Bride on a Budget

Did I Do It?

2010-08-23T11:56:00.000-07:00

Hello, faithful followers. It has been almost three months since my last post. Since then, the wedding came (almost) flawlessly, and we have settled into our precious apartment. As of this week, I am not working (and loving it). Needless to say, I am finally at a point where I can blog. Now I can answer the question that may have been looming in your minds: "Did I do it?" Yes, I did!!! In the end, we went a little bit over. But not a few thousand, only a few hundred. I will provide a budget rundown, but first, some pictures:

The incredible chapel:

My precious bridesmaids (please note the bouquets- I made them ALL, including mine!!!):

Ceremony:

Our awesome wedding party:

My amazing husband and I:

Jane Austen-esque:

Reception Decor:

First dance:

And of course, the downtown view from the roof of our venue:

Now for the rundown (I am rounding estimates, because I don't have all the receipts (nor the patience) to calculate to the nearest dollar):

Estimated Total: $10,600

Ceremony Venue: $1,500
Reception Venue: $4,300 (with security & damage deposits)
Rentals: $900
Dress, Alterations, Shoes, & Accessories: $450
Flowers: $400
Centerpiece items, Glassware, & Accessories: $600
DJ: $500
Gifts: $200
Food & Candy: $500
Paper (programs, name cards, etc.): $100
Photographer: $900
Cake: $310 (It looked terrible-- this was a mistake!)

As a final word... YOU CAN DO IT! Don't stress out about going an eentsy, weentsy, bit over. When you buy things here and there with coupons and gift cards, it really helps lessen the blow. I would love to hear how you pulled (or are going to pull) off your budget wedding, so shoot me an email at laurabeth8705@hotmail.com to share stories, or if you need advice! It has been a pleasure, but now I must move on to my new blog, Pretty Little House (prettylittlehousetx.blogspot.com). I hope you will stop by!

Uh oh...

2010-05-29T22:17:00.000-07:00

Hello all... I know, I know. I'm in trouble. I do this a lot- I get inspired, write a bunch, and then... nothing! I just quit. I'm so sorry. My wedding is in 19 days and I am SO excited- yet so busy! Sadly it's not only wedding plans keeping me busy. Weddings of friends, work, graduations, etc., have also kept me away from my dear blog. All is not lost. I DO have some inspiration to offer.

I am a firm advocate for a new-found love in the wedding world- PAPER! Now, I don't recommend the Martha Stewart pictures where she makes bouquets out of paper (that is unrealistic for most). But I do believe that paper can make a BOLD statement in your decor for little cash.

Let me give you some pictures for inspiration:

From: The Knot

From: The Knot

From: Martha Stewart Weddings

(I'm having to hold myself back- there are so many awesome pictures of paper decor online!)

In the near future, I will give you pictures of what I have decided to do with paper. It takes some trial and error, but the result is a unique and creative touch on your wedding!

A DIY Weekend

2010-04-26T10:02:00.001-07:00

Finally, I have had a weekend where I have actually done a bunch of my wedding projects that I've been planning! I was very productive, and I couldn't wait to share the results with you :)

First up is the finished product of my branch/hydrangea centerpiece:

My mom and I had a debate about whether or not to use three hydrangeas of five... I think three is more natural, but she feels that five is cuter. What are your thoughts?

Next, I made a prototype of my bouquet- I am in love with it! Since we are ordering our flowers wholesale, I thought I should practice making my bouquet at least once. I decided to spice it up by adding white ranunculas and light pink godetias. Here is the progress and finished product! Click on the pics to make them bigger- I love the detail :)

Finally, I spray painted some "S" letters that will be tied to the back of mine and Dillon's chairs at the receptions. They matched my bouquet perfectly!

DIY Centerpieces

2010-04-13T21:52:00.000-07:00

As we are entering into the last two months of our wedding countdown, I have not found much time to blog. However, I have noticed that the less I blog, the less inspired I am in my budget creativity. So hopefully, I will get back into blog mode, and, therefore, back into budget creativity mode!

