Archive for the ‘Budgets’ Category

Just a quick note to let you know that the annual Spring Fair at Rhodes Park in Kensington is taking place this Sunday, 6th September. I love these flea markets where you can browse through other people’s junk and many surprisingly grotesque wares. But as a bride-to-be, I am hoping to find some cheap ceramic pieces for my Alice-in-Wonderland décor. I saw this idea on Realsimple.com of using an old soup tureen for the flowers, and I just love it! I’m also going to be on the look-out for old teacups and saucers… Why not go have a browse yourself?

Soup tureen for the flowers

Take a look:  http://www.kensington.org.za/spring_fair_kensington.htm

I have had such a hectic time with the decor arrangements and trying to cut down on the quote.  After thinking the first decor quote of R9000 was too expensive we ended up getting a much better decor idea from SA Wedding Decor which came to almost R20 000!  We’re moving towards a similar theme and feel to the below but after scrutinizing the quote and remembering that I am very creative, the centrepieces will be done by me and I am scrapping the white sheer organza overlays and the large white painted trees we were going to have as features on each side of the main table.  We have so much else going on that we can safely do without these things.  I’ve managed to get the quote down by R7000! 

www.mixmingleglow.com

We were also lucky enough to get the very best gift of all from one of our MC’s and good friend.  Read the rest of this entry »

Get up to 50% off on selected gowns and accessories during the month of July.  Phone your closest branch to make an appointment.

In Style Weddings www.instyleweddings.com has great articles, tips and ideas for your wedding day to save you time and money which as a result will take down your stress levels.  I think there is no better way to add a modern and elegant  feel to the day than by adding bright bold colours to your theme.

Get the waitrons to serve colourful cocktails.  There is a minimal extra cost, if any at all, to replace champagne or wine with cocktails.  Also, why not use something affordable and colourful that guests will notice straight away for the escort-cards?  This is the first thing they see before walking into the reception so make a statement.  Going bold and vibrant adds glamour and style to any event and can be achieved for next to nothing if you just scan through some ideas.  You’d be amazed what you can achieve.

With time running out, decisions had to be made once and for all.  With the help of a friend, I finally decided the decor which is really easy to do with guidance from a professional.  Often you see what you would like but have no clue what items and lighting is used to get the effect.  Whatever you do, don’t try do it yourself unless you have experience.  You will waste money buying the wrong DIY items as well as alot of time.  I have been dealing with a great decor company – SA Event Decor www.saeventdecor.co.za, with their sub division SA Wedding Decor www.saweddingdecor.co.za contact Amanda amanda@saweddingdecor.co.za.  I have received great service and their prices are extremely competitive.

Another great supplier I have come across is Lyn at Expressions Floral Design www.expressionsfloral.co.za or email lyn@expressionsfloral.co.za.  The price she has quoted for my bouquet and my two bridesmaids bouquets are so reasonable I actually didn’t believe the quote when I first got it.  All three are costing me R665 which includes diamante finishes and accessories.

We met our photographer at our venue, Ingwenya Country Estate, on Sunday to walk through the grounds and go over the lighting that we’ll have in the reception hall.  Highly recommended that you do this because your photographer won’t waste time on the day trying to find appealing spots to take photos and he/she would have prepared for any bad lighting in the hall or on the grounds.  Going to the venue and viewing the hall again put alot in place for us because it’s easy to forget the specifics of the venue after your first visit.   As mentioned in my previous blog, we’re moving the ceremony into the gardens and viewing the actual spot was so exciting and gave us a great indication of how we’re going to have everything set up.  It makes the rest of the planning much easier.  I suggest you go to the venue a few times if you’re not sure about the table layouts, DJ spot, main table area, decor ideas, etc.  It falls into place nicely once you’ve been a few times.

I also previously mentioned that we would visit the Oriental Market opposite Bruma Lake.  I recommend a visit there if you’re looking at DIY projects and saving cash.  They have EVERYTHING!  I just love the Chinese!  They are so creative and supply so much for you to choose from.  I’m using string beads in the centrepieces and there is a huge ‘florist’ and accessory shop there which is completely affordable.  A huge variety of  creative items, that if you haven’t wanted to use before, you’ll be using once you see them! 

We have also decided to scrap the decor ……

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Its been a while since my last blog post (had to study for exams) and oh my word……have plans changed.

It all started a few weeks before I had to really start focusing on the studying. Wedding plans were going great, on track, till a certain phone call sent me into a fluttery panic. Our budget had – due to unexpected reasons – been cut by more than half now you can imagine how a bride that has done most of her planning feels when told that the budget is almost all gone. After a few days of being a bit depro and contemplating getting married in court, I pulled myself together and started re-planning a really budget wise wedding. I still wanted to use the colour scheme and the flowers I had in mind but the venue was going to have to change to something well, more affordable for the Average Joe.

