BARGAINBride Blog Log (photo-free)
Creative Bargain: Love Tokens
The dollar store is a treasure trove of crazy little wedding favors. And if you don’t believe me, meander around your nearest Dollar Tree or 99¢ Only Store and discover for yourself.
Yes, it’s true, I am a HUGE fan of dollar stores; this will become evident in my writing. It takes a little digging, though, and patience, to find those really great items that feel like a steal. But it happens.
I found myself squeal with delight when I saw a little package of twenty-four shiny red “love tokens” in the Valentine’s Day aisle yesterday. Some tokens read Kiss, other tokens read Love… and all have a heart on one side. The cuteness…
There are a plethora of ways you can use these love tokens, too.
I’ve already supplied my fiancé with one, and said he can use it to redeem whatever he wishes.
The tokens can be used as a fun wedding favor option, especially if one of your wedding colors is red. You can put a handful of them in a little organza bag to set in front of each place setting. (You can buy small organza bags in bulk at many places, and for cheap.) Or, you can sprinkle them around your cake or guestbook table – these bright red tokens will liven up any space.
Don’t ignore these as decoration for your edibles, either. Dare to serve them atop cupcakes, or place them along the perimeter of your wedding cake. Or even drop one in each signature cocktail you serve at your wedding.
Or you can stash a couple in each wedding invitation you mail. Or, as a token of your thanks (pun intended), toss one in as a loving gesture with each “thank you” card post-wedding.
Whatever each token’s use may be, the ideas are endless! You can definitely get creative with these fun little pieces. And the great part is that they don’t have to be used for Valentine’s events – they’re the perfect unexpected, light-hearted detail to add somehow to your wedding theme.
My suggestion? Buy in bulk. To purchase 480 tokens costs only $20.
Bridal Bargain – Gold Braided Bracelet
A fabulous find at Banana
Republic Posted: SUNJan 24, 2010
This jewelry piece could pass as vintage.
I was browsing the clearance jewelry at the Grove in LA yesterday when I saw sparkling gold in one of the bins. Beneath a sign reading “an additional 40% off” I saw bin upon bin of fabulous pieces of jewelry at Banana Republic. Cocktail rings, statement necklaces, and beautiful bracelets.
I don’t fall for just any piece of jewelry. It has to be gorgeous and it has to have value.
At nine dollars and fifty-nine cents, this braided bracelet with purple stones was indeed covetable – and a super buy in my book. I giddily scooped it up. How could such a beautiful bracelet be on clearance?
But wait… Could three of these bracelets serve as bridesmaid gifts? Probably not, since my gals are fairly conservative. But could one work as a bridal bracelet? Quite possibly…
And no, this piece will not be in hiding until June. It now shines on my jewelry holder, a relish tray from the 60s that rests beside my bed. And how it shines on my wrist…
Retail store sales are not to be ignored. When you least expect it you can find the perfect bridesmaid gift, jewelry accompaniment for your gown, or mother-of-the-bride gift - and at the very least some inspiration. You can also find unexpected décor (such as gold star ornaments marked down to $3 at Banana Republic), or guest favors (like gold magic wallets at J. Crew marked down to $9).
Retail stores such as Banana Republic and Gap often slash 40% off already-reduced merchandise, and J. Crew has been known to slash off 30%. Your best bets are in January, when winter merchandise is being completely cleared, and June, when spring items are on their way out to make way for fall and winter apparel and accessories.
If you’re bargain shopping there are several things to keep in mind. Above all, you must be willing to purchase ahead of time. Also, you must keep your eyes open and get those creative juices flowing.
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Want Free Inspiration? Check
the Library
Look to the library for – gasp – free inspiration Posted: THURSJan 21, 2010
How can such a valuable resource be neglected?
Once I became a bride-to-be, I was ordering (used) magazines and scouring the Internet for inspiration. Then a thought came to mind: the library. I am a paying citizen, so why aren’t I making more trips to the library?
Checking out a book is as easy as 1-2-3. And the fun doesn’t have to stop at hardcover – many libraries offer an excellent selection of bridal magazines for your browsing pleasure. So find a cozy spot at your local library and browse away.
Once you’ve checked out your books, get creative. Scan what you like and ta-da, you have an easily sortable organization of your favorite looks and ideas without the clutter.
So leave your cash behind and pay
your local library a visit. It’s a
resource oft-forgotten by brides (and many a
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Bargain Sweet: Jumbo Valentine’s Cards @ 99¢ Only Store
Thrill the ones you love with a $1 oversized treat Posted: TUESJan 19, 2010
Spread some much-wanted love this Valentine’s Day with the cutest cards I’ve ever seen!
