Tip #1: Be absolutely 100% sure before you make any purchases, sign any contracts, etc.
Before you put your deposit down at any venue, you better be 100% sure you want to have your wedding there! Most venues will NOT return your deposit. I know, it isn't fair, so be absolutely sure before you sign any contracts and put your money down!! I had to highlight that in yellow because I don't think most brides are aware of this fact. You would think that if you cancelled several months in advance that you would still get your money back, but in most cases, they will deduct a penalty fee at the least!
Side note: Ladies, I know this is a fun, yet stressful time in your lives. Sometimes, you just have to trust that some things are not meant to be. Some of you bridezillas just rolled your eyes at me, haha! But, hopefully this attitude will help you make better decisions. Hey, if your dress that you aren't even that crazy about gets bought the next day and isn't available anymore. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be and there's a better dress out there for you? Try not to get too aggressive and buy everything you see at first sight!! Take your time and be 100% sure on all your purchases otherwise you may end up with 2 dresses or 2 ring bearer pillows! By staying calm, cool and collected and being 100% sure will actually help you save money in the long run.
Tip #2: DIY("do-it-yourself")
This is an obvious tip!! There are tons of resources out there for you to do things all on your own. My close girlfriend had all the bridesmaids come over and put together the invitations for her. It was a fun night with all the girls hanging out! Plus, I'm sure she saved some money by putting us to work.
Another idea, is you can create centerpieces if you have the time. For example, print out some beautiful pictures of you and your finance and put them in a frame. Next to the frame you can buy a glass vase from Michaels or a craft store and put pebbles on the bottom with beautiful artificial cherry blossoms! If you live near a forested area, rack the fallen leaves and save those to decorate around the frame and glass vase!! The ideas are limitless.
Try searching on youtube, wedding websites and pinterest.
Tip #3: Buy from Wholesalers
This tip is also mentioned below, but for example, I bought my flower girl dresses and groomsmen tux's at the Fashion District in Los Angeles. I found the same exact flower girl dresses at a local wedding shop and it was 2 or 3 times more!!! The groomsmen tuxedo's were about $100 each, which is about the price you'll pay for a rental. But, they got to keep the tuxedos! (See picture above for the flower girl dresses.)
I will be providing more details in my eBook that I will be writing soon. :)
How To Save Money On Your Wedding Dress
Tip #1: Be absolutely 100% sure you LOVE the dress before you buy it!
Boy, oh boy, did I make a HUGE mistake that cost me $500!! When I was shopping for a wedding dress, I felt pressured to pick a dress immediately. Who wants to keep asking their bridesmaids and family members to go dress shopping?? I know, it can be fun at first and it becomes this whole girls day out shenanigans. But honestly, it starts to get old for those tagging along. Also, if you're crunched for time, you just might think that the dress you tried on a couple of times is the one, when it really isn't!
I initially checked out all the local wedding dress boutiques. At one of the wedding shops, I tried on a dress that seemed okay. I thought I liked it. It was also on SALE, so I thought I had scored! But, I didn't love it and honestly it was an ugly dress. But, I paid $500 bucks for it!! What was I thinking??? I don't know... I guess I was under the pressure and thought it was the one when I knew all along that I never loved it. DO NOT DO THIS!!! It is ALWAYS better to wait and be 100% sure that you love it before you make any major purchases.
Ladies, I promise you. You will LOVE the dress that is THE ONE! Above is a picture of my wedding dress that was a PERFECT fit! I didn't need any alterations :) Needless to say, I LOOOOOVE it!
My wedding dress at a boutique shop would probably have cost me at least $3,000 and probably even more due to all the beautiful details and layers. But, I bought it for about $1,000 in Los Angeles at the Fashion District!!!
---> What's my point?? If you want to save money on your dress go to the WHOLESALERS! If you don't live near Los Angeles, then try to find where all your local wedding shops are buying their wedding dresses! I'm pretty sure that the wedding shops in San Diego purchase most of their dresses and accessories from L.A., so why not make the drive to save some serious doe??
