All posts under ‘budget’
Find yourself scrounging for cash to complete your wedding day look after splurging on your gown? Not to worry, we’ve collected 14 affordable bridal accessories, from veils and shoes to jewellery and garters, that all cost under $40. These budget-friendly accessories look just as pretty as their high-priced counterparts but won’t break the bank (some of them are even under $20!).
While DIY invitations are cost-effective, they can become too timely to do if you have a lengthy guest list. That doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice budget for a large wedding. We searched high and low for budget-friendly invitations that are printed for you and are completely customizable. Here are ten of our favourites, all under $1 each!
Little thank you presents are a fantastic way to show your girls that you appreciate all the time and hard work they put into your wedding. We found 14 gifts under $30 (some are even under $20!) that look like they cost a bundle. Flip through our ideas to find the perfect little something special for the most important ladies in your life.
Looking for the perfect wedding gift to surprise your groom with on your actual wedding day? From the comfiest robe your mister will ever own (it’s made out of fleece) to a musky (and sexy!) fragrance, here are 9 presents we think your groom will love and thank you for.
You don’t need to break the bank to find a beautiful wedding dress. We’ve tracked down eight budget-friendly gowns that are just as special as those that come with quadruple digit price tags. We even found one that’s modeled after the bejeweled gown Kate Middleton wore to her wedding reception! Whether you’re into flowing chiffon or structured taffeta, take comfort in the fact that you can afford the dress of your dreams, even when you’re on a budget.
After forking over tens of thousands of dollars for a wedding who wants to pay through the nose for a honeymoon? To help you get the best possible deal on your romantic vacation we appealed to the travel experts at Vayama. Read on for their top seven money-saving tips.
#1 – Travel Midweek
International travel deals are entirely based on availability and since most people travel over the weekend (Friday & Saturday); you will find the cheapest international airfare deals if you travel midweek, usually departing and returning on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
#2 – Spend Saturday Night
Business travelers fly home on the weekend, so most discounted international airfare deals require a Saturday night stay. Be prepared to spend Saturday at your destination.
#3 – Don’t Book Too Early or Too Late
Most people realize that an international ticket booked with less than three days notice will be very expensive, but it will also be pricey if you book too far in advance. Most airlines start competing for passengers around three to four months before departure. Search for your international airfare about three to five months out and you will be in the best position to score a deal.
#4 – Fly Trough the Side Door
If your desired destination is sold out (too expensive), try flying out of a secondary international airport. The same works with your destination airports; If London isn’t an option, try Brussels, Amsterdam or even Stuttgart. You can use the savings to book a low cost inter-Europe flight to London or you can jump on the Eurostar train from Paris or Brussels.
#5 – Fly Seasonally
Most budget travelers never fly during high season. They take advantage of the lower airfares and decent weather during the ‘shoulder season’. Europe’s fall shoulder season starts around September 15th and extends until the middle of November. It’s spring shoulder season starts in mid February and extends until the end of April. For the cheapest deals to New Zealand and Australia, fly in mid August, their fall and winters are quite mild and still allow you to enjoy the many outdoor adventures available Down Under. For Asia, fly from late September through November to get the lowest airfare deals. South America’s low season is anytime except Christmas, New Year’s, Carnival or a school holiday.
#6 – Use the Multiple Flights Function
Vayama has a ‘multiple flights’ function on it’s ‘find a flight’ box. It’s a good idea to use it because it may be cheaper to fly into one city and return from another (for example; New York to London, returning from Amsterdam). Play around with different combinations and save.
#7 – Add a Stopover and Save
Flights with at least one stopover are typically cheaper than nonstop flights, particularly when you fly long haul. For example the fares for a New York to Johannesburg flight will be cheaper on airlines that add a stopover (usually in Europe, Africa or the Middle East) versus the nonstop option from New York. The same applies to long haul flights to Asia. One stop in Seoul or Taipei could shave hundreds of dollars off an India trip when compared to nonstop flights.
Photo courtesy iStockphoto
Wondering how other brides are saving money on their weddings? We asked our Facebook and Twitter followers to share their best cost-cutting tips and tricks. Here’s what they had to say:
I printed all the invites, rsvps, and envelopes. I bought my dress from a wedding consignment store which only cost me $500.00 and veil $75.00. My husband rented his tux and I bought my daughter’s dress from Walmart. I made all the little treat bags for the tables and the name cards for the tables. We paid everything up front and not on credit. We got married in a park which only cost $80.00 with a justice of the peace which was only $100.00. All and all our wedding cost us $3000.00 and we didn’t have to pay interest as it was all paid for in advance.
- Rachel Burnie via Facebook
Bargain shopping online and Etsy. That website has saved me tons and tons of money!
- Liz Gruening via Facebook
We photographed a bride the other day who grew flowers and made her own simple bouquet with some ribbon and pins!
- @GreenPhotograph via Twitter
We cut the guest list and had a BBQ reception with homemade food…yumm.
- Mary Giesbrecht via Facebook
We invited 24 of the closest people to us that we actually see on a regular basis. Extended family, co-workers, acquaintances, etc… were not included on the guest list. We also had a two-hour thank you reception with cocktails, appetizers and cake. People talked and mingled about in a private dinning room. Best $5000 we ever spent!
- Christina Hiebert via Facebook
We printed our own invites and arranged all the centerpieces. We were also able to get into a military venue thanks to a friend.
- Radhika Khan via Facebook
Handmade soap for the guests as favours!
- Lise Huppler via Facebook
We made our own invitations (paperless!)
- Stefanie de Best Photography via Facebook
We did our own flowers & no boutonnieres!
- @Orsolya via Twitter
To join in this discussion and others follow us at facebook.com/weddingbellsmag or twitter.com/weddingbellsmag.
While being chosen as a bridesmaid is always an honour, it can also be extremely expensive. With gifting, getaways and celebratory nights out, your wedding could end up costing your maids hundreds of dollars before the big day even rolls around.
For that reason we set out to ease some of the financial burden by hunting down some of the prettiest affordable bridesmaid dresses out there in colours perfect for a fall wedding.
ATTENTION BRIDES! There's still time to lose weight before your special day! Find out more ...
Graydon Hall Manor: Toronto’s most exclusive reception facility – only 4 Saturday’s left in 2010.
