Splurges and Steals.

[Gypsy]

Okay ladies....


What have you splurged on in wedding planning?

What have you gotten for a REAL deal (steal)?

 

[sumbride]

Our day of coordinator was $250. I felt that was a major steal! She lined everybody up, set the pace, figured out what to do when, and when people were angry, it was directed at her. I would have paid her double.


Splurge? Serving iced tea to all the guests as they arrived for the outdoor ceremony. It added a bit to the catering budget, but everybody really appreciated it and I''m glad we did it. It set the tone for a happy time, too.

 

[Independent Gal]

Steal? Hmmm... well I'm a major bargain hunter so I've got a lot of steals:

I got two couture wedding gowns for about $1000 total intead of what would have been about $4000. My mom got a 5K Elizabeth Fillmore evening gown for WP1 for $24 on ebay and a Nicole Miller gown for WP2 for $68 on ebay.

He got my 11K Bulgari ring for closer to 4K from signed pieces, my wedding band (2mm platinum) for $68 on ebay, and a heavy platinum half eternity band with 1ctw of good stones for $850 (estate piece).

Splurge? My mom is importing a prominent lute player (in early music circles I guess?!!?) from Milan to play during the cocktail hour for WP1.

I have no idea why she is so hooked on this lute player. His fee to play for 90 minutes + his travel expenses = a fortune. But she just loves the idea. So, whatever.

I actually think it will be really lovely and special. Just... is it worth the money? (Don't ask!)

And for WP2, almost our entire budget is going to having the best chef in town. Which still seems to work out cheaper than what most of you are paying pp in places like LA and NYC. I feel lucky!

 

[misysu2]

Splurge-- 2 wedding and 2 rehearsal dinner dresses. Ugh. Don''t even get me started!...

Steal-- our cakes. 1 traditional 3 layer, decorated wedding cake (servings for 75)- yellow cake with raspberry filling PLUS one 75-serving sheet cake- chocolate with cinnamon frosting = 2 cakes for 150 people = $175 TOTAL!

 

[UCLABelle]

Well, a splurge would be my dress. I wanted to stay in the $1000-$2000 range, but doubled it.
A steal (I think) was our reception location that came without a site fee!!!!Okay, maybe not a steal, but I was pleased after seeing a bunch of venues with huge fees!

 

[happy in love]

Hmmm...
I spent more on my dress than I planned, but I also got it for 50% off, so is that a splurge or deal? Both I guess!

I think our open bar tab will be the biggest splurge

when all is said and done!

I am diy''ing the boxed invites which would have been out of our budget otherwise, and I rented a photobooth from a local store for half the price of rental companies. I think those could have been splurges that were avoided!

Oohhh, I know, FI is getting me 2 eternity bands for my wedding bands, I suppose the extra band is definately a splurge!!!

 

[ringster]

major splurge : photog

deal : planning on having the dress be a deal, two bands (that is music bands not wbands) for almost price of one

 

[Dutchgirlll]

We kinda splurges on a lot in stead of trying to get good deals.... mmm.. what I;m doing wrong?

I splurged on my wedding jewelry (got a gorgeous bracelet from Dior with matching earrings, still got to post pics), splurging on my Tif wedding band, photographer (our best friend had to cancel because of the pregnancy of his wife) and hopefully the honeymoon.

Steals? Still have to find them

Did do our own invitations saved us $1500 compared to the design we loved. We kinda stole that design, redid it and got it letter pressed here.
Probably gonna get a seamstress to do the FG dresses here in stead of expensive ones I saw. Probably gonna save me $200/300.

 

[Harleigh]

Steals...brand new designer wedding dresses on ebay. One was $.50, one was $.99, another $5.50, one was $51 and another $37.86, which I have yet to receive. I may consider opening my own shop, or tearing apart my favorite parts of each one and making a dress I LOVE as I am not in love with any of them right now! We also got a harpist for before, during and a bit after the ceremony, which may be the cheapest part of the whole day there!

Splurge...photographer and videographer on Maui... These were both very expensive as far as our wedding costs go, but these are the two things I told Rusty were non-negotiable as he insisted on getting married on Maui and we are unable to have most of the people we love there. He balked at the cost but agreed if that''s what would get him married in Maui, and then we will be able to share those with our guests who couldn''t make it at our reception in August.