I bought my dress a couple months ago and absolutely love it. The price wasn't too bad (where they get you is the accessories like the veil, bra and slip). After you buy a dress, the sales staff automatically assumes you are having your alterations done at the store. I was so excited about the dress I went ahead and made the alteration appointment. Once I got home and wasn't quite as delirious over how much I loved my dress, I called the alterations department to see how much it would be to hem the dress. My dress laces up in the back, so I knew I wouldn't need the other alterations. When I called and told the alterations lady this, she said to hem a wedding dress started at $75 and wouldn't be more than $120. I about fell over. Needless to say, this budget bride cancelled her alterations appointment.
Luckily, I knew a sewing shop in my hometown where I had my prom dress altered. Since I have already had a dress altered there, I knew she could handle my wedding dress. My prom dress even needed other alterations than just hemming. So a few weeks ago I took it to the seamstress and tried it on. I even had her add a bustle so I could keep the bottom from getting as dirty at the reception. For the hemming and the bustle, it cost $35.00. The dress looked just as good as if I had had the store do it, but I paid less than half the price.
My advice for soon-to-be brides is to look around and talk to those you know about a good seamstress they might know. Chances are, someone will know someone and they won't charge as much as a bridal store. I would make sure to check out a place before taking your dress there, though, because you want to make sure your wedding dress is in good hands.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Putting Things Into Perspective
This post is not going to be your typical advice for brides-to-be, but I think it's an important post for me to make. My dad has had health problems since I was a little kid, but things have gotten really bad in the past few years. He went from about 225 lbs. to 148 lbs. in a few years time due to Chron's Disease. He was getting so bad in the past couple months that I started to worry if he'd even be able to walk me down the aisle for my wedding.
This past Tuesday, my dad had surgery. Because of his overall health problems and his low weight, I was really worried about him getting through his surgery. By the grace of God, he made it through. To our surprise, he started getting better almost immediately. The day after surgery he was already getting more color back in his face. He left the hospital today, a day earlier than what they told us the earliest release date would be. If you had seen my dad before this surgery and seen him now, you would know it was a miracle.
Now my dad has some recovery still left to do, but he seems to be on the right track.
The reason I'm telling this story, the one that's been such a major part of my life for awhile, is because I wanted to put things into perspective for everyone. When I started to think my dad might not even be able to walk me down then aisle, may not even make it to see me get married, my outlook on life changed. I've never been a very materialistic person or worried too much about what people thought, but now I really see how much more important being with those you care about is than creating a good image. I am telling you this story in hopes that some of you who are out there planning weddings right now will take a moment and think about what's truly important to you on your wedding day. Once I thought there was even a possibility of my dad, the one who is supposed to walk me down the aisle, not making it there, nothing else seemed to matter very much.
While I know most of you out there don't have the same situation I do, it is something to keep in mind as you begin worrying about how much money you have and what you can afford. No matter what, this is your day and what truly matters is that your future spouse and your loved ones are there to share in the moment with you. I hope my story has helped put things into perspective and helped everyone appreciate what they do have. Maybe now when the photographer you want is booked or they don't have the dress you want in your size, the situation will seem a little less like the end of the world (eh, well maybe for some of you) :)
This past Tuesday, my dad had surgery. Because of his overall health problems and his low weight, I was really worried about him getting through his surgery. By the grace of God, he made it through. To our surprise, he started getting better almost immediately. The day after surgery he was already getting more color back in his face. He left the hospital today, a day earlier than what they told us the earliest release date would be. If you had seen my dad before this surgery and seen him now, you would know it was a miracle.
Now my dad has some recovery still left to do, but he seems to be on the right track.
The reason I'm telling this story, the one that's been such a major part of my life for awhile, is because I wanted to put things into perspective for everyone. When I started to think my dad might not even be able to walk me down then aisle, may not even make it to see me get married, my outlook on life changed. I've never been a very materialistic person or worried too much about what people thought, but now I really see how much more important being with those you care about is than creating a good image. I am telling you this story in hopes that some of you who are out there planning weddings right now will take a moment and think about what's truly important to you on your wedding day. Once I thought there was even a possibility of my dad, the one who is supposed to walk me down the aisle, not making it there, nothing else seemed to matter very much.
While I know most of you out there don't have the same situation I do, it is something to keep in mind as you begin worrying about how much money you have and what you can afford. No matter what, this is your day and what truly matters is that your future spouse and your loved ones are there to share in the moment with you. I hope my story has helped put things into perspective and helped everyone appreciate what they do have. Maybe now when the photographer you want is booked or they don't have the dress you want in your size, the situation will seem a little less like the end of the world (eh, well maybe for some of you) :)
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Reception Hall Advice and more
Looking for a way to save on a reception hall? Look for people in your family who have memberships to lodges or other organizations. The hall I have rented is originally 700 down and 200 back if it's clean. Since my grandma retired from the organization that owns it, it went down to 400 down with 125 back if it's clean. That's over 200 dollars I am able to spend on something else.
