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Three Grand Weddings - episode one starts tonight!
Hey Brides and Grooms,
A brand new ten-part series is airing on Wedding TV tonight at 9pm - Three Grand Weddings, and The Chief Bridesmaid is delighted to be involved! I'll be presenting the show as well as offering top tips on how to save money on your wedding day.
Three Grand Weddings sees three couples set their friends and family the task of planning their dream wedding – all on a budget of just £3,000!
Each couple also had a top wedding planner on hand to help too - however, there was a catch....the couple had to hand over the wedding plans completely to their planner, friends and family - and not know a thing about it until the big day itself!
So the Brides arrived at their wedding day not knowing where they were getting married, what they were eating for their wedding breakfast or even...and here's biggie...what their wedding dress was like!
In episode one this evening (with a repeat on Wednesdays at 8pm), we'll meet the wedding teams and see them decide on the wedding venue!
So, how will the wedding teams get on? Will they manage to put together a wedding for just £3,000? Or will all of the wedding budget be gone by the end of the first episode?
Tune in to the Chief Bridesmaid tonight on Three Grand Weddings at 9pm on Wedding TV (Sky 266 and Freesat 400) to find out!
Article posted: 2010-01-11 20:51:27
Chief Bridesmaid Lucy Elliott to present
The Chief Bridesmaid, Lucy Elliott, has been appointed as the presenter of Wedding TV’s brand new series, "Three Grand Weddings".
This is the first commission aimed at Brides getting married on a budget - and let's hope it's the first of many. I'm so proud of Wedding TV for covering what other wedding media has ignored for too long - weddings that don't have superstar, celebrity designer budgets.
The brand new series called, "Three Grand Weddings", will be airing from Monday at nine pm on Freesat 400 and Sky 266.
"Three Grand Weddings" sees three couples set their friends and family the task of planning their dream wedding – all on a budget of just £3,000! With the average wedding in the UK costing over £20,000, it’ll be an enormous challenge, and so the wedding teams will have to be resourceful and imaginative in order to win.
As well as presenting the series, and offering viewers top tips on how to save money on their wedding day, Lucy Elliott will be judging which couple’s wedding team have done the best job of creating a dream wedding on a nightmare budget!
The series has come along at the perfect time. Today’s engaged couples are worried about keeping their jobs, nevermind planning expensive weddings and so it's high time there is a series that caters to brides on a budget.
Ultimately, though I hope viewers will take out that it doesn’t matter how much you spend on your wedding - if the man’s perfect, your big day will be too.
"Three Grand Weddings" will be airing from Monday at 9pm on Wedding TV (Freesat 400 and Sky 266). There'll be repeats on Wednesdays at 8pm.
Article posted: 2010-01-07 12:29:58
Happy 2010 fromThe Chief Bridesmaid!
To my dearest Brides and Grooms,
Wishing you a wonderful 2010 - especially if you're getting married this year!
Make your New Year's resolution not to overspend on your Wedding day!
Hopefully, the credit crunch and recession is coming to an end, but this isn't to say that so should saving money for your wedding! The road to economic recovery is a long and uncertain one, and therefore, it's important that you still manage your wedding budget, avoid emotional spending.
Exciting new developments for The Chief Bridesmaid in 2010
The Chief Bridesmaid will continue to offer Brides and Grooms in the UK advice on maximising their wedding budgets - whether they be large or small! However, The Chief Bridesmaid will soon not just be found online - Lucy Elliott, founder of The Chief Bridesmaid, will soon be seen presenting a fabulous series for Wedding TV all about budget weddings!
Apologies too for being a bit quiet on the blogging front over the past couple of months, I've been setting the groundwork for The Chief Bridesmaid's expansion to Australia. The UK site will continue to run as normal, but they'll also be wedding planning information for Australian brides too.
Good Luck with all your Wedding plans - please remember - if the man's (or woman's) right for you, your wedding will be the best day of your life regardless of how much you spend on the wedding!
Lots of love,
The Chief Bridesmaid xoxo
Article posted: 2010-01-04 09:51:44
Wedding Planning needn't be all hard work
When you're planning your wedding, it's easy to get disheartened. Wedding costs can spiral, misbehaving relatives can mess up seating plans, and you and your Hubba-to-be can find yourselves arguing over the tiniest details from bouquet ribbon to invitation lettering.
That's why I was really pleased to come across a site that sees the funny side to weddings and the things we obsess about in the months before the big day. The Wedinator collates the world's funniest wedding pics - from the angry Bride who's had one too many to the most unimaginably tasteless wedding line-ups (must be seen to be believed!).
So next time you and your Groom have a fight over the wedmin, or feel your budget wedding is no longer within your wedding budget, why not check out The Wedinator. it won't help you plan your wedding - but it will bring a smile to your face!
Article posted: 2009-12-01 14:45:20
Reader questions - I love Real Bride Sarah's wedding dress - where did she get it from?
Reader question - I love real life "cheap but chic" bride Sarah's wedding dress - it's really unusual and just stunning - where did she get it from?