A couple of weeks ago, my fiance helped me spray branches for a centerpiece I am using. We bought the bundles of branches for $1.00 at Dollar Tree. My fiance used his spray gun to spray the branches completely white. This has taken more than one try, as the branches were stained to look natural, and when cheap spray paint is used, they bleed through and turn a neon color. You never know what to expect with a DIY project. Our sprayer also continually clogs, since we have been using Killz primer on the branches, so that the stain will not bleed through. However, we have not given up! So, here's the run down:

Supplies Needed:
Bunches of natural-looking twigs, $1 each (I bought about 30 bunches to make 7 centerpieces)
Killz white primer- about $25 for a large can, or you can buy small individual cans if you do not have a sprayer
Professional spray paint machine (ask your day, grandpa, neighbor, etc. for one of these. They're actually pretty common.)
Large cyliner vases, about 3 feet tall, $19.99 at Michaels Craft Store, or $12.00 with a 40% off coupon :)
1 good looking, hard working fiance (ok, you could do it yourself, but if he's willing, why not?)
About 30 Artifical birds- I bought mine for $1.99/four at Hobby Lobby
Total Project Cost: about $160 for 7 large centerpieces

Here are some pictures from our project:
The setup...

The unsprayed branches:

Branches from the first attempt:

The spraying process:

Waiting to dry!

Pictures of the final product will be available soon!

Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too!

2010-03-22T10:41:00.001-07:00

Saturday my mom and I met with a cake decorator at Market Street. This is a special foods grocery store chain in our area. I had heard that going through special markets, such as Central Market, can cut down the cost of the cake. I would have been skeptical, but a friend of mine had hers done through Central Market, and it looked just like it came out of a custom bakery. After meeting with the decorator, we were thrilled. We booked a two tiered, light blue cake with fondant for a total of $310.10, which included the delivery fee.

If you're nervous that the decorators at these types of locations don't have enough experience, ask if they have a portfolio of past work. Ask around and see if anyone you know has seen a cake come from the same decorator. This is a great way to cut costs but not skimp on style or taste!

2010-03-16T15:57:00.001-07:00

Hello, sweet readers. I've missed you. My blog has been kind of lame lately... I'm sorry. I wish I had more to say. Honestly, I feel like I have the majority of wedding planning finished. Many things cannot be completed until the weeks and days before. So now I am patiently waiting.

Here is one budget attempt I am currently making: hand calligraphying my invitations. It's actually going pretty well, but I still need some practice (especially with my d's, as you can see):

I wouldn't advise doing this if you have 300 guests, but if you break it up and do a few each day, beginning at least six weeks in advance, it is certainly achievable.

Again!

2010-03-08T21:17:00.000-08:00

Well friends, I've got to toot my own horn again. I was placed on the front of the Style Circle page, again :) I am so excited- I love this! It makes me feel like all my endless hours (yes, hours) of wedding planning and scrutinizing have not gone to waste. I used the peach in my wedding colors to inspire this board, named "Just Peachy Keen." Though I don't plan to use an excessive amount of peach in my wedding, I love peach accents. Here is my newest board:

A Small Victory

2010-03-03T21:35:00.000-08:00

Well readers, I need to toot my own horn for a minute. I am very proud to announce that I was placed on the home page of the Style Me Pretty Style Circle. I posted an inspiration board of an all white wedding and apparently it was a big hit! For some famous bloggers, this is a weekly event (that makes me feel even more special because that means I was places among the ranks of other SMP bloggers- woohoo!) :) You can view my lovely post as well as other inspiration boards by me (and other creative brides!) at: http://circle.stylemepretty.com

Country Chic

2010-03-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

Well, this inspiration board has absolutely nothing to do with my wedding, but I love the southern charm fused with the chic glamour in this board! Also, this look is great for brides on a budget because the venues (outdoors + barn) generally costs little to nothing. All that is needed is some serious style and some great decorations! Enjoy :)

Savings

2010-01-28T09:29:00.000-08:00

Ok, seeing as how my mission for this blog is to show my progress as a budget bride, I should actually show my shortcuts and saving thus far (really it's what I'm saving my parents, since they're paying, but it's still my job to help out!). I have planned the major parts of my wedding, and I have been amazed at how much you can save with a little bit of hard work, and still keep it chic and classy. Ok, so let me give you the breakdown:

Ceremony Venue: $1,500- this was a very reasonable price for a venue of this scale. The deposit was only $500, which helped spread the cost into three easy payments.

Reception Venue: $3,500- this venue was originally $4,000, but I got a $500 discount for being a teacher (student teacher). How awesome is that? Also, originally the deposit was $1,000, but I simply asked if this was negotiable, and the owner had no problems allowing us to break it up into two payments. When I first started wedding planning, I would have never thought you could negotiate this kind of thing, but my fiance encourage me to ask, and it worked! This gave me the courage to continue to barter (in a very classy way), which brings me to my next big savings...