Tip #2: Go dress shopping early
More than likely, you are going to have to take your dress to get it altered. Alterations cost a lot of money ranging from at least $100 and up! On top of that, it takes at least a month or two to get it altered. If you don't believe me, call around!
So, to save money start dress shopping as soon as you can. You might be able to find a dress in your perfect size so you can avoid getting it altered. I know, most wedding dress shops offer alterations, but it's usually pretty expensive. If you purchase your dress earlier, you'll have more time to find another seamstress who's more affordable.
The sooner you have your PERFECT dress, the sooner you can start shopping for all the accessories to go with it. That means you can find better deals on shoes too! *Finding the perfect pair of SHOES is also a challenge because it has to be the right height and color, so start early!
Tip #3: Buy a pre-owned dress
Ew! Some people don't like the idea of buying anything pre-owned, while others don't really care. Keep in mind that you're only be going to be wearing your wedding dress for ONE day. If you really want to save money, you should really consider buying a pre-owned dress. You can find pre-owned dresses on craigslist, ebay, amazon and some of your local wedding dress shops. Most of the time, the dresses are still in pristine condition, so you won't have to worry about major stains or smells.
If you're going to buy online, I would just make sure the seller will refund your money if you don't like it. It's always better to TRY the dress before you BUY the dress!!
How to Save Money On Photography
Tip #1: Be Creative and Use Social Media
What?? Yes, most people these days are on Facebook and Instagram. On top of that, most people these days have smart phones and cameras and enjoy taking pictures. So, what should you do??
On your wedding website or invitation, write something like this, "Please hashtag your photos with #LeeberWedding". This will allow you and your guests to see all the photos from your wedding day by clicking on that specific hashtag! Make sense? This is a new and trendy way to save money on photography because your friends and family will take pictures for you!
Tip #2: Purchase a Package Deal
Whether or not you want to take engagement photos, you should ask your photographer if they will give you a "discount" or deal if you book both your engagement and wedding photography with them. Since you're booking them for two jobs, they should be willing to work with a little more than if you were only booking them for one job.
**I will continuously say throughout my site, "You Never Know Unless You Ask!" Get over being embarrassed, and just ask. You never know if a photographer is going to be willing to give you a discount or deal.
But, keep in mind, you don't want to ask for a crazy discount. For example, ask if their price includes tax. If it does NOT, then ask, "Would you be willing to not charge tax?" or "Would you be willing to give us a 10% discount before adding taxes. This would really help us out and we really love your work!"
Tip #3: Be Crystal Clear
Make sure that when you book your photographer that everything is crystal clear!! Asking the right questions beforehand can prevent any possible litigation :)
1) How many photographers will be working with you on the day of the wedding?
2) Does your rate have a maximum number of hours? For example, if my wedding is 10 hours, will you be there throughout the entire wedding? Do you charge for staying over a certain number of hours?
3) How soon after will I be getting my wedding pictures?
4) What time will you be showing up to start taking pictures? What happens if you're late? Do you have a back up photographer?
5) Have you already been to the location of the wedding? (This is a great question especially if your venue is hard to find or if your wedding is going to take place on a weekday. If your photographer has been to the site before then he/she can plan accordingly so they are not late for your wedding day!)
6) Will you be publishing any of my pictures on your website or advertisement products? (If you are a private person, you can avoid having your personal pictures displayed. Make sure your contract says that the photographer will not use your pictures for any commercial use.)
7) Make a list and provide it to your photographer so that he/she knows exactly what pictures you want them to take. Usually, they'll know what pictures to take, but if you have any special requests, then put it in writing! For example, if you want a lot of pictures with candid family shots, tell them!
*8) Can I pay you the remaining balance once I receive my photos??? This is a great question because sometimes if you withhold the remaining balance, you may get your pictures sooner! Think about it. If you were the photographer and you still haven't been fully paid, wouldn't you work faster to get your money??! This isn't always the case, but this will ensure that you have some leverage over your photographer in case he/she is a bit lazy or gets too busy with other wedding gigs.
**Everything I just said should end up in your contract in WRITING!!! I don't care if it seems silly. At least, write your photographer in an e-mail so that something is in writing. Believe me, it's always better to be safe than sorry.**
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