry mart and gift centers that specialize in wholesale and see if there are any bridal stores in them. you don't need a resale license to shop at these places. most of the time, just an appointment to get through security.

unfortunately, i also decided to go to a really nice designer in addition to discount shopping so that i could get an idea of what really nice fabric and craftsmanship looks like (thanks, bridal bargains!). big mistake. i fell in love with a $5,000 gown. but she offers a 15% discount if you order your dress a year in advance, as she makes them by hand. regardless, i can't afford that. what i can do, is commission someone to make one.

i'm taking the advice from a terrific book, bridal bargains by denise and alan fields (can be found online at target and amazon for about $10, or at a bookstore for $14), and contacted the local fashion institute here to find a starving student looking for work to possibly design my dress. who knows if it will work out.

another tip that has nothing to do with a dress: go to your local design center or furniture showroom!!! ask if they have old books of wallpaper or fabric samples they want to get rid of and voila! an awesome touch to add to your invites or placecards, etc. it's great looking paper/fabric for FREE - and most of the time you can get books of natural materials that would fit into a destination wedding theme.

Wow. These are some seriously great tips. Thanks everyone! I too love the $1 area of Target; have found some really cute shower favor gifts in the past (votive candles, etc). Anyone have any ideas for finding a not-so-expensive dress in the NYC area?

It's so nice to see we're all in the same frugally-driven boat.

Another Tip:

Check for coupons on-line before you head out shoppping: never pay full price for anything at Michaels, A.C Moore or Joanne's Fabrics. Sign up for their on-line coupons for at least 40% off one regular priced item...they have at least one coupon every week for each store flyer. I say on-line because the coupons are not in the flyers in the store. The flyers have to be mailed to your home, but on-line is so easy! Then just plan your spending...one big item this week, another next week. It feels good to know that those $40 candle holders cost you $24 bucks!

Use transfer paper to personalize t-shirts and other items of clothing instead of paying a professional printer. They come in packages of 10 and iron-on...allows for a personal touch and saves big bucks. Then you bling it out with crystals!

Great post! I'm starting to get overwhelmed just by writing things down from what e need to start doing and where we'll eventually end up. Of course we are both very concerned about the $$$.

Great ideas, thanks!