The Chief Bridesmaid's answer -
Real life Bride Sarah's beautiful dress is from Pronovias. Now Pronovias wedding dresses aren't by any means cheap, however, they are better value than many of the other designer wedding dresses you see out there. For example, many of Pronovias's dresses still come in for less than £1,000, compared to the £2,500 that many designer Bridal shops charge. This dress cost well under £1,000 yet looks a million dollars.
What's also worth pointing out is that because Pronovias is so incredibly popular, it's not uncommon to find newly wed Brides selling their dresses off on second hand wedding dress sites like Share the Dream. Preloved - the second hand website - currently has 114 Pronovias dresses and veils for sale, so it's always worth checking their site out if you're happy to buy second hand.
Article posted: 2009-08-18 00:44:54
Delicious credit crunch wedding cakes from Planet Cake!
Hi All
First of all, an apology on two counts -
The Chief Bridesmaid and her hubba have been travelling through the deepest depths of Asia for the last few months so it's been too difficult to post regularly. Apologies if I've been a bit quite for a while. I'm back online now and so I hope redeem myself over the next few weeks. 
Secondly, this is a bit of a re-post. Last time I wrote about Planet Cake's fabulous idea to offer simpler credit-crunch priced cakes, I didn't have access to a computer that could re-size the stunning photos adequately for me to be able to post them. Anyway, with a new laptop purchased, I've been able to do that, and can now offer the opportunity for you to indulge in some delectable wedding cake porn! Check this beauty out for starters!
Until now, professional wedding cakes may have seemed beyond the reach of most Brides on a budget, and so Planet Cake has come up with the perfect wedding cake for Brides who want a fabulous, yet low cost, cake for their big day.
The money saving idea behind the beautiful 4-tier credit crunch wedding cake is that it is iced with a simple rustic style of butter-cream icing instead of the smoother, more traditional fondant icing frequently used in cake making. There are no fiddly, time-consuming piped designs or flowers made from sugar, as it is these elements that increase the cost of the wedding cake. (Personally, I love this unfussy, more modern look to icing - I think it looks tastier and much more stylish.)
This wonderfully cheaper alternative can then be simply styled using coloured ribbons and fresh fruits and flowers to create a stunning yet elegant cake.
To keep the costs down, Planet cake have decorated the credit crunch wedding cake with garden flowers, herbs and fruit. The difference in price between an orchid and a simple garden daisy is huge. The result is a more organic yet beautiful style of cake. I love the simplicity and unpretentiousness of it all.
The top tier of this wedding cake is a dummy. This allows for flowers and foliage to be easily pushed into the cake. The other 3 tiers are sponge (in any flavour of your choice) and will feed up to 80 guests.
For a total cost of £325, Planet Cake will source the decoration for your cake to match your theme. Alternatively you can purchase the cake for £300 and let your friends or florist do the decorating.
You can have the cake in any flavour you choose and the covering can even be coloured if you wish. The cake is made fresh to order from quality ingredients and has no artificial content.
As most professional wedding cakes average at a cost of £600....this one is a bargain and it’s really tasty too!
Aside from the credit crunch cake, Planet Cake is offering all Chief Bridesmaid readers a 5% discount on cakes booked with Planet Cake (excluding the credit crunch cake) OR 8 boxed mini fruitcakes to match their chosen cake as gifts for the top table. Please quote offer code "the chief bridesmaid" upon booking.
To contact Planet Cake, call Rachel on 07958 714672 or check out the website at www.planet-cake.com
Looking for other ways to save money on your wedding cake? Planet Cake suggests these money saving tips:
Always tell your cake m
aker if you have a fixed budget and they should accommodate your needs within the design.
When purchasing your cake from a cake maker, the more sugar flowers and piped decoration, the more expensive your cake will be. These details are very time consuming, so to keep the cost down, keep it simple! The less dots and spots, the cheaper it will be.
If you want to make your cake look bigger, but not pay for the cake, most cake makers use polystyrene dummys. You could have a 5 tier cake, yet only the bottom tier is real. You could even hire a whole dummy cake. Most cake makers have display cakes that they use for exhibitions, so it’s always worth asking! Then you could serve your friends homemade delights, when it comes to eating. 
Don’t choose expensive fresh flowers. There are so many pretty cheaper flowers out there like flowers from your own garden, or cheaper cut flowers like gerbias.
Cup cakes are now a very popular choice for Brides. They are really fun and can be dressed to suit any theme. Again, if the decoration is simple, for example a big strawberry or a fresh daisy, it is going to be so much cheaper than choosing an edible handmade sugar flower. Planet Cake has cupcakes that range from £2.00 to £5.00 depending on their complexity.
And lastly, you can always ask for a discount....you never know!
Article posted: 2009-08-17 08:27:46
Did you have a wedding for less than £5,000? Appear in Look magazine!
Did you get married for less than £5000?
I've been contacted by Alice, a freelance journalist for Look magazine who is keen to put together a story on weddings that cost less than £5,000.
If you're an already-wed or very-soon- to-be-wed who had a budget wedding and are aged between 19-35, why not take up this fab offer of telling your wedding story, getting your name in print and potentially making a little bit of money in the process.
