Thinking Outside the Box.

Photo Credit: Shawn Carpenter

There are going to be a lot of posts entitled "Think outside the box" here.

Because thinking outside the box was the only thing that led me to have a wedding that not only reflected my principles but didn't cost me an arm and a leg. There are just so many tricks to save money. Most revolve around getting off the wedding track and just telling yourself you are having a big party. Stop thinking wedding favors, wedding centerpieces, wedding food, etc, and start thinking party gifts, party centerpieces, and party food. Trust me, a whole world will open for you and your wallet.

More on that later.

For now, I wanted to share an article from the New York Times. The amazing thing is that even though it is from 2008, all the tips still apply. It should get you started in your Think Outside the Box training or refresher. Saving money and making the most of the resources you already have rather than having to buy everything is a skill that will help you before and after your Big Day. Here are some of the ideas in the article:

"Leah Brickley had her favorite flowers for her wedding last month. Luckily — given the cost of roses — her favorites were sunflowers. The white 1940s dress, bought for $59 and retailored for $100, pleased her more than any new bridal gown would have. She and Paul Hope, her fiancé, also hired a photographer for $240. And with fruit pies, cookies and a chocolate cake, who needed tiers of white frosting? And because both are graduates of Johnson & Wales University’s culinary programs, the couple cooked the dinner themselves. 

The couple cooked the dinner of tenderloin of beef (bought at Costco) and prepared salads. They poured prosecco instead of Champagne, and with dinner served only one white wine and one red wine. The entire alcohol bill was $252.

Ms. Brickley posted an ad on Craigslist offering photographers a flat $200. She said she received 70 responses within a few hours. “We eliminated anyone who called but didn’t say congratulations,” Mr. Hope said. They selected one just starting out in wedding photography, Kat Cheng, to whom they gave an extra $40, “to rent a better lens for the day.”

Ms. Brickley found the short white vintage dress on eBay. A 1940s hat, borrowed from her aunt, coordinated perfectly. Dozens of gorgeous cookies were made by a pastry-chef friend, and the bridegroom’s mother baked his favorite chocolate cake. For music, a friend became a D.J."

Click here for the full article and many more tips!