How to Save on Weddings Part 7: Wedding Dress Rebecca Autry Creations

by

Wedding Part 7: The Wedding Dress

So the point of these segments on how to save on a wedding is just that to give you ideas and alternatives to how to save on the costs of a wedding.

So we come to the Dress! Well first you need to figure out what will you do with the dress after the wedding day? Will you preserve it and hope your daughter may wear it someday? Or will you donate or just keep it as a keepsake. What you do with the dress after the big day should help you determine how much you want to put into it. I dag spiller de fleste spilleautomater på nett, selv om det hele begynte med det som kaltes fruktmaskiner, fordi det ble brukt frukt som symboler for å markere gevinst casinonorske.com norsk automat.

  1. David’s Bridal has a $99 rack. These are the dresses that are going out of style to having a missing button to a snag but are still very wearable.
  2. Thrift and Consignment Shops. Since the dress will only be worn for the wedding day it not a bad idea to take a peek at the nearest Thrift or Consignment shops and pick up a recently used wedding dress for less than a couple hundred dollars. Don’t bust your budget by thinking it has to be only you who has worn the dress unless you plan on doing something with it!
  3. Yard sales! Sometimes women will want to get rid of their wedding dress after a couple years and what better way for you to get a great wedding dress than at a yard sale and you may get the best deal too!
  4. Other Bridal Shops. Many bigger cities have multiple bridal shops and often times they have a clearance rack that have reduced dresses just to get their inventory moving.
  5. Bridal Expos. Often in bigger cities there are bridal expos with tons of wedding vendors giving away gift certificates and possibly wedding dresses. If you ever get to attend. Enter everything!

Hope these tips help you save some money on your wedding dress.

Be sure to check out How to Save on Weddings Part 1-6

Topic: Wedding Dress

$5 Wedding Centerpiece Rebecca Autry Creations

by

So yes I totally ripped this off from my Sister-in-laws Wedding but hers were not made from the Dollar Tree. These are just as good in my opinion and a great way to cut costs.

What to Buy:

1. Vases. There are all kinds of different types at Dollar Tree but choose one and determine how many you need and buy all at once. If your Dollar Tree location does not have enough ask them to call another one and see if they have them. If not you can order in bulk on DollarTree.com. This might be the easier way if you can wait a few days.

2. Rocks. Dollar Tree has many different color rocks. Choose a color to accent your wedding. They have from clear to teal to many other colors.

3. Flowers. There are many flowers to choose from but be careful that the flowers you get you get enough to use for the tables plus elsewhere and make sure your flowers have all their petals and no rips and so forth.

4. Flower Tea Candles. Again choose a color to accent your wedding and be sure to get enough for all your decoraitons.

5. Flower Petals. You can find white, pink and a light purple bag of petals. You may be able to find other colors online.

What you Need:

– Vases

– Rocks

– Flowers

– Water

– Flower Petals

How to Make:

1. Take the vase and add the rocks to the middle of the vase.

2. Fill the vase halfway with water and then add the a few flowers sticking the stem into the rocks. Make sure the rocks are holding up the flowers.

3. Add the flower pedal candle to the candle and let float.

4. Add pedals around the vase to give more volume and make the vase more decorative.

Topic: $5 Wedding Centerpiece

How to Save Money on Weddings Part 4: Invitations Rebecca Autry Creations

by

One of the smaller costs of a wedding is invitations but all those small costs do add up. Here are some suggestions on how you can save on the cost of wedding invitations.

The first thing you can save on is not buying them from a wedding invitation catalog. You can find cute ones but you can also do the same or similar cheaper by doing them yourself or having a friend who is great with graphics and print.

Don’t buy the inner envelope or blotter paper. Chances are your print job will not smear and you can eliminate the weight on the invitation.

Instead of having a RSVP card, have your guest RSVP by phone, email or set up a Facebook event page for the wedding and have them RSVP there.

Find Wedding Kits from Michael’s or AC Moore’s and wait for a Sunday Insert coupon for 40% – 50% off and get a pack of 20 reg. $19.99 for $10.

