Shop Dollar Tree For Frugal AppetizersPlaces like Dollar Tree sells jars of marinated mushrooms, olives, roasted red peppers, etc. for about a dollar a jar. You can use these to make giant, inexpensive antipasto platters.
Quick Fix for A Damaged Wedding CakeI recently attended a friend's wedding. When we arrived, we discovered that the ceramic cake topper had tumbled off the top of the cake, leaving a path of gorged frosting in its wake on all 3 layers of the cake.
Decorating Your Yard For Your WeddingIf you have a pond, use Japanese floating candles. They are pretty lit up with the glowing light through the shade.
Secrets for a Long and Happy MarriageMy granddaughter surprised me with a last minute invitation to her wedding. I had been teasing the couple about making their marriage last as long as mine, so I made her a special card that listed "Secrets for a Long and Happy Marriage."
Rose Scented Spray For Artificial FlowersMany brides want their wedding party to have a nice remembrance of their wedding, so they select artificial flowers. I buy spray bottles of rose body spray and right before the ceremony, I spray all the flowers with a touch of the rose scent.
Engagement Photo: Holding HandsI got engaged this past August and this was a picture I took and used as part of our announcements. I feel like it's just such a special picture, it doesn't just show the ring but shows us entwined.
Use Bubble Wrap in VasesWhile looking for something to go into the bottom of vases to hold flowers for my daughter's wedding and keep the costs down, I ran across some bubble wrap laying around that was shaped like ice cubes.
Floral Bridal HeadpieceThis is the head piece I will wear when I get married in November. I bought a bag of craft items at a resale shop for $1.50. In it were these flowers, some trim, white floral tape, and other flowers and items.
Saving Money on FlowersOne of the best tips I can give a young homemaker is to always save money for flowers. If you don't have a garden and live in an apartment, they can get pretty dreary.
Heart Shaped Wedding CookiesI recently made the wedding favors for my son's wedding. They were heart shaped cookies decorated with chocolate modeling clay.
Creative Ways to Serve FruitI am planning a wedding for July 12, 2009. I feel like I have a very tight budget, $2000 for food (for 100 guests) and decorations. I have learned some great things from this website. I was attempting to create a palm tree made from pineapples for a fruit display.
Use Plastic Tablecloths to Make a Ribbon WallI wanted to block that view, yet let in air circulation, but on a budget. I am ordering rolls of high quality plastic tablecloths. I will cut the plastic in 6 inch wide strips by 8 feet long and attach them to the roof line.
Spot Color Your Wedding PhotosThis is one of my favorite pictures of my son's wedding. The photographer said this was very easy to do and could be done with any picture that he took.
Buy (and Ship) Wedding Gift at Bed, Bath and BeyondGo into Bed, Bath, and Beyond to send a wedding gift if you cannot attend. If you go into the store, you can use your coupon (which you cannot online) and you pay for shipping based on the price of the item (not the weight).
Save On Catering With A "Dessert" WeddingHave your wedding later in the evening and serve desserts only instead of a full dinner. It is no longer a "must" to serve a full meal as long as your ceremony and reception are late enough for the guests to eat before they arrive.
Disposable Cameras for WeddingsPut a disposable camera on each reception table, these often capture very special candid moments! Do not buy the overpriced ones you see in wedding catalogs though! You can buy them in packages of 6 at walmart for $10.99 and there are many free templates for camera covers on the internet.
Using Dried Lavender For Your WeddingMy daughter is crafty and she was able to buy a huge amount of high quality - semi dried lavender, on eBay for less then $100.00 total. She made table decorations with the lavender by binding a large bunch together with wire and then ribbons.
Make Tea Sandwiches For Your Bridal ShowerTo save money on an engagement brunch or bridal shower, make tea sandwiches instead of hiring a caterer. Invest in an electric knife and toothpicks to help make simple lunch meat sandwiches look very professional.
Save Rose Petals For Future WeddingFor all you brides or hopeless romantics, begin saving rose petals from your bridal bouquet and from any other bouquets your beloved gives you through the years. When your dear daughters marry, their flower girls can toss those rose petals passing on a legacy of love.
Toilet Paper Roll Favor BoxesOur favor boxes were made from toilet paper rolls. We cut them in half and folded in the bottom, creating a cup. Then we painted them all white inside and out so the card board would harden.
Plastic Canvas Bird Candle HolderI had a pattern for a 3-D bird that my daughter wanted to use for decorating the hall at her wedding. I took it a bit further and redesigned it to make candle holders for the tables.
Tin Can Wedding Flower HolderThese cute and inexpensive tin can decorations are perfect for a country themed wedding. Just clean ordinary tin cans and hot glue a square of styrofoam into the bottom, adding whatever silk flowers you choose.
Decorated Ice For Punch BowlAt our wedding, we made special large cubes for the punch bowl and froze rose petals in it. You can use anything non-toxic, on other occasions I have used fruit slices, sprigs of mint, etc.