Flowers: I decided to purchase my flowers wholesale. Originally, I had spoken with a vendor who offered me $3.95 for each hydrangea stem. I thought this was awesome enough. However, I checked with another vendor on their prices, and they offered me $4.00 a stem. I told them that another vendor had given me a lower price, but thank you anyway. I got a call the next day from that same vendor letting me know that they would be able to take the price down to $3.50 a stem. Talk about business skills! I will be receiving 103 hydrangea stems for $350, whereas with a florist I would have received around 35 stems for over $600. Also, no deposit was required up front for this vendor, so I saved there, as well.

Dress: If you read my original post, you saw that my original favorite dress was over $3,000. However, it did not fit me well, and I fell in love with a similar gown that was only $265. It has been featured in Martha Stewart and Brides magazine over five times in the last year, so I feel confident that it is not a cheapy alternative. This is probably my favorite savings so far.

Photographer: I hunted for a photographer for a long time. I began to get worried that the best would be taken. However, the wife of a friend of mine has just entered into the photography business and is incredibly talented. Her basic package was $900 with only a $100 deposit. This included full day wedding coverage, all files on CD, and edited files on CD, as well. This was a completely awesome deal and I know she will do an incredible job!

DJ: originally I had just planned to have an iPod playlist running through a nice sound system for the reception. However, the venue I chose did not have the capabilities for this. The owner recommended a DJ that would be able to do the reception for $500. Wow! After speaking with him, he let me know that he would not need a deposit, since I have a contract with the reception venue.

I have found other savings here and there, especially with decor. I have received gift cards to craft stores and used coupons at craft stores, and I have bought the majority of the vases and apothecary jars I will need for almost nothing out of pocket. I will keep you updated, but for now, this is where I stand on savings. The moral of this incredibly long post: a little hunting and hard work will save you a ton!

Invitations

2010-01-19T09:18:00.000-08:00

I think I have found my invitations! Wedding Paper Divas have the best selection and prices- I love them! Money saving tip: the more you order, the cheaper they become. Awesome!

Complete Inspiration

2010-01-11T09:57:00.000-08:00

This board is a summation of my wedding inspiration thus far. Bringing it together at an affordable, DIY price is my hurdle right now. But at least I have a focused idea of what I'm going for!

I know I don't have many readers, but if anyone can help, please do!

Shoes

2010-01-07T09:18:00.000-08:00

I love these shoes. Enough said!

Inspiration

2010-01-04T21:45:00.000-08:00

I need some inspiration. I have spent a portion of my evening trying to find and create inspiration for my wedding. I am finding that I've hit a wall. There comes a time when you have to stop looking at pictures, blogs, inspiration boards, and The Knot, and start executing your plans. But that's where I am having trouble. I can't make decisions! I know what vibe I want, but I'm suddenly becoming very wishy-washy on my colors and themes. A non-wedding obsessed individual (for instance, my fiance) would read the previous sentence and gag. But for us fellow wedding lovers, there is sympathy. And maybe perhaps some of you have experienced this same feeling. I really need some new ideas and some help getting it all together!!!

Lovebirds.

2009-12-15T19:25:00.000-08:00

I'm really loving vintage birds right now. I'm thinking about incorporating them into my reception, and maybe making a "lovebirds" theme. It might be kinda faddish, but I like the uniqueness of it. I made this inspiration board in an attempt to tie it all together:

Great News!

2009-11-24T07:37:00.000-08:00

So, nix my last depressing post. I won't have to change my date. I have found a beautiful reception place in the perfect location for an awesome price! I got $500 off JUST for being a teacher! I am super excited, and I want to share it with you:

I originally wanted a loft with exposed brick and beams, but my fiance didn't like the thought of metal beams for a wedding (he's not quite caught up with the urban chic wedding yet). I felt like this place was a good way to meet in the middle. This building is downtown, and the large windows give an open, lofty feel and reveal the downtown view. Also, the hardwood floors and not perfect, and it adds a lofty character, without being too industrial. The walls are peach, which I generally would hate, but I think I can make it work. And for my fiance's sake, the ceiling beams are covered and adorned with chandeliers. Love it!

Now that I have a definite location in mind, I think I might switch my colors and overall feel to blue with maybe some peach and khaki/tan accents. I'm thinking Anthropoligie here. I like this as bouquet/centerpiece as inspiration:

I'm having trouble drawing in more inspiration, though. I don't want to be too classic or frilly. Just the perfect amount of girliness, but with clean, modern foundations. Make sense?

An Update?

