Clever Ways to Save

December 9, 2009 By Holly Leave a Comment

Previously I did a post listing tips on ways to save your budget for your big day. Here are some other clever ways to save big on all your Wedding expenses. From the dress to favors.

Save On Your Wedding ExpensesBuy Pre-Owned or Never Used: I found Bravo Bride via Snippet & Ink, and it’s an amazing website. You can buy pre-owned wedding items from other brides, or sell things you never used from your own wedding. Whether its left overs, extra, or just wanting to recycle something you only used on your big day, you can find it here. It has everything from jewelry to decor, to designer bridal gowns at half the cost!

Support Crafty People: Another well known resource is Etsy. You can find handmade, unique items made by individual sellers for half the price of buying through a big name brand or fancy store. Etsy also has plenty of listings for restored, antique or vintage items, to give some character to your wedding. The best thing about Etsy is how personal the service is, considering most sellers will customize the item for you however you’d like.

Plan Ahead… Way Ahead: A great tip for shopping for decor or long lasting items for the wedding, such as table settings, non perishable favors etc, you can plan way ahead and buy early. If you have a seasonal themed wedding, once the season is close to ending or passed, you can buy the items all discounted, and use it for the same season next year. That is, if your date is set for a year or more ahead. This not only gives you time to hunt down or wait for something to go on sale, but also time for finding exactly what you want and not settling.

And there’s always Ebay!

Filed Under Information Tagged With Budget Friendly Tips, Vendors

Diamond Rings

December 7, 2009 By Holly Leave a Comment

For those of us in love, and who are on a tight budget, there are few options out there for a tasteful, affordable diamond ring. Whether its a sweet and simple engagement ring or a promise ring, here are some great finds if your requirements are:

- Real diamond
- Budget of $100
- Sterling Silver or Gold (any color)

Engagement Rings Under $100

Credits: Top to bottom, left to right: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine.

If you don’t want Cubic Zirconia, or a semi precious stone (even if it resembles a diamond), and are set on a real diamond no matter how small, here are some great finds.. Using the budget $50 – $100 in a search on Etsy (to weed out the unworthy), these are the best results.

Super simple, chic and classic, these are beautiful solitaires. One hundred percent real diamonds, with varying clarity. Etsy sellers usually always offer to make the ring in your size, or use a metal of your choice, so you really can’t go wrong.

Be sure to become familiar with the diamond classification terms, such as diamond Clarity, Cut, and Color. These are good resources to read up on when choosing a diamond.

As for my personal budget ring story: my boyfriend wanted to give me, what he calls, a “real estate” ring. As in, it is claiming the real estate on my ring finger, but isn’t really an engagement ring. We are living abroad, and away from both our families, so he has promised to only give me a true engagement ring when he has met my family. “Promise ring” reminds him too much of impulsive teenagers, and he didn’t want it to lose it’s meaning.

mineThat is my ring there on the left (photo from the listing), and it was an amazing find: a vintage diamond ring from around the 1950s, with an illusion setting (great feature for budget rings), two side diamonds, and solid 14kt White Gold. It was $99 and I couldn’t be happier. I wanted something unique, and original, and I got it. Don’t underestimate the power of ebay, for great antique, vintage rings! They can always be resized by your jeweler if you find the ring of your dreams.

If you are looking for a conflict free, eco friendly, luxurious diamond, be sure to check out Brilliant Earth.

Filed Under Pre Wedding Tagged With Bride, Budget Friendly Tips, Rings: Engagement

Budget Rescue

November 30, 2009 By Holly Leave a Comment

It’s a scary fact that most wedding expenses end up costing double what the budget originally allowed. This means that its likely that the figure you have predetermined to spend on your big day, will end up being only half of what it will cost you in the end. However, there are plenty of sensible ways you can cut down on expenses without risking the sacrifice of your perfect planning.

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