Practical Approach Article on Budget Weddings

Heidi Kurpiela posted a blog called Lessons Learned Between To-Do and “I Do” earlier today on The Stimulist. In it she described it as “…CliffsNotes version of what this one learned in the first six months of her engagement..”

She covers various topics on saving on your wedding including… handwriting invitation envelopes…breaking with tradition….and several other practical approaches to a budget wedding. Read the rest of the article…

“A DIY Wedding with a Forest Theme” offers Great Guest Name Tags for the Handy!

I just picked up this post by Cristina in which the bride
commented:

DIY Wooden Name Cards

“I made these by renting a mitre saw from a tool rental facility to cut a eucalyptus branch one of the gardeners at Stern Grove gave to me from the mulch pile. I had my husband carry it up the stairs (it weighed nearly 100 pounds), fired it up, and had 90 cross-section disks in about 20 minutes. The dust gets everywhere despite the dust bag, so I put down a tarp to do this (we don’t have outdoor space) and wore a respirator mask. The disks that were cut a little too roughly I sanded down with my Dremel tool. I then printed the text for both sides onto clear inkjet labels and cut them out with a circle cutter. I stuck the labels in place and smoothed them down. Our florist brought a tray with moss in it for me to display them,” explains Lauren.

Read the rest of the article at intimate weddings.

DIY wedding is a creative, cash-conscious alternative

Jackie Burrell (Contra Costa Times) wrote an interesting story as reported by San Luis Obispo.com The Tribune.

These tips caught my eye

“- Do as much as you can yourself, but don’t do it solo. Host a bridesmaids and mothers’ party to assemble craft projects. Ask friends for help with photos, flowers, even the dessert buffet. Especially now, most people are delighted to make their wedding present a gift of time and expertise.

“- DIY is not always cheaper. Pick the most meaningful, budget-friendly projects and don’t overspend on craft tools you may never use again. If you’re looking for some esoteric piece of equipment, ask for advice on one of the DIY wedding forums, or call a local art studio. Some rent studio time and tools.”

Read the rest of the story, which includes tips on do it yourself flowers as well as some great resources.

DIY Weddings: It’s not difficult to create a cash-conscious alternative

A very interesting article about DIY weddings from the beginning appears in the Monterey County The Herald website. Jackie Burrell wrote it and quotes an early DIY bride who said: “the DIY movement was just in its infancy and pretty much for the micro-budget brides. It was all about saving money, finding the cheapest avenues to pull off a wedding.”

She was further quoted to say: “Martha Stewart’s approach to weddings and her stylish DIY projects were a turning point” and “Suddenly, DIY was chic. And the Internet’s exponentially expanding networks not only spread the word, they provided the expertise to make the movement successful.”

Jackie writes: Now DIY wedding blogs and discussion boards are popping up all over the Internet, and craft stores are responding to the trend. The DIY wedding aisles at Michaels (craft stores), for example, multiplied this year.

Read the rest of the story at the Website.

Is Planning a Marriage Just an Anxious Marathon, Beauty Pageant and Shopping Spree?

Wailin Wong wrote an article in the Chicago Tribune yesterday titled “Social Web engages brides in all stages of Planning”. Unfortunately, it is not yet in the paper’s archives so we cannot link to it.

The story is both sad and humorous. She said planning a marriage is “more like an anxiety-ridden hybrid of marathon, shopping spree and beauty pageant.” Then she thanks the Web for being there to help. Later she comments “..social media has injected some transparency and community into wedding planning.” The web brings “..together brides in the hunt for fair prices.”

She briefly covers message boards, brides developing bonds, anonymity, second thoughts, and other topics. We do hope she truly does not become another bridezilla.

The Budget Bride – 5 Money Saving Tips!

Panache Weddings and Events has this wonderful article on money saving tips. Its worth looking at…

“Just like so many of us these days, brides are on a serious BUDGET! And sticking to the budget is definitely a chore. As I meet with more and more brides there is one theme that is always the same. Brides are on a budget and they just don’t wanna sacrifice ANY part of the wedding that they have dreamed of. So, here is a little advice on how to cut costs without cutting out the style.“

They have hints on the reception, gown, centerpieces, printing, and photography.

Using Silk Flowers and Other Ways to Save on Your Wedding

We found this, and other good information on Bridal Guide, which can help the budget minded bride.

Consider going the faux route, too, which can save you as much as 50%, according to Tina Raymond of Gardens, LLC, in Mount Vernon, New York. Good-quality silk flowers look practically real, and you can create the exact centerpiece you want using silk flowers only, or a mix of silk and fresh flowers. Remember, though, that even with fake flowers, “out-of-season” blossoms may be more expensive than those in season (yes, really!).