Stop into your local 99¢ Only Store and grab yourself an armful of their larger-than-life Valentine’s Day cards.
Some would think it’s too good to be true! I haven’t been this excited since I found L'Oréal HIP lip balm for $0.99.
Each sealed combo comes with a card and envelope. Card in sealed envelope measures 15.25” x 10.5”. The card comes in two variations – pink-based with a photo of cats on the front and pink envelope, and red-based with bears and red envelope. Each card face features glitter designs, embossed lettering, and hearts galore.
The inside leaves plenty of space for any extras, such as a special note (or several). The inside reads “Happy Valentine’s Day.” Since there is plenty of blank space for writing, this would make a great group card.
Since most of my friends live in other parts of the country, I’ll be mailing off these puppies via First Class Mail within the next few of weeks. Each card w/ envelope weighs around 5 oz., so including the cost of the card it will be around $3 for each giant greeting. Not a bad price to pay for a friendly surprise – and surely a couple of laughs.
My suggestion: Send out the smaller, cheapie cards to your B-list friends and save the big ones for the A-listers.
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Turn to eBay for Bridal Magazines
The first step in my wedding planning
involved purchasing bridal magazines off auction mega site eBay.
Ebay and I have been acquainted for quite some time. I use the site for everything, from purchasing used CDs and DVDs to buying duplicates of my favorite jeans and shoes. In fact, the first place I turned to when faced with the wedding planning process was eBay.
An early word of caution: eBay is not for the impatient bride. Nor is it for the bride-to-be who cruises the tempting newsstand and will willingly shell out $13.95 for an issue of Real Simple Weddings. Really, the wealthy gal may not get such a thrill from a bargain. Rather, the auctioneer site is for the bride on a budget, the bride who wants ideas and inspiration at an affordable price. Used magazines are not only wallet-friendly, but they’re a scrapbooker’s, and environmentalist’s, joy.
My very first wedding expenditure was $15 on a lot of Bride’s and Modern Bride magazines spanning several years. eBay is by far the affordable route to go if you’re looking to purchase and keep, not borrow. The average price of a bridal magazine on the newsstand is $5.95. I purchased a huge lot of magazines for $1.50 an issue, and that included shipping. I’ll pay $1.50 for two hours worth of entertainment and countless pages of inspiration any day. And though some of the magazines were from several years past, I still found many great ideas and photos. General wedding information is timeless. I was so delighted by my initial investment that I saved bridal magazine searches on eBay and was updated when new magazines were listed. Since then I have amassed armfuls of magazines, ranging from Elegant Bride to Bridal Guide to Martha Stewart Weddings.
If you’re a scrapbooker, eBay provides a wonderful opportunity to seize gobs of material. If you’re not a scrapbooker, this is the ideal time to enjoy the wedding planning process and put glue to paper; you’re bound to find pages and pages of inspiration. How pretty are photos pasted on classic ivory scrapbook paper and decorated with ribbon and embellishments!
Purchasing your magazines off eBay is also an excellent way to score issues of now-defunct magazines. Take for example, Elegant Bride. This was one of my favorites, but the readership wasn’t up to par. Of course, I couldn’t afford anything in its pages ($1,500 gold charms, $2,000 wedding cakes), but the photos gave me ideas, nonetheless.
And grabbing a stack of magazines all at one time is not only efficient, it’s eco-friendly. Buying off eBay is recycling at its best.
There is a major downside, however, to turning to eBay for back issues. If you’re looking for general ideas, buying used bridal magazines is a wonderful plan. But if you’re looking to purchase a wedding gown or bridesmaid dresses from one of the magazines, you may run into some hard luck. Most designers hold their bridal inventory for about a year. So if you see something in a January 2008 issue that catches your eye, you’re more than likely out of luck. Your best shot will be to look online (free!) or to purchase a subscription early on to your favorite bridal magazine (check Amazon.com for magazine promotions).
Take advantage of eBay – it is quite the untapped resource for brides. A patient bride is a smart bride.
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Welcome to Bargain Bride
Weddings don’t have to break the bank!
I’m overwhelmed by the sheer expense of weddings.
My recent goal has been to dream up fabulous ways to have a stylish, yet affordable wedding.
Once the basics are down, the details become the most magical part of the planning process. There are countless outlets for the bride’s creativity, and that’s the major fun in planning the party of your life.
But just as each detail adds up, so does the expense. I’ve been frugal a good part of my life. But I do have an appreciation for designer fare and lovely things.
Please enjoy my blog. I hope you’ll find excellent ideas in the words and stories I have to share. Don’t let money take away from the thrill of your wedding.
And if I can share one word of advice - Ebay and Craigslist are superb resources. Don’t forget that.
Cost-cutting is a challenge, but can be very rewarding.