I started looking for almost unheard-of venues, looked for places that don’t normally cater for weddings but that can on request. Eventually I found one or two quaint little places but still my budget would be too high (I’m pretty much working with a non existent budget here).

Mmmmm….I could get married in my church’s hall and then find a banqueting hall for the reception, which would work in well with the budget. Searched a bit and found a hall not too far from the church and not expensive at all (it’s on a plot and if you are looking for a nice, informal, ‘almal kuier saam’ reception then this would be the place for you). By this time budgeting was my main priority and planning became very tiring and stressful. Even though we had found this place on the plot it wasn’t quite what Mr Daisy-to-be had in mind….

Back to the flippen drawing board…aaaaaarrrrgghhhh!
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I’m relieved that my laptop is finally virus free and working so well that I am able to find tons of wedding inspirations to share with everyone.  Firstly, let me update you on where we’re at with our wedding plans.  After agreeing to the candle centrepieces featured in my earlier blog, I was introduced to an awesome product at a fraction of the cost to get the effect that I really wanted.  You can do so much with this product.

 They are called floralyte submersibles. They are twist activated, waterproof and battery life is around 8 hours (perfect for a reception timeframe).  Colours available orange, amber, red, blue, green, white, teal, purple (UV), RGB (Colour changing) and pink.    A stunning option is to put them in gel vase filler which also comes in different colours (suggest clear if you’re using a colour floralyte) or if using them in water, put it at the bottom of the vase and use floating candles.  The options are endless.

These products can be found at www.firewaterlight.net.   Another great option (however quite a bit more expensive) is the E-Luminator Maxi.  If you’d like I can order for you as I get them at wholesale prices.

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I am excited to tell you that we have made alot of progress with our wedding plans.  I finally got Mr Style to sit still for at least an hour on Sunday to go over a few things but mainly the budget.  The budget is too important to be taking on alone and to be honest it’s pretty scary stuff once you start going into detail.  We were very strict with our budget when it came to things we wanted, needed and had to have and worked in reverse with our decisions!  What we didn’t need we scratched off the list and what we wanted we kept.  We always have to make choices in our daily lives about what we need or want and usually what we need we get because it’s obvious, but what we want we leave behind (perfect example is grocery shopping but buying the shoes we always wanted instead!).  But we figured that our wedding day will come once in a lifetime (hopefully) so we want what we want!  We may not even have a wedding cake because it’s going to cost R3000 and that money could be put towards something more important.  We don’t believe the cake will make or break the wedding. 

The best thing I did though was start a ’scrapbook’ saved in a Word document of everything I saw on websites that pertained to our colour scheme and taste.  The minute I started seeing things together my ideas started making sense and I found things that I could do myself to save money such as the centre pieces.  Here is a glimpse of the effect and theme we are planning which you can go to 3D Deco for www.3ddeco.co.za, contact Michelle.

  Read the rest of this entry »

We have 5 and a half months to go!  Yesterday, the pastor we were hoping would come through for us, contacted Mr Style to say that he is setting up a church and is so busy that he would rather let us down now rather than the last minute. I was horrified to hear this!  I am now searching the internet in hopes of finding someone else.  Wish us luck!  The problem (if that’s an accurate word to use?) is that Mr Style and I don’t practice a specific religion and don’t attend church which makes life difficult when you have a wedding coming up.  We did alot of research and found alot of pastors that are happy to do a non denominational wedding.  Now to find someone that has some personality and that will take the time to meet us and get to know us over several meetings is another story!  We have phoned two already and did not like them instantly.  No personality at all and no warmth to them.  It’s really important to us to have someone on the same wave length as us and with as much fun & enthusiasm in them as we have.  I will definitely keep you posted on who we find and more importantly WHERE we find him … or her. 

Last night I pulled out our check list and ticked off what we had attended to and realised how much we hadn’t attended to yet. We haven’t done a complete budget, gone through the menu, chosen the exact style of the bridesmaids dresses or even colours!  We haven’t looked at wedding rings, decided on the cake, booked a honeymoon destination.  And that’s just the beginning!  Here is a pic of the centre piece that we are going for and at least that is ONE thing we’re definite on!  If you need info on this, please contact me and I’ll get it for you.  It is possible to make yourself if you are careful because it involves hot wax and cold water which is dangerous if the wax explodes.  I will definitely be making them myself with the help & guidance of my friend & unofficial wedding planner who has learnt to make them for her events planning company. 

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