The savvy bride's stunning ceremony location.
Being able to walk away from her wedding debt-free is one thing that Karen Pyor loved about her wedding. With a budget of $10,000 she was able to plan a beautiful, savvy wedding. Like any truly savvy bride she skimped on a few items, which allowed her to be able to keep her wedding within budget yet she still had a gorgeous wedding. Here are her savvy tips to staying within budget:
- Buying her dress “off the rack”…she was able to save 50% on her dress, originally being $800 and buying it off the rack brought it down to $400. Many of you may be thinking that this is pure luck — she just magically fit into that one “perfect” dress and it will never happen again. But she assures you that it can be done, no matter the size! Look into bridal boutique shops and see if they have discounts for buying off the rack—you never know, you could be just as lucky as Karen.
The savvy reception.
- Cutting Corners…on tablecloths. Yes, tablecloths do add up. Karen decided to skip on the two layers for the reception table coverings. Usually, you would have a short table cloth as well as longer white table cloth. She decided to skip the longer one all together. Her reasoning: 1. It usually gets in the way, and 2. She saved money. I do have to say you can’t even notice that she is missing a tablecloth in the picture to the left!
- Friends…I think the Beatles had it right; you really do get by with a little help from your friends. One of Karen’s friends bought her wedding cake for her as a wedding gift while another decided to purchase giveaways for the table. Another thing not to forget: don’t be afraid to ask for some help. Your friends and family know that you have a lot going on and they are there to help you!
The wedding gift - the cake!
- Flowers…Instead of going the traditional route of a florist, Karen decided to use a nursery. She had the flowers delivered the day of the wedding and used flowers that were in season. Mums in the fall went perfectly with her budget and wedding!
- DIY…I’m sure you have heard it all before but making some of your own key items really does save money on your wedding. Karen decided to make her own veil using a head piece and silver beads from a craft store, Michaels. She ended up saving $200 on her veil just by doing it herself. Karen’s mother also made the bridesmaid’s bouquets which helped her stay within budget. She also made her own table centerpieces.
- Hunt…Karen was able to find a great photographer at a fabulous price (less than $1,000) because she did her research. She browsed online and found a photographer who may have been less experienced but had the type of style and quality that she was looking for.
Images courtesy of the savvy bride.
