Despite the failing economy, one thing remains constant - the wedding announcements in The New York Times Style Section. Weddings occur on every weekend of every year, no matter what the stock market says. Here are some ideas to get you through wedding season without having to search for a bailout plan:
1. Borrow a dress from a friend. No cost, except it would be nice to dry clean it afterwards.
2. Chip in together with your friends for bridal shower gifts - get lingerie (maybe on sale) instead of candlesticks from the registry.
3. For wedding gifts - if you have any artistic talents, use them - such as painting a picture. If you can't draw a stick figure, find a great photo of the couple (learn how to use all of those photo applications on the MacBook you had to have) and have it mounted and framed.
4. Carpool to weddings, showers, engagement parties. If you don't have a car, use public transportation. Buses, trains and subways are available in all cities and who knows maybe you'll get hit on by someone other than a homeless person, you never know!
5. Just because you were invited with a date to a destination wedding, doesn't mean you have to bring one. Leave your husband home with the kids -leave your boyfriend home with the dog. The weekend is much cheaper when there is no plus 1.
6. For bachelorette parties - do one night in the city you live in and have every girl cook a dish. This way you will have a lot of food, can all get together in someone's apartment, eat and go out from there.
7. Have a bridal shower in a bridesmaid or family member's home. The cost of the venue is a large chunk and without this you can still afford to hire a caterer.
8. On the wedding day - don't get your hair and makeup done professionally. Honestly, since it is not your wedding, only you care how pretty you look (especially since you aren't bringing your plus 1) and for the money, we think you can get over it for a day.
Tell us how you have cut costs!
Picture from www.msnbc.msn.com
3 comments:
three words... Thursday night wedding.
Everyone you want to come celebrate will still come, but you'll pay half the money per person.
I was recently set off by one of my childhood friends who is getting married next fall and seems to be trying to be as inconvenient as possible. Of course I am not but happy for my friends and wish them all of the happiness in the world, but as the token single girl, I would like to offer brides some advice/pointers.
1. Yes, your wedding is the biggest day of your life, but it is not for your guests unless they are in your immediate family or best friend.
2. If you are going to insist on having a wedding in a unique (ie: very inconvenient location) provide transportation or hotels in the area. It isn’t the responsibility of an out of town guest to research hotels and transportation in a unfamiliar city.
3. If you are a out of town guest who does not know anyone at the wedding other than the bride (which happens as we get older) your wedding is a major expense, so a simple thank you will be nice and much appreciated. Telling the cheesy/annoying groomsmen that your friend is hot and single is not fun or appreciated. I might be bored, but by no means will I be slumming it with your new husbands annoying friends in a rented tux.
4. When I am 35, I plan to throw a party and register at Saks and Barneys. I expect two presents. I will provide the open bar,which will actually be one of the bigger highlights of your wedding!
Do I have to buy 3 separate gifts for an engagement, bridal shower and wedding?
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