I'm always keen to feature budget brides in my real weddings section too so please keep in touch, send me your wedding pics and tell me your ideas.
Over to Alice......
I'm a freelance journalist and I'm currently researching a feature for Look magazine about couples who got married for less than £5,000 (brides should be aged 19-35).
Featuring would involve you giving a phone interview all about your wedding and budgeting etc. and we would like to take a photo of you and your now-husband too. We'd also need a couple of collect photos from your wedding day. In return, we'd be able to pay you a small fee as a thank you (on publication).
If you're interested, please contact Alice by email at alicegrebot@yahoo.co.uk
Article posted: 2009-07-18 16:03:46
Need a helping hand funding your wedding? BBC Three's Cash Mob is here to help!
BBC Three are producing a new TV series called Cash Mob, the series offers expert advice to help people save money where it really matters!
Cash Mob will feature people looking to make an important life changing purchase - an engagement ring for a groom who's fallen on hard times, flights for relatives from to join a couple on their wedding day, a vital trip abroad to visit a poorly relative - and BBC Three's personal finance and negotiation experts will teach them the skills they need to get the item at a price they can afford.
The show are looking for people to take part and would like to hear from anyone aged 18-35 who is up for the challenge as soon as possible! If you have an interesting story behind why you really deserve the Expert's help, why not get in touch with the show letting them know what you want to buy and why?
Contact Paul Morten at BBC Three Tel: 0208 5769357*
Email: paul.morten@bbc.co.uk
Closing date: 10 July 2009
* Standard geographic charges apply and calls may be included in your telecoms provider's call package. Calls from mobiles may be higher.
Article posted: 2009-06-29 06:54:29
Make your low cost Wedding appear like a money-no-object!
The Chief Bridesmaid went to a fabulous wedding at the weekend, one of her dearest friends from Uni and his girlfriend. It may have been an unpretentious, country wedding but it nevertheless was amazingly grand with breath-taking flowers and entertainment. To the untrained wedding planning eye, it could have been perceived as a money no object affair. But to a budget obsessed Bridezilla like the C.B, the wedding was a wealth of money saving ideas - and the typical guest would never have guessed a thing!
So, a typical guest might have assumed that the bridal car - a convertible Citroen 2CV covered adorned with pretty flowers - was expensive retro wedding transport.
In reality, a wedding saving expert would spotted that in fact the Bride's car was her own (so free of charge), driven by her brother (again free, yet adorned in a chauffeur's cap to look the part), that the flowers were taken from the Bride's parents' garden (free again) and arranged by friends of the family (yes you've guessed it, free!)
A person looking at the couple's wedding photos might have supposed that the wedding took place in the grounds of a costly wedding venue.
In reality, the wedding was held in the Bride's parents backgarden - they'd just been gardening VERY hard over the last year or two! The couple did have to spend on a wedding marquee, but they because the wedding was held at home, they saved money on venue hire fees, corkage and the catering costs came in slightly cheaper than what's typical of venue catering costs.
None of the wedding guests at the big day could have failed to have been astounded by the beautiful, beautiful flowers!
In reality, a practised budget bride would have noticed that the couple were actually incredibly, incredibly wise with their wedding flower budget:
- The big bunches of rustic, countryside flowers were sourced from the local area and were in season - a far cheaper option than sourcing exotic flowers that have to be flown in from further a field.
- The table decorations were long trails of ivy (sourced locally from the area - for free) enhanced with the odd gerbia slipped in at intervals. Gerbias are not only low cost, they're quite large and so a few go a long way. The couple were also incredibly savvy to find the ivy themselves from the countryside because buying greenery can be surprisingly expensive.
- Rather than costly pedestal flower arrangements, the couples simply erected trestles onto the side of the marquee and decorated these with fairy lights (bought from ebay), ivy and the odd single stem gerbia.
The grounds around the marquee were stunningly decorated with fairy lights, candles in jam jars and a bonfire that was set light when dark fell. It looks absolutely stunning in photographs - particularly where the orange glow is set against the backdrop of the marquee (n.b the fire and the canvas were a very safe distance apart).
The wedding entertainment was country dancing, an evening cabaret and a disco. Surely this would cost a fortune? But no! The cabaret was put together by the couple's friends and family so cost only time, not money. The country dancing caller and DJ were friends of the family and so came at a reduced rate.
So there was their wedding day - a beautiful day that to an outsider would have looked like a big budget bonanza - but in reality, was low-cost, simple and very, very effective.
Congratulations you guys - I had such a good time at your wedding day. Hope you're having an amazing honeymoon together.
with love, The Chief Bridesmaid xoxo
Article posted: 2009-06-04 17:28:11
Planet Cake launches a Credit Crunch Wedding Cake!
Until now, professional wedding cakes may seemed beyond the reach of most Brides on a budget, and so Planet Cake has come up with the perfect cake for Brides who want a fabulous cake more cheaply.