Cheaper Wedding PicturesWhen I got married, I had a college photography student take the professional pictures, so I paid less. Then I asked 6 friends if they could spend the day taking pictures they thought were interesting.
Print Your Own InvitationsDon't bother buying printed invitations, when you can do just as well at home on your computer! You can get plain colored paper or special invitation packages at the large office supply stores.
Easier Thank You NotesWhen you throw a bridal (or baby shower), buy a pack of thank you cards for the guest of honor. During the party, pass out the envelopes and have everyone put their address on one. When the bride (or new mom) sends the thank you notes, they're already addressed!
Using Preprinted Checks After The WeddingFor anyone who's going to be getting married soon, this bit of info is for you. If you still write personal checks, instead of doing everything online, consider using up all your printed personal checks, until they're all gone.
Using Prom Dresses for 'Rice Roses""Satin" prom dresses, bought at a thrift store, provide great material to make rice roses (those pretty roses that hold rice or bird seed for the grand exit). Directions on how to make the roses are available on line. They are very easy to make. . .
Using Wedding Decorations in Your HomeWhen planning your wedding, plan to use silk flowers and accessories that you can later use in decorating your new home. You will feel better about the expense if you get to reuse the items.
Flower Ice Cubes to Keep Punch ColdWe served iced tea at our summer garden wedding in a big punch bowl, and made large ice cubes with flowers frozen into them in margarine tubs in the freezer. They were decorative and kept the tea nice and cold.
Wedding Photography for LessContact your local colleges' Audio/Visual department and see if you can send an email to the group (a secretary will usually send it for you) of students in the photography program about photographing your wedding!
Asian Theme WeddingTrying to capture a theme for a wedding can be tough. I wanted an Asian theme for my wedding and it was difficult finding the appropriate dresses for my Bridal party. Instead, I had a friend of mine who made them from scratch.
Preserving a Wedding InvitationWedding invitations are so beautiful. I wanted to keep one for me when I got married. I cut lace and ribbons and glued it to the edges of the invitation and framed it. I did the same for my husband's friend.
Wrapping Wedding GiftsWedding gifts are fun to wrap, but can be expensive. I wrap the gift with beautiful material I picked out from the fabric store. I also buy tulle to wrap over the fabric. Then I tie it up with a fabric ribbon.
Wedding Memories in PicturesWedding plans take a lot of time, dedication, patience and commitment. Sort of like marriage. In the end it is all worth it. The memories will be permanently embedded in your minds.
Balloon WeightsMaking your own balloon weights allows you to customize the look of them. You can choose the design and the colors to match the event.
Bouquets, Corsages and BoutonnieresWhen we did the flowers for my daughter's wedding, we asked a friend who was talented as making bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, etc. She did a wonderful job. We were able to save a lot of money because we bought the flowers fresh, right off the floral shop's delivery truck. This is a sample of what we had that day. These were live flowers.
Recipe for Preserving a HusbandBe careful of your selection. Do not choose one too young. Once selected, give your entire thought to preparation for domestic use. Some insist on keeping them in a pickle. Others constantly put them in hot water. This makes them sour, hard and sometimes bitter.
Recipe For A Happy MarriageRecipe for a Happy Marriage: To an overflowing cup of love, add faith in God and faith in each other. These ingredients will help dissolve bitterness or misunderstanding. Never let bitter spirits brew overnight. Sweeten with laughter and understanding.
Renting a Limo? Rent a Nice Car InsteadWanting to rent a Limo? Why not rent a Cadillac? Actually you could rent several Cadillacs for the same price of renting a Limo. Best of all, you'd be able to keep the Cadillac for much longer time than the Limo.
Framing a Wedding NapkinWhen we got married, I put one of our wedding napkins, which were printed with our names, wedding date and designs, into a pretty picture frame to have as a remembrance of our wedding. This, too, can be done for the bride's parents, for in-laws and for other guests.
Flower Seeds Wedding FavorFor my son's wedding I tied up a mixture of flower seeds in tulle with a ribbon and placed them inside a small bird's nest with a tiny note attached which read:
Hairdressing for BridesmaidsInstead of taking your bridesmaids to a pricey salon, find a hairstyling school in your area. They usually charge 1/3 (or less!) the price then a regular salon.
Disposable Camera Scavenger HuntA lot of people have opted to put disposable cameras on their reception tables in hopes of having their guests catch a few memorable candid moments. I took that idea a little further...
Garden Post Wedding DecorationsThese are beautiful and easy to make. I used small paint buckets to do this because they were white and we had pastel colors but you could use any pot that would fit your theme or colors.
Wedding Champange Flute CandlesWe did this for my daughter's wedding. I went to the thrift store and bought two beautiful matching crystal champagne flutes. I then melted wax (can be bought at craft stores.) I let the wax cool just a bit so it would not crack the crystal and added some glass glitter in blue and silver which were her colors. Now when she eats her one year cake she will have beautiful candles to light for the special one year anniversary.
By Debra in Colorado
