Three years ago my handsome husband and I were married, and although it seems ages ago that our little family was just the two of us, that special day is still as fresh as ever in my head!
Even though this blog was not around when we were married, my luxe for less motto guided me in all the wedding decisions we made, and I was on a mission to make our wedding as special as possible - but of course on a budget we could afford!
Here are just a few ways we saved on cost but not on taste for our big day...
Even though this blog was not around when we were married, my luxe for less motto guided me in all the wedding decisions we made, and I was on a mission to make our wedding as special as possible - but of course on a budget we could afford!
Here are just a few ways we saved on cost but not on taste for our big day...
1. Affordable Save the Dates...
We wanted a "save the date" card that was attractive but didn't break the bank. I was so impressed with the price point and selection at Wedding Paper Divas, and our order arrived in less than a week!
We wanted a "save the date" card that was attractive but didn't break the bank. I was so impressed with the price point and selection at Wedding Paper Divas, and our order arrived in less than a week!
2. Consider Computerized Calligraphy...
Hiring a calligrapher to address your wedding invitations is a beautiful touch, but at $3-$5 an envelope it can really add up. We opted for computerized calligraphy addressed envelopes...at less than an $1 an envelope I think this really gives you the style of luxe stationary for less!
Hiring a calligrapher to address your wedding invitations is a beautiful touch, but at $3-$5 an envelope it can really add up. We opted for computerized calligraphy addressed envelopes...at less than an $1 an envelope I think this really gives you the style of luxe stationary for less!
3. Think OUTSIDE THE BOX for your venue...
We saw several gorgeous venues when looking for a spot for our reception, but we wanted it to be a place that was gorgeous, with great food and service, and that would be affordable. After many trips out to CT, we stumbled upon the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT, and of all places, this is where we decided to have the reception. The event staff on site did such an incredible job, and we did not have to worry about spending a lot of money on decor because the venue itself was so interesting - it barely needed any sprucing up! Can you see the seals peeking through in the background??
We saw several gorgeous venues when looking for a spot for our reception, but we wanted it to be a place that was gorgeous, with great food and service, and that would be affordable. After many trips out to CT, we stumbled upon the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT, and of all places, this is where we decided to have the reception. The event staff on site did such an incredible job, and we did not have to worry about spending a lot of money on decor because the venue itself was so interesting - it barely needed any sprucing up! Can you see the seals peeking through in the background??
4. Be creative when it comes to photography...
I certainly don't think that a few disposable cameras are going to give you the memories you deserve for your special day, but that being said there are so many ways you can be creative when it comes to finding a reasonable price for your wedding photos. When we first started looking for a photographer I was surprised by the number of people that require you to choose a wedding package with an album. This will automatically increase the cost of your wedding photos. We chose NYC photographer Patricia Kantzos who has several wedding package options, one of which does not require the purchase of a wedding album.
Are any of your friends photographers? Maybe you could enlist the local talent of a good friend to help you on your special day.
And never discount how many photos will be gathered by all your friends and family! Some of my favorite wedding photos are candids taken by my friends. It may seem like a daunting task to contact all of your friends and family after the wedding to find their pictures of your special day, but that is where the brilliant new company Kaptur comes in...
Kaptur is a website that will help you bring together your wedding guests' photos of your special day or weekend within seconds. Just login into Kaptur with your Facebook account, search for family and friends who were at the event, and within 30 seconds you could have hundreds of photos, videos, and status updates from your wedding via Facebook, Flickr, and other social networking sites. If you are planning a wedding and you have not checked out Kaptur you need to look into it NOW!
I certainly don't think that a few disposable cameras are going to give you the memories you deserve for your special day, but that being said there are so many ways you can be creative when it comes to finding a reasonable price for your wedding photos. When we first started looking for a photographer I was surprised by the number of people that require you to choose a wedding package with an album. This will automatically increase the cost of your wedding photos. We chose NYC photographer Patricia Kantzos who has several wedding package options, one of which does not require the purchase of a wedding album.