The money saving idea behind the beautiful 4-tier credit crunch wedding cake is that it is iced with a simple rustic style of butter-cream icing instead of the smoother fondant icing frequently used in cake making. There are no fiddly, time-consuming piped designs or flowers made from sugar, as it is these elements that increase the cost of your cake.
This wonderfully cheaper alternative can then be simply styled using coloured ribbons and fresh fruits and flowers to create a stunning yet elegant cake.
To keep the costs down, Planet cake have decorated the credit crunch wedding cake with garden flowers, herbs and fruit. The difference in price between an orchid and a simple garden daisy is huge. The result is a more organic yet beautiful style of cake. I love the simplicity and unpretentiousness of it all.
The top tier of this cake is a dummy. This allows for flowers and foliage to be easily pushed into the cake. The other 3 tiers are sponge (in any flavour of your choice) and will feed up to 80 guests.
For a total cost of £325, Planet Cake will source the decoration for your cake to match your theme. Alternatively you can purchase the cake for £300 and let your friends or florist do the decorating.
You can have the cake in any flavour you choose and the covering can even be coloured if you wish. The cake is made fresh to order from quality ingredients and has no artificial content.
As most professional wedding cakes average at a cost of £600....this one is a bargain and it’s really tasty too!
Aside from the credit crunch cake, Planet Cake is offering all Chief Bridesmaid readers a 5% discount on cakes booked with Planet Cake (excluding the credit crunch cake) OR 8 boxed mini fruitcakes to match their chosen cake as gifts for the top table. Please quote offer code "the chief bridesmaid" upon booking.
To contact Planet Cake, call Rachel on 07958-714-672 or check out the website www.planet-cake.com
Looking for other ways to save money on your wedding cake - check out Planet Cake suggests these money saving tips:
Always tell your cake maker if you have a fixed budget and they should accommodate your needs within the design.
When purchasing your cake from a cake maker, the more sugar flowers and piped decoration, the more expensive your cake will be. These details are very time consuming, so to keep the cost down, keep it simple! The less dots and spots, the cheaper it will be.
If you want to make your cake look bigger, but not pay for the cake, most cake makers use polystyrene dummys. You could have a 5 tier cake, yet only the bottom tier is real. You could even hire a whole dummy cake. Most cake makers have display cakes that they use for exhibitions, so it’s always worth asking! Then you could serve your friends homemade delights, when it comes to eating.
Don’t choose expensive fresh flowers. There are so many pretty cheaper flowers out there like flowers from your own garden, or cheaper cut flowers like gerbias.
Cup cakes are now a very popular choice for Brides. They are really fun and can be dressed to suit any theme. Again, if the decoration is simple, for example a big strawberry or a fresh daisy, it is going to be so much cheaper than choosing an edible handmade sugar flower. Planet Cake has cupcakes that range from £2.00 to £5.00 depending on their complexity.
And lastly, you can always ask for a discount....you never know!
Article posted: 2009-05-31 23:16:18
Church offers free weddings to Brides on a budget
Cash strapped Brides hit by the recession are having to postpone their wedding days. But one church has decided to offer a helping hand to couples who can't afford to get married. St Hild and St Helen's, in Dawdon, County Durham, is giving credit crunch Brides and Grooms the chance to get married in the church for free.
As well as the church service, it is reported that the virtually free wedding offer throws in an organist plus outfits for the bride, bridesmaids, bridegroom and mother of the bride.
The only condition is that couples take four pre-marital lessons before the big day - with a £50 fee payable to the registrar.
Credit crunch Bride, Donna Swinney, 29, and her fiance Alan Davison, 33, couldn't afford to get married after he was made redundant from his job last year.
But the couple became the first to take advantage of the free wedding service when they tied the knot last week. The Church's Vicar said: 'People really want to get married, but at this time there's a credit crunch.
'I think those who have taken up the offer think it's a novel idea. They wanted to know more because it's free and they've been looking for a church for a time.
'They really want to be married and be together, and that's as it should be.'
Good on St Hild and St Helens - a brilliant idea and a dream come true for Brides on a budget! Let's hope we see more ingenuity like this from wedding suppliers in the recession.
Article posted: 2009-05-21 19:36:21
Win, Win, Win! Bride Wars DVD competition!
Hey All,
Has the Chief Bridesmaid got a treat for you today? We've got a Bride Wars-themed competition!
Bride Wars - the fabulous chick flick with Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson - is being released on DVD on Monday (18th May), and to celebrate I've got 5 copies of the DVD to give away as well as a pair of Bridal-themed boxing gloves for the winner!
I went to see Bride Wars at the cinema earlier this year and absolutely loved it - drama, comedy, tears and enough wedding porn to keep even the most beleagued Bride a pre-wedding glow!
The story follows best friends Liv and Emma as their dream weddings turn them from BFFs into Bridezillas!
Liv played by Kate Hudson (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days) and Emma played by Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada) have been best friends since they were kids - furthermore, they have been planning every detail of their weddings since they were six years old. Both dreaming of a lavish celebration at New York’s plaza hotel, it looks like they will finally get the weddings they have longed for when 20 years later their respective boyfriends propose, they secure June dates at the Plaza and get ready for happily ever after.