2009-11-20T13:54:00.000-08:00

Well, I guess I should update. It's been over a month! I would love to say it's because I've been planning like crazy, but I've actually been doing the opposite. Time and money have kept me from that. It's likely that our wedding date is soon to change. Serious bummer. But in the meantime, as requested, I have more pictures of the chapel:

The Kissing Tree

2009-10-14T15:08:00.003-07:00

I love this website! www.kissthegroom.com

Ceremony Venue

2009-10-03T21:47:00.000-07:00

I officially have a ceremony venue! Which means I officially have a date :)

Progress

2009-09-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm going to be honest. Money is tight! With the current economy, I'm not as embarassed to claim that. Despite budget cuts, I am still looking and planning. Here is an idea of my progress so far:

The cake I have chosen:

It's simple, but it's exactly what I want. Instead of a hydrangea on top, picture a Swarvokski crystal "S" on top (I found one on eBay for about $65)

My hairstyle:

Centerpieces:

Invitations (possibly):

My bouquet:

Bridesmaids bouquets:

The Best Things in Life Are Free!

2009-09-18T17:35:00.000-07:00

Planning is free. Looking at The Knot obsessively is free. Which is where I found this ticker:

Yes, it was free :)

Oh, June 18- Where Are You?

2009-09-01T15:08:00.000-07:00

New wedding budget eval. Will update later.

Gown Update

2009-08-11T15:13:00.000-07:00

I tried on the Judd Waddel gown. Much to my surprise- it didn't look good on me! This gown was made for someone with a very long, elegant torso. I, on the other hand, am short and petite... and this gown was not made for me. But there is good news- I also tried on the Aria gown and... (drumroll please)... it fit PERFECTLY! It's like it was MADE for me! I love it. The boutique owner let me take pictures in it, which I won't post for fear that my fiance might read my blog and spoil the sacred tradition that is the revealing of the gown. But take my word for it- it's lovely. It's exactly what I imagine for myself. I tried on the silk shantung sample in the boutique, but there are three other fabrics to choose from. Aria (geniuses that they are) has an option for you to pay $15 to have any gown sent to your home to try on at your convenience, and all you have to do is pay to ship it back! Incredible, huh? I think I am going to go with this one. I feel like I should try on a few more gowns, just to say that I did, but I know I'll come back to this one. Other gowns that I've viewed, tried on, and liked, all have the same elements that I love in the Aria gown. I think that's a sign!

Truly yours,
B.O.A.B

New Beginnings

2009-08-04T20:41:00.001-07:00

Well, first things first. I got the guy (an awesome one, at that!), I got the ring (and it's beautiful!), and I somewhat-semi-sorta have the date, location, and other details. I am ready to dive head first into real, full-time (I wish) wedding planning. But what first? Date? Venue? Dress? Ok, date. June 18, 2010. Hopefully. Venue... TBA. Dress... my current dilemma.

I am hoping to get some preliminary dress shopping done this week. I have to be honest, I've been looking at dresses since high school (my choice then was not too far from what I'm looking for now- choosing Vera Wang at 16 makes me a wedding addict, no doubt). In a perfect world, money would be no object, and I could just walk into a dress shop, choose the one that I loved the most, end of story. However, my dress budget is coming from personal means, thus leaving me with a limited pool of elegant designers. But that does not make it impossible. Nay, it just makes it challenging- but I like a good challenge.

Back to the perfect world scenario: I walk into a bridal shop, and the shop owner bring me the most elegant, breathtaking gown I have ever laid eyes on. (Actually, I've been compulsively looking at it online now for at least two months, but this is a pretend story.)

I try it on- perfect. Strapless ball gown, white peau de soie. The price tag... at least $4,000 (I'm guessing- it's marked in the $$$$ range on The Knot, so I don't think I'm far off). In a perfect world, I wouldn't even ask the price. But, in this world, $4,000 is simply unattainable at this point in life.

So, what's a girl to do? Find a copy. (HOW?! It's Judd Waddell! Peau de Soie!) Search hard, Bride on a Budget. Well search hard I did, and this is what I found (imagine it without the sash, which is optional):

This dress (and the designer) is featured in the current issue of Brides, the current issue of Martha Stewart Weddings (but so is the Judd Waddell gown), Brides.com, and The Knot.com. And this price tag? $435. Almost hard to believe. No, it is not quite as breathtaking as the elegant sheath of light silky fabric, poofing out just royally enough to be exquisite without being pretentious. But for a copy... I believe it is pretty amazing.

I haven't tried either gown on yet. Next post, I may be loathing strapless ball gowns and peau de soie all together. But either way, I will keep you posted.

Sincerely,

B.O.A.B. (that's going to be my acronym for "Bride on a Budget")