Are any of your friends photographers? Maybe you could enlist the local talent of a good friend to help you on your special day.
And never discount how many photos will be gathered by all your friends and family! Some of my favorite wedding photos are candids taken by my friends. It may seem like a daunting task to contact all of your friends and family after the wedding to find their pictures of your special day, but that is where the brilliant new company Kaptur comes in...
Kaptur is a website that will help you bring together your wedding guests' photos of your special day or weekend within seconds. Just login into Kaptur with your Facebook account, search for family and friends who were at the event, and within 30 seconds you could have hundreds of photos, videos, and status updates from your wedding via Facebook, Flickr, and other social networking sites. If you are planning a wedding and you have not checked out Kaptur you need to look into it NOW!
5. Budget Friendly Bubbly...
I love a good sparkling wine, and I knew that I wanted the bubbly flowing ALL night long at my wedding! If you choose to indulge in a sparkling wine for your guests beyond the traditional toast your bar tab can add up fast. We opted for Prosecco at the bar and it was certainly more affordable than champagne, and just as delicious in my opinion!
I love a good sparkling wine, and I knew that I wanted the bubbly flowing ALL night long at my wedding! If you choose to indulge in a sparkling wine for your guests beyond the traditional toast your bar tab can add up fast. We opted for Prosecco at the bar and it was certainly more affordable than champagne, and just as delicious in my opinion!
6. Diamonds are a girl's best friend, but CZ isn't half bad either...
In my opinion Overstock Jeweler has a beautiful selection of elegant imitation jewelry for brides. See how my ears sparkled even though my only real bling was on my left hand...
In my opinion Overstock Jeweler has a beautiful selection of elegant imitation jewelry for brides. See how my ears sparkled even though my only real bling was on my left hand...
7. Holler at your girls...and line up your something borrowed!
You want to look your absolute best on your wedding day, but the hope is that you will never be wearing your wedding dress or accessories again - because this is a one time thing you are doing! So that being said you really don't have to own everything you plan on wearing at your wedding...I borrowed my sister's veil and the comb she wore in her hair for her wedding. Yes I saved on the cost of the hair clip and veil, but it was also so special to have my "something borrowed" from my sister.
You want to look your absolute best on your wedding day, but the hope is that you will never be wearing your wedding dress or accessories again - because this is a one time thing you are doing! So that being said you really don't have to own everything you plan on wearing at your wedding...I borrowed my sister's veil and the comb she wore in her hair for her wedding. Yes I saved on the cost of the hair clip and veil, but it was also so special to have my "something borrowed" from my sister.
8. Choose a color, not a bloom...
We used a local florist/garden center for our flowers and we could not have been happier with our arrangements. When I met with our florist the first advice he gave me was to choose the color I wanted, but to be flexible with the flowers and to go with what was in season. For example I love dahlias, but I did not love the idea of importing in expensive out of season flowers. We went with pink and green and what was in season, and we loved what they came up with! And of course I was thrilled that he was able to find some late season peonies...
We used a local florist/garden center for our flowers and we could not have been happier with our arrangements. When I met with our florist the first advice he gave me was to choose the color I wanted, but to be flexible with the flowers and to go with what was in season. For example I love dahlias, but I did not love the idea of importing in expensive out of season flowers. We went with pink and green and what was in season, and we loved what they came up with! And of course I was thrilled that he was able to find some late season peonies...
9. Who says it's all about the cake?
Yes a wedding cake is often the symbol of your wedded bliss, but it does not have to be your go to dessert for your special day. Wedding cakes can be delicious or not so delicious, but they are usually one thing...expensive!
We went with Crumbs cupcakes and an ice cream sundae bar...there were lots of flavors to choose from and it was so much more affordable than a fancy cake.
It is such an exciting time to be planning a wedding - no matter your budget make sure you do what you love and you have fun!