But when it comes to weddings, nothing ever goes according to plan…
When their exclusive wedding planner makes a terrible error, Liv and Emma end up scheduled to marry on the same date. Unwilling to back-down, their lifelong friendship gets cast aside as the former pals find themselves locked in a take-no-prisoners Bride War to ruin each other's big day!
If you'd like to enter this fabulous Bride Wars competition, you will need to answer this question:
What is the name of Kate Hudson's film star mother?
Please write your answer in the subject line of your email and send it to me at: Bridewarscomp@googlemail.com
Please include your name and address in the body of the email and respond by the closing date, June 1st 2009. The t&cs can be found at the foot of the page.
The winner will receive the bridal boxing gloves and a copy of Bride Wars on DVD, 4 runners up will win a copy of the Bride Wars DVD each.
Good Luck! But if you don't win, you can always check out a fun free Bride wars-themed ecard for your bridesmaids:
Bride Wars E-card
Whilst we're on the subject on wedding movies, maybe we should have a think about some of the other best wedding movies out there. Might be a good idea for table names?!:
1. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
2. Muriel's Wedding
3. My Best Friend's Wedding
4. The Wedding Planner
5. 4 Weddings and a Funeral
6. Love Actually (OK, not exactly a wedding movie, but Keira's dress in this is so stunning it totally deserved a mention)
7. Father of the Bride
8. Green Card (I love this film!)
9. The Wedding Singer
10. Sex and the City - the movie.
Enjoy!
with lots of love, The Chief Bridesmaid xoxo
Bride Wars Competition - Terms and Conditions:
1. This competition is open to entrants in the UK and ROI only.
2. The Chief Bridesmaid reserves the right to cancel or amend the Bride Wars Competition without notice. Any changes will be posted either within these terms and conditions.
3. In the event of any dispute regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to the Bride Wars Competition, the decision of The Chief Bridesmaid shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.
4. You may enter the Bride Wars Competition as many times as you like however where a winner has been selected and The Chief Bridesmaid discovers or has reasonable grounds to believe the winner has used any software or automated process either to answer questions or to make bulk entries, The Chief Bridesmaid may select an alternative winner. Any further winner will be selected on the same criteria as the original winner and will be subject to these Rules.
5. Competition entries must be made in the manner and by the closing date specified. Failure to do so will disqualify the entry.
6. Prize winners will be chosen at random from all qualifying Entries within 28 days of the closing date.
Article posted: 2009-05-20 14:41:22
U.S. Brides have all the luck!
I know that many of you guys who read the blog aren't based in the UK and so I thought that today's entry should go international.
The Chief Bridesmaid has just discovered another benefit for those who live in America. These benefits go beyond the best national parks, the best looking President, getting movies ages before anyone else, and being the home of Gossip Girl (which simply must be the best TV show on earth). America is the home of David's Bridal, true show-stoppers of bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses that brides can afford whatever their budget may be.
Much like the Chief Bridesmaid, David's Bridal works on the principle that every bride should look and feel like a million dollars on her wedding day regardless of her budget. When browsing some of their key looks for the season, it's honestly hard to tell that they aren't designer. What I love is that they don't offer low cost wedding dresses just to make up the money on their accessories, with veils at $49 and bridal shoes at $39, everything they offer is good value.
My favourite is the modern romance look - a beautiful, elegant halter neck dress, veil, handbag, shoes and jewellery all for $630. Lovin it. With between $50 and $300 off everyone of their bridal gowns currently, even the most credit crunched bride should be able to find something within their budget.
Article posted: 2009-04-24 10:57:20
It's the small thoughtful touches that make a Wedding
Congratulations to my oldest friend Kate who got married to the lovely Paul on Saturday! Wow, what an amazing wedding - a beautiful bride, lovely venue and awesome band (hulagroove, who were just amazing).
It struck me at the end of the night that two of the most wonderful and unique things that I would remember after the day were actually the cheapest.
Kate has lived next to a stately home all of her life - the park there has the most amazing view - as you look across the lake, a majestic bridge sits on the horizon and reflects into the lake's waters. It's an amazing view, and more personal for Kate still as that's where Paul proposed. In admirable style, Kate approached the owners of the stately home and requested whether the buses taking guests from the church to the reception venue would be able to travel through the house's grounds past this incredible view. The estate kindly agreed (as Kate had been visiting most weeks for the last 30 years!), and so all the guests were treated to the most incredible bus ride through the park and past this incredible view. Everyone was so suprised as we headed past the Bridge that there was an audible "coo" from all the Wedding guests. A wonderful moment for everyone there.
The second personal touch was testiment to Kate's forethought. So that all the guests could feel comfortable and be rest assured that they were looking great, she left some lovely molton brown toiletries, chewing gum, nice lip gloss and various other little bits to help keep the wedding guests feeling on tip top form. A lovely thoughtful touch that made the wedding guests feel thoroughly looked after.
Congratulations Kate and Paul - it was an awesome, awesome wedding day and an amazing time on honeymoon!
with love, the chiefbridesmaid xoxox
Article posted: 2009-04-20 19:06:55
Have you had a beautiful budget wedding?