You can have them printed at Staples or OfficeMax for as low as 20 cents each if you do black only.

Often times Target, Party Co., or any party store will have wedding invitations on clearance typically in August which is roughly the end of the High Wedding Season.

You can also print at home but be sure you get extras so you can handle messing up on a few. You can also have them printed at Walgreens, Wal-mart and CVS. Just be sure to wait for a sale to get them 9 cents or less each printed.

If you are really needing to save every cent you can, you can always check out Family Dollar, Dollar General and Dollar Tree who have some great invitations. Dollar Tree has the generics for $1 and do have some really nice ones you can print on yourself.

I hope these suggestions will help you save some money.

Venues on a Budget

by

When I first got engaged I was really overwhelmed.  Excited…but overwhelmed.  I was not the type who had her wedding planned since she was a little girl – in fact growing up I promised myself I’d never get married!

I mean, who would marry this fool?  

I learned after a lot of blog reading that the first thing I needed to decide on was the venue – and that was supposed to take half of my budget.  But just as weddings are expensive

VENUES. ARE. EXPENSIVE.

So how do you cut down on costs for a venue?

1.  Have a country wedding!  Now this doesn’t mean get married in a barn (though if that floats your boat do it!).  This means choose hotels and venues that are outside of major cities.  For instance, go 30 miles outside of even a small city and your venue prices will be cut in half.

I live in the middle of nowhere so this was going to be inevitable. In order to get married in a vineyard in the closest city it would cost me at least 5,000 dollars, just for the VENUE! A similar venue costs $1280 only a few miles away!

2. Check out local parks – a lot of parks and rec centers have indoor venues that people rent out for dirt cheap.  These can be very inexpensive – and include tables and chairs!  (Or you could just get married outside.) Check your local parks and rec center for information. One of my friends had an amazing wedding at a parks and rec center for much cheaper than a traditional venue!  [Tip: Some even have cabins your out of town guests can rent!]

 How beautiful is this one? I had the honor of attending their wedding.   The parks and rec center had this very inexpensive venue and it was GORGEOUS!

3.  Use non-conventional or new venues!  Botanical gardens, urban garden centers, museums, art galleries, etc. Sometimes you might find a deal – though as these are becoming more popular they are becoming more expensive.

4. Keep your ceremony and reception in the same place – this can save you hundreds of dollars

5. Use your connections!  Have a friend with a barn and giant field? Ask them if they’ll rent it out!  Have a family member with a gorgeous backyard?  Beg Aunt Mildred to let you invite 100 people for a party 😉

6.  And lastly, use your backyard!

**BIG CAVEAT HERE!  It’s not always less expensive to use your own backyard or a friend’s house or a field.  These can be cheaper than venues in the city – but many of them come with hidden costs.  Sometimes it is MUCH cheaper to use an all-inclusive wedding venue!!! Why?  Well that’s the subject of my next blog post!

Remember to keep on budget no matter what! What inexpensive wedding venues have you found? Any other tips for brides out there?

Mary

Topic: Venues on a Budget

How to Save Money on Wedding Photography Rebecca Autry Creations

by

Here are some tips that I have done or will be doing when my
DH and I renew our vows on our 10 year anniversary.

Part 1- Photography

-In this day in age everyone has a digital camera or cell phone with a camera. Ask your guests to take pictures of your wedding and have them upload to a Facebook group or fan page you create. Sure beats having to pay for a professional also most photo developing places you can now load pictures directly from Facebook to your account to print off. Also if you wait for a great sale on picture prints you can score some free or very cheap prints. Also have them sent to the store and wait the extra hours so you don’t

pay for shipping!

-In case you want some of the more professional looking pictures ask around your friend you are bound to find one of them or someone they know who has an SLR camera or its equivalent who will take picture for you or at an extreme low rate. The average cost for a basic package of wedding

photos costs around $935. Who has that kind of money?

-Start your planning early because often times the disposable cameras go on sale at Walgreens and Rite-Aid for B1G1 Free and if

you use your Register Rewards or +UP Rewards you can score them even cheaper.

