DIY invitations

August 21, 2008 | 2 Comments

Hey DIY brides, So many brides I come across would love to make their own invitations to make it just that much more special, This small, compact piece of equipment is awesome for making and scoring your own invitation templates and favour. Boxes An essential piece of equipment for all card makers.

The Top Score Multiboard enables you to accurately score and fold your own cards and boxes such as the ones shown here in the picture. The Top Score Multiboard comes with its own double ended scoring and enbossing tool and an 8 page full colour instruction booklet covering all of the cards and boxes shown in the picture and more, so you will never be short of ideas. The tool also incorporates 2 different embossing lines - a swirl and a deckle edge for adding those finishing touches to your card creations.

Features include:

Wedding Gowns

July 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Hi all, I mentioned before that I sell once worn wedding dresses but I’ve since decided to sell new ones as wel…

They range from R4000 to about R7000. Pictures are on my website: www.ilovemakeup.co.za

The Wedding Companion

July 7, 2008 | 4 Comments

I dont know how I would have done without it!!!

The Wedding Companion is both a delightful keepsake and a practical guide to planning the perfect wedding, reception and honeymoon. There are special pages included for your own planning, to assist with recording names of guests, listing gifts received and other useful information. Full of advice and tips on everything from bridal gowns to lapel flowers, this book makes the perfect engagement gift.

Save or Splurge?

June 12, 2008 | 3 Comments

At some point (unless we’re millionnaires) we all have to compromise somewhere on our wedding budget. Some things can be let go, and some are just more important than others. So, where did you SAVE, and where did you SPLURGE?

SPLURGE # 1 - Photographer. We’ve been through this before; I had to, had to have fantastic photos! It’s all you’ve got afterwards, and all you can show people who weren’t there, and all you can hang on your wall. So, bring on the big bucks!

SPLURGE #2 - Venue. We could easily have gone with a venue that didn’t charge venue hire, or a cheap one, but we loved this one, and we had to have it!

SPLURGE #3 - Honeymoon. We really can’t afford it, but we’re so going to Mozambique and staying at the fabulous Flamingo Bay Lodge anyway! We need a fantastic holiday!

SAVE #1 - Stationery - I’m DIYing all my own stationery. I just can’t fathom having to pay someone just to print some words on some pretty paper. The programs will all get left behind in the chapel anyway, as will the tabelcards and menus in the reception hall afterwards.

SAVE #2 - Shoes - I can’t bring myself to buy expensive high-heels that I’ll never wear again, mst likely. I’m not a heels girl! I bought red satin ballet pumps from Jet for R60. I love them!

SAVE #3 - Makeup - After being quoted over R100 (and in one case, over R2000) to do the bridal party’s makeup, I realised that my landlady is a makeup artist, and she offered to do all our makeup for free. I know, I got lucky!

SAVE #4 - Jewellery - I got my earrings at a YDE sale for R80, my necklace I’m borrowing, and my tiara was only R180 (talked down from R200 at the Plaza!)

SAVE/SPLURGE…????? - My Dress. I can’t decide which it is! On the one hand, it’s ten times more expensive than any item of clothing I’ve ever bought, which is ridiculous when you think about it, and I could easily have found a cheaper one or rented one. On the other hand, compared to what wedding dresses actually cost, it’s not that bad! So it’s a splurge for me, personally, but a save in wedding terms…heeehee.

Where did you guys save and splurge?

Is this really how much weddings cost??

June 9, 2008 | 6 Comments

So upon getting engaged my fiancé and I sat down with my parents and had “the wedding talk”. We basically discussed what type of wedding we wanted, when we wanted the wedding and where. What was awkwardly spoken around was the money. I didn’t want to ask my parents for money, but in reality I could not afford a wedding on what we were earning.

My parents started talking and they implied they were paying. Once again, I really didn’t want to push it but finally I had to ask the question: “So what is the budget for our wedding”. This is where things got dicey. My parents ummm and ahhh, being their first of three daughters getting married they were in for the long haul when it came to weddings and they couldn’t give one more than the others. So they simply couldn’t come up with an answer.

Debate: The great big decor debate

June 5, 2008 | 4 Comments

How much have you budgeted for your wedding decor?

Wedding Budgets

June 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment

As a wedding planner, wedding budgets are extremely important to me. I encourage my clients to be very realistic from the beginning. It maybe a very difficult thing to come to terms with, but rather have a fainting session at the beginning of the planning process; set firm limits and stay disciplined through out. If you are planning your wedding over 12 month period, you can forecast the expenditures and pace yourself.

Prioritize your expenses and be willing to compromise on some items. Be very open about your budget with the service providers. Trust me, people are willing to negotiate and meet you half way, but it will have to come from both directions. If you are realistic and express your desires, as well as your limitations…. you and the professionals can work out a plan where both parties benefit.

Debate: Breaking the budget

June 2, 2008 | 7 Comments

When it comes to tallying up the expenses, how many of you broke your wedding budget?

Managing Money as a Couple

April 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Money and marriage can be a sticking point for many couples. But, finding a system for managing money that works for both individuals can help couples achieve financial harmony.

The more you discuss how and why you each spend money, the deeper and stronger your relationship will grow.

“Figuring out a fair and comfortable way to share responsibilities and expenses can be challenging,” said Sam Goller, author of Yes, You Can… Achieve Financial Harmony and contributor to YesYouCanOnline.info. “But it’s essential for a healthy relationship. Couples should work together to decide what type of financial system allows them to achieve their dreams.” Read more

Budget cuts

February 25, 2008 | 2 Comments

I was working on my wedding budget the other day, and despite our guest list being cut down (after all the RSVP’s came in) we seem to have gone about R6 000 over the original number. This budget thing is quite scary, because there are so many little bits and bobs that are neglected and when the day gets closer your remember all of these.

That and the fact that you see so many more ideas and start to add them in.

Do you have any budgeting suggestions and how we can stick to them? Also any ways that you can think of to cut wedding costs.

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