Are you a Budget Bride? Did you have a credit crunch wedding? Did you push your wedding suppliers to the max to get a great value wedding? Did you negotiate the unaffordable down to affordable? Did you go to amazing lengths to save for your wedding?
Then The ChiefBridesmaid wants to hear from you.
We're always looking for case-studies from Brides who had a fabulous day without busting your wedding budget. Just think, by passing on your moneysaving tips on how to have a brilliant wedding, you'll be helping hundreds of other credit crunch brides out there.
If you do have a story to tell, I'd love to hear from you. Please email me at ChiefBridesmaid@weddingsavingexpert.co.uk
with lots of love from the Chief Bridesmaid and hundreds of credit crunch Brides-to-be out there xoxox
Article posted: 2009-04-17 19:09:54
Less couples are taking the plunge!
The number of couples getting married in England and Wales fell more than 40,000 to 236,980 in 2006, from 278,975 in 1996, the office for national statistics revealed today.
That means that 1 in 7 of the girls who would have got married in 1996 are no longer getting wed.
I can only hope that it's not the high cost of weddings that are putting couples off. Fear not, there are plenty of ways to cut the cost of your wedding day, if you're a savvy Bride and push for a better, cheaper deals from the wedding market.
The good news for you thirty-somethings is that the average age for women getting married has increased almost two years since 2006 to nearly 30 for women and 32 for men.
So there's plenty of time to find a man and even less excuses to feel like you've been left on the shelf...if Brides love the man at the end of the aisle, they'll look happy and gorgeous walking it whatever age they are.
with love, The Chief Bridesmaid xoxo
Article posted: 2009-04-15 19:40:37
Groom funds wedding by selling advertising on his tie!
Has the credit crunch caused you to postpone your wedding day? Looking for ideas on how you can raise money for your wedding budget?
Well, why not take inspiration from a Groom in Romania who is trying to pay for his Wedding by selling advertising space on his wedding tie.
Tudor Ciora, 26, from Sibiu, has set up a website for bidders who wish to advertise on his wedding tie - he believes that with the money he raises he'll easily pay for the wedding ceremony.
Companies can pay 20 euro for a space near the top of his tie, 15 euro for one in the middle or just 10 euro to have their name at the bottom of the tie.
Mr Ciora hopes that the funds raised will not only pay for his wedding day but also a new car.
Would you allow your Wedding day to be a sponsored event?
Would you be happy to offer sponsorship on your order of service or wedding invites - or would that be a step too far?
How about shaving in company logos into the back of the groom's or best man's hair? At least they won't show up in the wedding photos where they're facing the camera!
Or how about selling advertising on the inside of the mens' suit jackets?
If you can think of an interesting or unique way of raising money for your wedding, you could attract attention from the press, which in turn, is likely to attract higher advertising revenue. It's not everybody's cup of tea - but if you're lucky enough to think of an innovative enough idea, you might just find that your wedding pays for itself!
Food for thought anyway....
with lots of love,
The Chief Bridesmaid xoxo
Article posted: 2009-04-14 22:10:40
6 tips to walk the aisle in style!
Worried that walking the aisle will reduce you to an emotional wreck? Don't want running mascara in the wedding photos? Here are my top tips for walking the aisle in style!
1. Tell your Dad or whoever is walking you down the aisle not to say anything remotely emotional to you on the day - especially immediately beforehand! Just before entering the church is not the time to tell you what an amazing daughter you are, how beautiful you look, how much he and your mother love you etc etc! Ask them to get any such conversations over with the night before!
2.If the reality of getting wed is likely to make you sob your way down the aisle, pretend you're a film star walking the red carpet or you're Kylie Minogue playing Charlene in Neighbours. Tell yourself that it's not real and you're playing the part of stunningly beautiful yet composed bride floating down the aisle on her wedding day - if you believe it, everyone else will!
3. Unless you really dare, or don't mind shedding a few tears, don't share any lingering looks with your parents! I completely ignored my parents until well into the Wedding recpetion so that I wouldn't well up!
4. Smile and try to have fun as you walk down the aisle! I know it sounds hard but this is your one day to feel what it's like to be a pop star - today you're marrying the man of your dreams - it's the biggest celebration of your life - make the most of it!
5. Take five before heading into church to compose yourself, it's a chance for your Bridesmaids to double check you are looking gorgeous and for you to take a very big deep breath!
6. If you really don't think the other tips will be enough, have a big breakfast; and then shortly before leaving for the ceremony - have a vodka and tonic. It'll steady your nerves and give you the confidence to walk that aisle in style! It certainly helped me - I made it to the readings without having a sob!
Article posted: 2009-04-06 23:45:37
What are artificial diamonds? Are they just as good?
So what you think if your man proposed with a beautiful diamond engagement ring that contained a man-made artificial diamond?
Chemically, it would still be the real deal - identical to a mined diamond, but instead of being mined and found naturally, it had been created in a laboratory. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference, and cruciually, as they're much cheaper than real diamonds, so you'd get a much bigger gem for your money!! Bring on the bling!