-Also do your research and get a list of possible pictures you would like. Putting a list together and giving it to your photographer helps insure you get the pictures you want. Get ideas for those fun pictures. It is hard to think of posses when you are the bride even when you are renewing

your vows.

-When asking your guests to take pictures place a gentle reminder on the program and invitation. Also offer an incentive for every person who loads pictures to your fan page they get an entry to a drawing to

win a $10 Gift Card to a local store.

* Hope this helps save some money and if you have any tips
about photography please post in the comment section.

Topic: Save money on wedding photography

FacebookTwitterGoogle PlusCustom Social

Wedding Party Favors Rebecca Autry Creations

by

If you are planning a wedding I suggest you take a look at Dollar Tree for the goodies you can find.

But here is something I found, walmart will discount wedding items in February and July.

I just found 2 different packs of wedding favor boxes at Wal-mart on clearance for $3.50 each originally $24.99 for 50ct.

I was also able to pick up wedding invites for $1.50 originally $19.99 for 50 ct (they are pretty basic and I will use them for my nieces Graduation party invites).

See how else you can save on Wedding Favors.

Topic: Wedding Party Favors

Car Ride Schedule Printable Rebecca Autry Creations

by

Are you drained from the unnecessary drama of your children arguing over who’s turn it is to sit in the front or in the middle? I made this handy Car Ride Schedule when one of my children had hurt feelings over not getting as much time in the front seat or who they got to sit next to in the back. 

It was unnecessary drama and made getting kids to school ever so challenging. I have 3 of my own and I also take another child with us to school. Of course everyone wants to sit next to their friend that is not their sibling!

I have a hard time remember who did what last so this schedule came about. We still have some drama on occasion but now all of them can see for themselves the equal amount of time each spends sitting in different seats. 

We have a rotation! 2 of the 4 can sit in the front while the other 2 are still in booster seats in the back. It took some doing but we managed to get a routine going.

So if you desire to print out your very own Car Ride Schedule you can find the FREE printable below. Keep in mind I only use this schedule for school days and not the weekend when it doesn’t seem to bother any of them who sits where. Feel free to take the idea and make it your own to fit your needs. Take into account No School days and holidays.

Hope this helps you out and eliminates the unnecessary drama and arguments between kids.

Topic: Car Ride Schedule

10 Way to Organize your Living Room

by

10 Ways to Organize your Living Room

We could all use some ideas on how to organize our living room to be more effective and liveable for everyone in the family.

10 Tips organizing living room

1. Keep it simple. Purge if you don’t have the room. The key to staying organized is having less stuff to have to organize.

2. Use baskets. For the items you do want to keep use baskets to store, for example: magazines or books. Have a basket for your knitting supplies and so forth.

3. Store DVDs. You may need to purge or find alternative storage if you only have room for 20 DVDs then only keep 20 DVDs.

4. Bookshelves. If you have bookshelves in your living room use them wisely, for instance if you have
kids you will want a section for their books as well. You can also use baskets on the shelves to store items.

5. Cover tables. Get some fabric or premade end table clothes to drape over end tables that don’t have shelves and use underneath to store items like a knitting kit or old but goody magazines, whatever is your hobby get creative and make those designated places for them.

6. Remove what doesn’t belong. This should be a given but we all know there are places like the living room which are hot spots that collect clutter and items that don’t belong so make an effort to remove non-belonging items each day.

7. Remove trash. This goes without saying if you want your living room organized then take out all the trash.

8. Storage benches. If you have extra room that you can artfully add storage benches near windows or a play/ activity area, utilize the storage in the benches to store those activity items done in the living room.

9. Shoe racks/jacket hooks. Utilize the area you have and use shelf jacket hooks to hold all jackets plus be a decorative addition to the room.  Hanging shoe racks or floor racks help keeping those shoes organized and you don’t have to be searching all over the house. Help give your kids a routine to stick to if they know where to put their shoes as they come into the home.

10. Shelves. Find decorative wall shelves that will match the theme of the room and place your nik nacks or books that you want in the room for easy access.