One of my biggest priorities was my dress so it was one of my larger expenses. What surprised me, though, was the accessories. Buying the accessories at the bridal store is expensive. There was a tiara I liked, but it was $150. My advice on this is to buy the dress you want and then shop around for the accessories. You might ask friends and family who have been married recently if they have any of their accessories, such as their veil. By doing this, you'll still get something great without spending a fortune.
Overall, make sure you recognize your priorities at the beginning of your wedding planning. Then, if you have to make sacrifices based on cost, you cut down on the things you don't care as much about and you still get the things that matter the most. This concept has been essential in cutting costs without going insane during my wedding planning.
One of my biggest priorities was my dress so it was one of my larger expenses. What surprised me, though, was the accessories. Buying the accessories at the bridal store is expensive. There was a tiara I liked, but it was $150. My advice on this is to buy the dress you want and then shop around for the accessories. You might ask friends and family who have been married recently if they have any of their accessories, such as their veil. By doing this, you'll still get something great without spending a fortune.
Overall, make sure you recognize your priorities at the beginning of your wedding planning. Then, if you have to make sacrifices based on cost, you cut down on the things you don't care as much about and you still get the things that matter the most. This concept has been essential in cutting costs without going insane during my wedding planning.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Less than three months from the BIG day :)
Hello first blog readers. I hope you enjoy my postings on here and find them useful. Before I start talking about money saving and what I've done, I thought I'd give some background information about myself.
My fiance, Jon Hickman, and I have been together for over 4 years. We are both college students. We first met when we worked together at a local restaurant in our hometown, but didn't really know each other well at the time. Well, we may have actually met when we were little because we attended the same church, but neither of us remember! We then reconnected in December of 2006 and started to communicate through Myspace (that shows how long we've been together lol). We started dating on February 1, 2007 when I was still a senior in high school.
After wanting to get married for awhile, Jon asked me to marry him on December 21, 2010. By the way, he surprised me at work and sang and played guitar for me (You and Me by Lifehouse)! We then set our wedding date for five months later, May 21, 2011. At first I was really worried about planning a wedding in five months, but it has been surprisingly possible and we actually have most of it done. My mom has been a HUGE help in the wedding planning process. She and I like to plan things and we've really teamed up in the last couple months and have accomplished way more than I thought possible.
During this process, I have been finishing my last quarter of my Bachelor of Arts. I have also been job hunting and Jon has been in the process of moving and adapting to a new city and a new job. Through all of this, we have been able to plan a lot of the wedding, so I believe anything is possible!
I want to say in this first post that the advice I give is simply that. It's my advice and readers may care more about things that I did not care as much about and vice versa. I do want to end this post with some of the best advice you will ever get on here. Starting your life with the person you love is much more important than one day. A wedding day goes by in a flash and while I believe it's important to try to make it yours and enjoy it, it is so much more important that you are getting ready to spend your life with someone. A wedding is a day and marriage is a lifetime (well not always, but it's almost always longer than a day!) Please keep that in mind as you start down the journey of wedding planning and take a minute to make sure you want to spend your life with the person. And if you decide you want to, keep reminding yourself during the planning process what is truly important. I know it will be hard, but it can save you a lot of money and frustration if you remember this advice.
My fiance, Jon Hickman, and I have been together for over 4 years. We are both college students. We first met when we worked together at a local restaurant in our hometown, but didn't really know each other well at the time. Well, we may have actually met when we were little because we attended the same church, but neither of us remember! We then reconnected in December of 2006 and started to communicate through Myspace (that shows how long we've been together lol). We started dating on February 1, 2007 when I was still a senior in high school.
After wanting to get married for awhile, Jon asked me to marry him on December 21, 2010. By the way, he surprised me at work and sang and played guitar for me (You and Me by Lifehouse)! We then set our wedding date for five months later, May 21, 2011. At first I was really worried about planning a wedding in five months, but it has been surprisingly possible and we actually have most of it done. My mom has been a HUGE help in the wedding planning process. She and I like to plan things and we've really teamed up in the last couple months and have accomplished way more than I thought possible.
During this process, I have been finishing my last quarter of my Bachelor of Arts. I have also been job hunting and Jon has been in the process of moving and adapting to a new city and a new job. Through all of this, we have been able to plan a lot of the wedding, so I believe anything is possible!
I want to say in this first post that the advice I give is simply that. It's my advice and readers may care more about things that I did not care as much about and vice versa. I do want to end this post with some of the best advice you will ever get on here. Starting your life with the person you love is much more important than one day. A wedding day goes by in a flash and while I believe it's important to try to make it yours and enjoy it, it is so much more important that you are getting ready to spend your life with someone. A wedding is a day and marriage is a lifetime (well not always, but it's almost always longer than a day!) Please keep that in mind as you start down the journey of wedding planning and take a minute to make sure you want to spend your life with the person. And if you decide you want to, keep reminding yourself during the planning process what is truly important. I know it will be hard, but it can save you a lot of money and frustration if you remember this advice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)