The introduction of large, feasible diamonds grown artificially has set off much debate about the advantages and disadvantages with these new gems. In a sense "artificial" diamond is somewhat of a misnomer, these aren't fake diamonds or simple lookalikes like cubic zirconia, glass, or quartz. Rather they are "cultured", grown, laboratory, or man-made diamonds, similar to the words used for pearls. At a chemical make up level, there are no appreciable differences between the dazzling gems that we know and love and that emerge from the ground and those that emerge from a vacuum chamber in terms of cut, clarity, or color.
If even certified geologists have trouble distinguishing mined diamonds from their manufactured counterparts, then I don't think we should have a problem with wearing them in our engagement rings. It might not be as traditional, but anything that looks just as fabulous and yet costs less is a winner in my book, and my cheque book.
My Hollywood history lesson from Leo Di Caprio's "Blood Diamond" also teaches me that men and women around the world are still dying for the sake of the diamond trade - and so could mined, artificial diamonds actually offer a humanitarian alternative to the traditional engagement token?
Article posted: 2009-03-27 15:51:08
Special wedding photography offer - for The Chief Bridesmaid readers!
Award-winning photographer Jay Rowden has teamed up with The Chief Bridesmaid to offer 10% off his wedding photography packages.
Jay trained in photography at esteemed University Central St Martins and has since had his work featured in numerous national magazines, newspapers and high profile TV campaigns. But after shooting a wedding in 2008, he hasn't looked back.
Check out his beautiful work on his website - http://www.jayrowden.com - please mention offer code - the chief bridesmaid if you do decide to book.
Offer is subject to availability and is only available to London brides.
Denise Byrd Wedding Dresses - Stylish designer wedding dresses and bridal wear at a deep discount to normal Bridal prices. The bride can buy her wedding dress conveniently online. All sizes including Plus size; made-to-order in the UK for a quick delivery.
Article posted: 2009-03-24 16:23:25
Wedding sale at BHS - 20% off
BHS has 20% off selected wedding dresses, accessories, shoes and bridesmaid dresses - making it cheaper than ever to stock up for your wedding day there.
I'm loving the BHS Jessica pink lace-up back bodice priced at £28 - it's elegant, pretty and simple - not at all the tacky, cheap looking thing you might expect at such a bargain price!
Article posted: 2009-03-24 10:23:02
Free Bridal make up and skin-care classes from Dermalogica!
Have a free Wedding make-up and skin care class with Dermalogica
Dermalogica are organising free interactive make up and skin care classes for Brides-to-be in their London store.
They'll be running free Bridal make-up classes for Brides-to-be on 16 April 6-8pm, 14 May 7-8pm and 18 June 6-8pm.
They'll be running Bridal skin-care classes giving tips on how to achieve that all important wedding day glow on 25 April 2-3pm, 15 May 6-7pm and 18th June 6-8pm.
Call 0800 345 7546 to book yourself a place now!
Article posted: 2009-03-23 17:35:54
Clinique bonus time is back! Stock up on your wedding day make up now!
Clinique Bonus Time at Boots is now on! Receive your gift with 2 Clinique purchases until April 4th 2009.
Clinique isn't by any means cheap make up, but it is good quality and so it's worth making an investment in a couple of really key pieces for your wedding day. Plus with Bonus time, you'll get given a number of sample sizes for free, these are ideal for packing into your make up bag honeymoons and hen nights!
The Chief Bridesmaid loves Clinique sparkle skin body exfoliator as a real treat before home fake-tanning! The Clinique lip enhancing lip gloss is great too!
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Article posted: 2009-03-20 22:44:47
Wedding Saving Expert is changing its name to The Chief Bridesmaid
Some of the best things in life are forced to change their name occasionally - Marathon became Snickers, Jif became Cif and William Bradley became Brad Pitt - keeping suit Wedding Saving Expert is changing its name to The Chief Bridesmaid.
Don't worry, the site will still be bringing you the best in moneysaving wedding advice, low cost dress tips and exclusive special offers with wedding dress suppliers.
So you'll still get the same fabulous special deals and the same savvy advice - you'll just have a slightly different url to type in. All too confusing? Why not bookmark the site for future easy reference.
lots of love
The Chief Bridesmaid xoxo
Article posted: 2009-03-12 23:01:01
Did you have a wedding for less than £3,000?
Did you have a wedding on a rock bottom budget? If so, the Chief Bridesmaid would love to hear from you. How did you save money? What are your top tips? Did your cheap wedding live up to all your dreams? Your story could be told in a top newspaper. Please tell me your story at chiefbridesmaid@weddingsavingexpert.co.uk
thank you! with love, The Chief Bridesmaid xoxo
Article posted: 2009-02-26 22:28:32
Win your dream wedding in the Cotswolds worth £15,000!