Topic: 10 Ways to Organize your Living Room

Shoe Door Organizer

by

Lacking Storage Space? Utilize the space you have efficiently. Here is a real life around the house storage: a shoe door organizer re-purposed. Use the Shoe Door organizer on the inside of your pantry or any closet and place your seasoning packs, health and beauty products or even extra school supplies.

SEE ALSO

Around the House Storage: Shoe Door Organizer: Re-purposed

The clear ones are great so you can see exactly what is in each pouch. You can find a 6 pouch one at Dollar Tree or like the one pictured above was from Wal-Mart for less than $10.

Check Thrift stores and yard sales as well, you might find them very cheap.

What storage ideas have you done around your house? Leave a comment below with a link or picture. I love seeing everyone’s ideas.

Lets all help each other out and share our ideas.

You can see other great Home DIY ideas on Pinterest and be sure to follow us. You may also be interested in the Around the House Storage: Tic Tac Containers

Topic: Shoe Door Organizer Re-purposed

10 Ways to Organize your Bathroom

by

Do you have a messy bathroom that just needs to be organized and usable? I have had a time figuring out how to keep an organized bathroom. After trial and error I came up with the following items that helped me keep my bathroom mess to a minimum. Less is more! Truly it is. I hope these 10 ways to organize  bathroom will help you as well.

10 Ways to Organize your bathroom

10 Ways to Organize a Bathroom


1. Take inventory. First take inventory of what you have and what you use. To stay on top of your stockpile regardless of size be aware of your space and how long it takes you to go thru each item. This takes time but so worth it in the long run.

2. Take out what doesn’t belong. Put everything that doesn’t belong in the bathroom in a basket to sort later or if you are really ambitious put everything away where it belongs in the rest of the house. The key to organizing any room is getting rid of what doesn’t belong there.

3. Toss what is smelly, yucky or not being used. If you have items you have not used in a year get rid of it and if it’s still usable donate the item or give it away to a friend who will use it. It goes without saying if it is smelly or yucky toss it in the trash NOW.

4. Utilize baskets and shelves. If you have a stockpile store it wisely in baskets or containers. Keep it organized so you know when to replace as needed. If you live in an older home you probably have cupboards like mine that are tall but no shelf so a great alternative is to get the metal shelf racks that connect to each other, use to put in the cupboard and get more storage space. These can be found at Walmart and Target.

5. Use hanging baskets, shower shelves, shower faucet shelves. If you don’t have drawers or cupboards consider getting hanging baskets to hang from the ceiling and put your items in it. Get the hanging shelves you can add to the back of the shower faucet. Another great addition you can do is get the self stick shelves you can add to the corners of the shower.


6. Keep the toilet paper within reach and visible. If you have guests over often then don’t hide the toilet paper. The worst thing being a guest in a house when using the bathroom is using the last of the toilet paper roll and not being able to easily access it. Have it displayed on the back of your toilet or in a basket nearby. Also keep pullups or diapers in a basket on the back of the toilet. If you have potty training kids like me and are getting away from a changing table this is a great alternative.

7.Use trays to organize drawers. You can either use sandwich bags to put your loose feminine products or band-aids, q-tips, etc; but a great way to stay organized is keep your daily used makeup and hair items in a tray you can easy put in a drawer or under the sink. This will help keep your drawers from becoming yucky and dirty.

8. Medicine cabinets. This is obvious but be careful if your kids are young and climb like mine then it’s best to put medication somewhere else. Also take into account if you have a medicine cabinet be aware that your guests are very likely to open it and take a quick look to see what you have! So don’t put anything in it that may be embarrassing.

9. Door drops, hooks, and shower caddies. Door drops to go on the backside of the door are a great way for storage if you are limited on storage space. Use hooks for towels and bathrobes to create more space for storage.  Use shower caddies to hold all your shower gear. These are quick and easy ways to store if you are limited on space.

10. Cover the sink. Get an old shower curtain or window curtain that matches the color of your bathroom and get the two sided stick tape and add it to your sink if you don’t have a cupboard sink. Make sure to utilize the space under it for your stockpile!

Be sure to check out ways to organize your Kitchen

Topic: 10 ways to Organize your Bathroom