10 Budgeting Tips for the Frugal Minded :)

[BeautifulBridetoBe]

Frugal-Minded Brides Unite!

 

In another thread, " how much is your wedding costing you?", we all learned that everyone's budget was different and the last post asked for tips from the frugal-minded to stay on track and on budget.

 

So Tips for the Frugal-Minded Bride:)

 

First of all, I pride myself on being frugal. To be frugal, you have to be creative and I think creativity is a wonderful attribute. Having said that, I also like nice things:) I have just learned that nice things do not have to cost a lot.

 

Our budget was $12,000 - it is now less than $10,000 and dropping. How?

 

Creative shopping and searching around.

 

1. Don't buy the first thing you see (even if you need it) if it is not on sale! Wait...unless you absolutely love it and must have it now because there is no chance that you will ever find it again. Shop around. Everytime I go into a store, I check the wedding section, the candle section , the bath and beauty section, the craft section, etc.

 

2. Shop in the off season. It is winter in Toronto...a perfect time to shop for my wedding shoes because white open-toed heels are on sale from the summer. I just bought a beautiful pair that were originally $100 for $10. I also wanted a pair of white wedge flip flops with rhinestones on them for style and comfort to dance in during the reception...$10. So my shoe budget, that was originally $100is in actuality $20 ...a savings of $80.

 

3. Think outside the box. Our resort has beautiful centrepieces and flower arrangements, as does yours, I am sure. But our wedding is on the last day of our trip, so to purchase these arrangements makes no sense...we cannot take them with us the next day and they cost $60 per arrangement. So we have opted for pillar candles on the signing table. I just bought these on sale at Michael's for $2.99 per candle and they are lightly scented...so imagine them burning in the sparkle of crystal hurricane vases that look like large wine glasses...very elegant...and $25 for the entire centrepiece. A set of four vases were $18 at Burlington Coat factory. So that is a savings of $35. They will also join us at the reception.

 

I also bought the really tall, tower vases at a party store for $4.99 each. I saw the same vases in a flower shop for $20 the next day! Instead of having the resort do centrepieces for $50 each, I have decided to use silk flowers mixed with tall grasses and tropical palm leaves and tiny crystals for sparkle. It looks tropical and I'm told you cannot tell it is fake...so all 8 centrepieces will cost under $100 as opposed to the $400 we would have spent at the resort.

 

4. The Dollar Store is your friend! At our local dollar store, I have found countless items. Beautiful white shells, tiny white organza bags for favours, wedding bubbles, silver kissing bells, etc. I don't think these things should come from anywhere else. They are trinkets that add tiny splashes of festivity to the occassion. You will look so beautiful that who will care if your organza bags did not come from Michael's for $6?

 

5. Vista Print is your BEST friend! I cannot tell you what a lifesaver VistaPrint has been. We have done our invitations, programs, booking thank-you cards, and fans done by them. And I really take advantage of the FREE products. I will make a large order at once of free items...and then place another free order. I make sure that I only pay shipping costs every time.The quality is great and everything is personalized.

 

6. For a gown, make sure you check the sale racks. I originally bought my gown for $500 and fell in love with another at David's Bridal on the sale rack fo $99. I bought it too. So I will wear one to the wedding and one to the reception for less than what most people will spend on one gown.

 

7. Be creative. I am making my own veil. Really, stare at the veil you are buying for over $100...with a needle and thread, you or someone you know can make one for you. I bought my veil comb - 2 tiers of diamond crystals for $4 on sale. Bridal illusion (tulle) cost me $5 for 2 yards and I have splurged on pearls and swarovski crystals for $15. So my veil will be $25...the one I love and am imitating is $225.

 

8. Start early. The more time you have, the longer you can look around and will not have to make last minute, expensive purchases. You can look in a range of stores, especially those you think have nothing. I have found beautiful things at liquidation stores in my travels. We bought Hallmark wedding candles, vanilla with silver lids that can be engraved for $4.99 at a liquidation store. We thought it would be a nice gift for our parents at the wedding, engraved with their wedding date and ours or scripture. The candles retail for $30 each.

 

9. Rethink your definition of cheap. I often marvel at people who think that expensive means quality. It doesn't always. And On sale is better than expensive. After all, someone bought my $99 gown for the original price of $900. The gown is no less beautiful beacuse I bought it on sale...it is still worth $900. We will both look beautiful in the gown I said before that I like nice things...but I don't like large price tags. There are often less expensive versions if you just take the time to look.

 

10. NO STRESS! I don't believe that weddings have to be stressful if you are organized and keep track of your spending. Stress equals spending. In the beginning, I took too many people with me to buy my dress and ended up almost choosing an expensive one that I didn't like too much because they loved it and they said " So what if it's expensive? You only get married once!" By myself, I found an elegant gown for $99. Slowly taking your time to find just what you want will yield great rewards. A relaxed bride with fewer stress-related skin breakouts will spend less on facials and foundation

 

Any other tips?

 

Choose an all-inclusive resort. It covers everything and neither you or your guests have to worry about the bar tab or the cost of the salmon. It allows everyone to relax.

 

Make a list of all you need to buy and keep it in your purse. There are 121 items on mine. It goes something like this: bridal purse, jewelled hair pins, white pashmina in case I get cold, candle holder for unity candle, etc. So when I am in Walmart, I can look for a candle holder. Right after New Years is a great time to buy the purse and diamond hair pins...they will have loads of stock available that was for the holiday season....but not at holiday prices.

 

In closing, I am not trying to be cheap...I am being careful. I have read that money is the number one cause of marital distress. Why start this way? At the same time, I want my dream wedding. I believe that God took care of the decor...we are getting married in tropical splendour. So my part is only to enhance the beauty and and have a great time. There are cost effective ways to do things..we just have to find them.

 

Feel free to add to this list

[IndianBride]

Great post!!

[hunnyhun921]

Great advice! Thanks!! I am a frugal minded bride as well. I too believe that just because something is expensive does not mean that it is good quality.

[Virg]

FABULOUS SUGGESTIONS!!!

Thank you

[FoxyBride]

Some great ideas in here! I'm very frugal in my normal life. I'm definitely the type to blurt out "They where 2.99!" When someone says "Nice shoes." Even though I should let them think I spent a fortune, I can't help it. LOL

[StarAndJay]

Excellent post! Great Ideas!!!

[Erika J]

This is perfect timing as my wedding budget has been reduced since my FI lost his job.

 

How do you plan to get all of your glass candle hurricanes to the DR?

[lilmisssunshine]

love the suggestions. Im trying very hard to not go into debt with our wedding. Off to the dollar store...

[BeautifulBridetoBe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erika J This is perfect timing as my wedding budget has been reduced since my FI lost his job. How do you plan to get all of your glass candle hurricanes to the DR?

Hi:

No worries about the budget...I see it as an opportunity to get creative. You'll be surprised at what you can do!

About the vases, in thick bubble wrap. We will stuff the inside with clothing to support the glass and wrap the outside in bubble wrap and more clothing....nestle it in a suitcase of more clothes...then pray over the suitcase

And if we have any casualties, plan B: white dinner plates from the resort with clear glass pebbles will have to do! We will make a candle arrangement.

[Erika J]

That sounds perfect either way : )