Wedding Planning Deals and Steals with Fashion Blogger, Hunter Howard
We were lucky enough to meet with and chat wedding planning and fashion with North Carolina based newly minted fashion blogger, Hunter Howard. Hunter loves to shop and always looks adorable; she also LOVES a deal and has been in the process of planning her own wedding for the past year. She shared some awesome tips for saving money during wedding planning - without sacrificing quality- with us. Hunter described her style as fun, classy and trendy - "Honestly, it changes every day!" she says. She knows how to hunt deals and steals - and we we are ALL about it!
She shares some money-saving tips below:
THE DRESS
If you don't already know, bridal dresses typically seem to run a minimum of about $1,200 USD if you are lucky. However, websites like stillwhite.com can help you SAVE BIG on brand-name gowns! This particular website features new and used dresses for sale at just a fraction of the retail price. It is backed by PayPal so if the dress arrives in a less than ideal condition you are guaranteed to get your money back! I recommend trying on similar styles before purchasing, find out your sizing, and then looking on the website until you find your DREAM DRESS! Then of course, you can easily get it altered, once it arrives, to fit you perfectly.
FLOWERS
I don't know about everyone else but I had no idea how much of my budget was going to be spent on FLOWERS! It is so hard to know you are putting so much money into something you know will be left behind after your wedding. But if you are open to the idea, artificial flowers are a great substitute and if done by the right person you won't be able to tell the difference and can enjoy them again in the future. Also, stores like Costco actually sell wedding flowers in sets, so all you have to do is pick them up and they are ready to go!
Image Credit: www.costco.com
We, at WCWV, checked out Costco's selection online and were pleasantly surprised to find not only fresh bouquets, but even luscious green and flower garlands and table runner greenery! This is an outstanding option.
SAVE THE DATES & INVITATIONS
To save you from spending an arm and a leg on save the dates and invitations, check out VISTAPRINT.COM. They run specials all the time for things like 50% OFF and FREE SHIPPING! They have templates for every wedding style from rustic to elegant.
FAVORS
Depending on how big your guest list favors can add up fast. For these, I recommend checking out orientaltrading.com. as they are always running specials on favors. Sign up for their emails and mailing list and they will send you coupons for 25% off and free shipping all the time!
JEWELRY
Don't forget about your accessories! I must admit this one slipped my mind when planning for the BIG DAY! However, Kendra Scott saved the day not only do they have an amazing birthday discount (50% off an item) but brides get 15% off everything! This is great for gifts for your bridal party too - Who doesn't love Kendra Scott?!
PHOTOGRAPHER
Everyone told me, and now I am going to tell you - Invest in a good photographer! I was lucky and happened to stumble across an amazing photographer, Allison. Allison Nichole Photography has taken my engagement and bridal pictures so far and will be photographing my wedding in October. Her quality is unbeatable, her price point is phenomenal, her turn around time is under three weeks, and she is genuinely a great person to work with! I highly recommend her to all brides!
WEDDING PLANNER
When I started planning my wedding I did not think I needed a planner. I am VERY detail oriented and organized, so I did not need one...WRONG! I hope my mom doesn't see this, but she was so RIGHT! I am so very thankful I caved and found a planner because there was so much more that went into a wedding than I initially expected; I was not prepared. My planner came up with my entire theme just by looking at my Pinterest board. She handled all communications between vendors, made my favors, addressed invitations, created the schedule for the day of, and handled ALL of the DECORATIONS. I highly recommend saving yourself the stress and investing in a planner. Definitely compare and price several of them and find out what they offer; you need to find a good fit for YOU! If you are planning a wedding around North Carolina, check out my personal life saver - wedding planner Heather McLaughlin (contact: heathermclaughlinevents@gmail.com).
Follow Hunter's Deals and Steals on Instagram.