DIY brides?!

titianmac · Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 159 Location: Derby

Just wondered how many of you were cutting corners but not results with a bit of bridal DIY? We just havent got the money for elaborate companies to charge the earth because we have "suckers getting married" stamped visably on our foreheads.
I've done the invitations, cake, buttonholes, table arrangements, favours etc and am now working on jewellery bags and tiaras etc...
I know not everyone has the time, patience or even want but its quite fulfilling to sit back at the end of the day and know things look a million dollars but cost a mere fraction if you shop smart Very Happy

Best yet- you get EXACTLY what you want Very Happy

Anyone else brave or stupid out there?!

Meggie · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 7

i tried and failed. I purchased some flat pack ickle boxes in order to colour them and put favours in. but after doing a few it looked like an excercise from playschool Crying or Very sad

with regard to: "suckers getting married" stamped visably on our foreheads. A lad I work with told me that someone he knows had a florist visibly double their price when they were told the flowers were for a wedding, as in scrub out the initial quote and double it infront of their eyes Shocked

obviously I didn't get the whole story as i wasn't planning a wedding at the time he told me or I would have taken more notice. It dosent suprise me though, its unfair just because we are getting married does not mean we have endless money

nicola · Joined: 22 Sep 2004 Posts: 12

From my wedding planning I have realised that shops sell everything to do with weddings at extortionate (spelling??) prices, I designed my wedding dress myself, bought patterns that best matched it and my mum took on the task of making it. I think it is absolutely stunning, found one on the internet similar, same material as mine but with less bead detail. The internet one was 1400 and mine cost roughly 100 for everything including the stuff to make the veil and stole. I haven't got things like table decs or a sit down meal but everything I want is there, I made everything I possibly could and my wedding has only cost about 1600
x

titianmac · Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 159 Location: Derby

Thats awesome Nicola! Laughing

We all have various talents lurking at various levels... you stuck gold!
Three cheers for a super mum too!!! Very Happy

(whens the wedding?!)

titianmac · Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 159 Location: Derby

Okay- ignore that question Nicola- 23rd of october- wow- should read all before typing with excitement shouldnt I?! Wink

les_251181 · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 23

We're on a budget for our wedding (2nd April 2005) with only one income etc. So to cut the cost I've done the majority of the wedding bits myself, I also have a website which shoes other B2B's what I've done if you want the address for it let me know.

I've done the following:

Bouquet
3 x posies
7 button holes
6 corsage
top table decor
general table decor
cake decor
bridesmaids hair accessories
favours
invites
save the date cards
thank you's

I've also gone for a bridesmaid's dress (though a very glam and sparkly red one) instead of a big white wedding dress.

My chief bridesmaid did beauty therapy at college, so she's doing all the make up. I'm having the husband of my mams friend do the wedding cake (but with my decor on it) - he makes lovely cakes (used to be head baker at Gregs)

The gifts for the bridesmaids were a really good price too. I found someone on ebay who makes vintage crystal jewellery. And each set cost me just 5.00 for earrings and a necklace. I can put people in touch with her too if you like?

Anyway I'll probably think of more things I'm doing but if I can help anyone or provide links to people or places, just let me know. I'm loving doing all this myself!!! (can you tell?!) Very Happy

titianmac · Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 159 Location: Derby

Address please! Very Happy

I love to snoop, get inspiration and share the giddiness!!!
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

titianmac · Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 159 Location: Derby

I'm so happy with myself i just had to share the moment... these are the buttonholes i've been sat making!
_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

les_251181 · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 23

They're lovely! well done you! it is nice to say at the end of it all 'yes, I did that'

Keep it up girl
Les xxx

welshy · Joined: 26 Sep 2004 Posts: 9

I'm doing lots myself as well. It's both our second marriage. The ceremony is at the Registry Office costing approx 100. Not having a photographer, just getting the guests to take lots of pics. We have 36 guests (close friends and family) and are going to a restaurant afterwards for a sit down cold carvery. The venue will decorate to our colours and this is costing 10 a head.
In the evening we've hired the function room in our local rugby club, (they don't charge) doing the buffet and decorating ourselves and paying for a DJ (100)
Like Les I've got a bridesmaids dress which cost 180 and the bridesmaids dresses are from Next. I bought favour boxes from confetti in the sale. My tiara cost 3.00 from Ebay and the Bridesmaids were 15 for the 3 also from Ebay. I bought the girls flowers through Ebay as well and have made mine myself.
I've also made the day invitations (only needed 14), the place cards and for the evening invitations, they are like postcards, so use less cards than bi-fold ones.

chris · Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 1:47 am Post subject:

Well I'm not as artistic as you B2B's on here...but I've got a very good deal for my invites...30 for 35...including special delivery...not bad ehh?

My brother is doing the ceromony..he's a Methocist Minister...no charge...getting married at my village Methodist Church where I'm a member...very small charge..this will include the room for reception, this is been provided by outside caterers who charge reasonable prices...friends of Mum.

No photographer, plenty of people with cameras etc. My dress is a coloured bridesmaid type, so not expensive, a little flower girl...cheap dress...the list goes on but nothing expensive.

chris xx

titianmac · Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 159 Location: Derby

The latest project on the list is Emilys hoop to hold as flowergirl...
Its not glued yet but should look something like this!
I'd welcome any comments before the glue gun warms up!!! Laughing

_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

les_251181 · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 23

I think the hoop will look lovely hun!

What I might be inclined to do also, is to buy some aurora borealis beads. You can buy them on ebay, I find the clear ones are best, and then you can wire them into the flowers with florists wire, or even stich a few to the petals of the flowers using clear nylon thread (the invisable thread) and then it'll add a bit of sparkle to the hoop.

That's what I'd do anyway, but I love sparkly things. The hoop look lovely with the flowers on. Well done girl!

titianmac · Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 159 Location: Derby

Cheers babe!
Im all for sparkly but this is one without Crying or Very sad

Emily our daughter who the hoop is for is only 14 months old so we dont want to run the risk of her playing with wires or beads.
Not only that but shes likely to be bashing people with it so the less spikey the better! Laughing

_________________
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

les_251181 · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 23

Good point hun!

I'm debating whether or not to have our son wear the button hole I made for him. It's small, though he'll be almost 2yrs old....perhaps I'll fasten it with a safety pin, would be safer that way.

Oh, here's a link to view some pics I've put in my album. There's pics of me, H2B, son, cheif bridesmaid and the following flower things I've done:

wand bouquet (cala lily)
bridesmaid posy (pink)
top table decor
bridesmaids hair pieces
sister in law 2b's corsage
top tier piece for cake

and a pic of my wedding shoes are on there too!

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/937795