Make it, Do it, Enjoy it

Make it, Do it, Enjoy it

Posted by Lisa, February 28, 2011

I’ve watched many brides do their own weddings, each struggling to stay on budget.  It would be difficult indeed if you bought everything, catered everything, and needed everything to be just the style and fashion of the world at that moment.  But what’s the fun in that?

Walking into a bridal store, you can “oooooh” and “ahhhhh” of the pretty gowns and shake your heads over the ugly and immodest ones.  But take a look at the price tag; you probably are thinking more of the word “ouch” at that moment.  The same can go for wedding cakes.  Wedding cakes are a centerpiece at the reception, and you want it to look nice.  However, between the wedding dress and the wedding cakes, most brides spend a minimum of $3,000!  A minimum.  And $3,000 is higher than my entire budget for my wedding!

So how do we get around this typical American fashion of spending money for everything you need and don’t need?  There are three words to explain this:

Make it, Do it, Enjoy it

Are you asking yourself “Make and do what?”  The answer is pretty much everything for the wedding.  Are you asking yourself “Enjoy what?”  The answer is definitely everything - enjoy being resourceful, saving money, and making things for your special day.

The wedding dress can most certainly be made.  Skim through the catalogs from McCall’s, Butterick, and Vogue to name a few, and you can find beautiful wedding dresses.  True, many might need adjustments to fit you differently or be more modest, but if you know how to sew you can most likely do them yourself.   At places like Joann’s, Hobby Lobby, and Hancock Fabrics they often have 40-60% off coupons if you sign up for their email newsletters.  You can use those coupons to purchase your bridal satin and for under $100 you can have a beautiful, white wedding dress!

Cakes often cost as much, if not more, than the wedding dress.  While you might not be that good of a baker or a decorator, ask around.  Chances are you know someone who could do it for you at a much cheaper price for your wedding present.  Of course, you should always pay for supplies and give something as a thank you gift, but there are ways around spending $1,500+ for a wedding cake.

Flowers usually cost between $500-$1,000 a wedding.  **blink**  Flowers.  You know, those things that we can get at the grocery store for under $25.  Those things that look just as pretty when they are silk for under $25 at Hobby Lobby.  Those things which many of us have growing in our own gardens.  Since I do not wish to have to deal with many of the trials and tribulations of real flowers for boutonnieres, corsages, and flower girl wreaths, I found beautiful silk flowers at Hobby Lobby that will fit perfectly for under $25.  And I am putting those together into boutonnieres, corsages, and flower girl wreaths myself.  Then, shortly before the wedding day, I will buy a dozen roses and a small bunch of baby’s breath.  Each girl will carry a single pink rose with a small amount of baby’s breath tied with a ribbon.  Then I will have the remaining roses and baby’s breath similarly tied with a ribbon for my own bouquet.  That will cost under $20.  So my flowers will be a totally of $45, Lord willing.  Now why on earth would you spend $500-$1000 for just flowers????

In the midst of all the wedding planning, there is so much to enjoy.  But what is the fun if you aren’t being resourceful and saving money in the midst?  And what is the fun if you aren’t doing things to make your day special as opposed to the norm of everyone else doing it for you?  Why not make your special day the best day and fit just to your size?  Make it, Do it, Enjoy it.