Ten Tips--from the frugal bride-to-be

Anyone know's that weddings can be a major pain in the you-know-what to plan, but for some (like me), it can be an adventure--one that brings new possibilities around every corner.



While still wanting to have a classy, yet frugal affair for our wedding day, we have cut some corners and decided to do everything ourselves (well...almost everything)



Here are my Ten Tips for a Frugal Bride--I hope that other brides and grooms-to-be can find useful in their wedding planning!



1. Pick a unique place. Our first choice was a country club/golf course setting, which was more "me" than "us" and much more expensive. At first, it sounded wonderful: All of the food taken care of, all of the decorating, planning, scheduling under control. After the food tasting (conveniently after a deposit was due), we looked at each other and said..."The food was gross!" Not only that but we stopped to think about how we really wanted to be in control of the decorating, the planning, the scheduling, the food...not be simply following a "master plan" that the venue requires! So--we picked a new place. A FARM! We have been there several times to pick pumpkins and fruit, and visit the vineyards in the surrounding areas...We're getting married in a barn!





2. Craigslist, craigslist, craigslist! Not only have we found all of our wonderful pets--shelters post there all the time--but nearly all of our wedding vendors through Craigslist. We hired a DJ by night, Capitol Hill staffer by day for our reception DJ, a bagpiper for the ceremony, our day-of-coordinator, photographer (and photojournalist who has seen the world!). florist, and cupcake-maker for the wedding--all at prices well below what you will find on many corporate wedding websites! Just ask for references, check up on them, and you'll find the most amazing people. As always--use caution when dealing with online sites such as Craigslist.org. Oh--we also found the most beautiful shepherd hooks and mason jar lanterns on CL instead of tiki torches to light out pathways at the wedding!



3. Search for a photojournalist or a wedding photographer with photojournalistic experience(unless you're the type to want 90% traditional posed wedding pictures--of which group we are not!) Photojournalists often have traveled the world or the country taking pictures of significant events, historical moments, etc., and know what is truly important in a photograph--and can "snap" the emotions in a shot--not just poses. While it is said that photographers capture perfect moments, I believe photojournalists capture memories.



4. Location, location. If you're not the type to have things all planned out for you (on your wedding day--you just "show up"), then choose a location where you--or your team of dedicated bridesmaids, parents, and groomsmen--can put your own stamp on your event. I love to decorate and know how to do so within a reasonable budget--therefore getting married in a barn was perfect. Weddings are held there all the time, so there is electricity, lighting, and a bathroom, but the rest will be up to us.



5.Buy your linens. Sometimes renting tablecloths can cost upwards of 10-30.00 per tablecloth--and you don't even get to keep them! We bought ours a 4.00 a pop through a wedding planner who hooked us up on a great deal. Plus, they are a beautiful fabric, so they can be reused to make curtains or throw pillows if we decide we don't need 12 navy damask tablecloths. :)



6. Dishware dilemma. Renting dishware is a hassle, can be around 5-10.00/guest plus the cost of a dishwasher and table-clearer throughout the night. We found the most awesome solution. It's this dishware called "yoshiware"--"resposeable" dishware. We ordered ours from http://www.smartyhadaparty.com/ because they had a free shipping offer the day we ordered. They save you China/glassware/flatware rental prices without the less classy look of paper or plastic. Our heavy plastic forks actually look like silverware. And our disposeable faux china actually looks like China (until you pick it up of course!)



7. Road Trip Honeymoon...We were thinking British Columbia, then Mexico, then just scrapping the whole idea until a later date. Then we changed our venue, put our priorities in order, and decided a fun honeymoon was more important to us than spending money on the not-so-us wedding venue. So, we decided on the Road-Trip Honeymoon. We are going to leave Monday after the wedding, traveling to our eventual destination in Darby Montana--the exclusive and all-inclusive Triple Creek Ranch--where we will have a 5-day/4-night stay in our own cabin, complete with couples massage, horsebackriding, 5 star 7-course meals, and peace and quiet. On the way home, we will see more of the country. This way we can enjoy a 2 week honeymoon for the same price as a 3 day trip to one of our first choice locations. We can't wait! Plus--gas cards for the honeymoon are an easy shower gift for those too late to get to our wedding registry! Check our our honeymoon location: http://www.triplecreekranch.com/



8. A Wedding band(jewelry--not music)...this is something that is so preferential to every bride-to-be. I love my Tacori engagement ring (kudos to my fiancé Matt and to my sister and bro-in-law for all of the help!)--but it simply was not in the budget to get the matching wedding band (not yet at least!)--so I decided I would love to find an antique wedding band. Not a pawn shop ring, or a trade in, but a real old antique. After months of looking in antique and jewelry stores, we finally found one that was PERFECT! It is from 1925--which in a Jeweler's eyes--is in the middle of the best decade for jewelry making (1920-1930) and it looks as if it were made to go with my engagement ring. I know I have to wait until September to wear it, but it will be hard...That saves us some money, and I LOVE the idea of a ring having a history behind it. Some jeweler's can provide that history for you when you purchase the antique--I know ours did!





9. Decorate your own space, even if it's a blank slate like a barn. Here are some of our inspirations for romantic barn weddings we've found here and there on the net.





10. Figure out what's important to you and your significant other. My sister and bro-in-law (THANKS GUYS!!) gave us that advice early on in the planning process and it has come in handy over and over again. Sit down and decide the top things to you and your partner when it comes to the wedding. My top things were that everyone I wanted to be there could be invited, having a "different" wedding--the kind where everyone leaves talking about, and the photographer. His were that it was laid-back and outdoors, fun music, and having it somewhere that meant something to us. We didn't care about food...(we're having lite fare catered...I'll explain that tip another day)...and we didn't care about the formality of everything. WE wanted it to be unique, and hopefully it will be. Just remember what is the most important, and that is that you and your significant other need to feel relaxed and treasure each moment of the wedding with each other!



I hope my long-winded tips helped someone out there. I have plenty more ideas rattling in my head and each day I'll try to add some more. Until then! I'll post a little bit more about my fiancé and I tomorrow!




-Bre