The Community Times in Cheltenham is running a competition offering Brides the chance to win their dream wedding in the Cotswolds worth around £15,000! The lucky Bride and Groom who win, will be given virtually everything from the wedding dress, bridal lingerie, hair styling, make-up, honeymoon lingerie, men's wear, rings, tiara, flowers, photography, accommodation, wedding cake, food, drink, wedding car, balloons, chair covers, table decorations, chocolate fountain, glassware, violinist and more.
Entry is free and open until March, simply enter online:
www.ctcheltenham.co.uk
Further details and terms and conditions can be found at this address.
Article posted: 2009-02-22 11:03:22
Amazing discount! Become a Luxe cardholder for just £100 (normally £325) - the smart way to save money on your big day
Good news Ladies! The Luxe Card, the only luxury lifestyle membership card exclusively for women, has now extended its offering to Wedding supplier discounts! Even better news, the lovely ladies at Luxe are offering Luxe card membership at a hugely reduced price of just £100 (normally £325) but you'll need to quote WSE upon application.
So now, even if you're looking to organise a bigger budget, more luxurious wedding, you can potentially still save thousands along the way! This is the smarter way to save money on your big day in every sense of the word.
Luxe Members already receive a variety of exclusive offers at an extensive range of high-end boutiques, shops, salons and spas to hotels, restaurants, bars and professional services, potentially saving thousands.
But with their new bridal offering, brides can peruse a dedicated wedding directory to source the most original and inspirational ideas for their dream day, with amazing concessions from London’s top wedding suppliers from venues to dress makers, hotels to jewellers.
By using The Luxe Card’s partner companies such as The Arabian Tent Company, you can save up to £1,200 on the cost of your wedding marquee hire. Or treat your guests to free glasses of Prosecco when you use Jamie Oliver’s catering company Fifteen Events....the possibilities are endless for a truly spectacular wedding, at a fraction of the original cost.
For the full range of discounts and to sign up for this amazing deal, go to
www.theluxecard.com
Article posted: 2009-02-18 13:15:56
Valentines designer wedding dress sample sale!
Saturday 14th February, 10am -6pm - Browns Bride Designer Wedding Dress sale
Brides, check out this exclusive chance to buy a hugely discounted designer wedding gown from Browns Bride! Many of the dresses are nearly new and are up to 70% off. Designers include Peter Langner, Reem Acra, Monique L’Huillier, Oscar De La Renta, Ellie Saab and more.
Please note that the dresses are only available at these hugely cut prices on Saturday 14th February. This is always a popular event so please arrive early to avoid disappointment.
For further information please contact brownsbride@brownsfashion.com or 0207 514 0056/ 0057.
Article posted: 2009-02-10 18:24:37
Wanna be on TV? Are you getting married before May 2009?
Fancy getting your wedding day featured on the TV? Well, read on...
Channel 4 are making a unique documentary about weddings and married life in the UK for the prestigious "Cutting Edge" series and are looking for a huge cross section of couples to get in touch!
If you’re the lucky bride or groom, please get in touch now. By contacting Channel 4, you are not committing to being filmed; we are keen to speak to anybody for research and all calls will be treated in confidence.
CALL / TEXT Ang on 07505 902 510 / 020 7749 3112
or email myweddingday@monkeykingdom.com
Article posted: 2009-02-10 18:22:17
Watch Money-saving Wedding advice on BBC2's Working Lunch
Watch yesterday's cheaper weddings interview on BBC2's Working Lunch with The Chief Bridesmaid's Chief Bridesmaid, Lucy Elliott on the link below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrxXQ_vzxWI
They discuss why weddings have got expensive, what are the best areas you can cut the cost on, and practical tips on how to do this. Watch on for a cheaper wedding!
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Article posted: 2009-02-03 22:36:07
Lucy Elliott to appear on Working Lunch (BBC2)
This Monday, 2nd Feb, Chief Bridesmaid of The Chief Bridesmaid, Lucy Elliott, formerly Lucy Shannon (me), will be appearing on the BBC's fabulous Working Lunch.
Every Monday, Working Lunch has a moneysaving Monday - and with this week's wedding special - this is essential viewing for any Brides and Grooms looking to plan their wedding during the credit crunch.
I'll be talking you through my top money saving wedding tips, where is best to save - and where to spend, and how to emerge from a recession wedding without wedding debt.
So please, tune into Working Lunch Monday 12.30-1.00pm.
Article posted: 2009-01-31 10:38:51
Save or splurge! What are the best things to save money on, and where's best to splash the cash!
Whatever your wedding budget, you can still have the day you've been dreaming about since you were little if you prioritise those areas that you really care about, and set out to save on those areas that you don't.
There are also some things that you can get away with spending less on than others - and so here are my top tips on where to save on your wedding, and where to splash out:
1. Splurge on the name-cards – and you can save on the wedding favours
- My sister-in-law bought pink lady apples in bulk and attached a paper leaf to each with each of the guests’ names on it – this fabulous and unique name card also doubled up as a wedding favour and so she actually ended up saving money! Most wedding favours are forgotten and left at the end of the night so there’s no point investing too much in them.
Other ideas for namecards that double up as wedding favours
o My cousin had cookies or cupcakes with the guests’ names iced on them
o Beautiful flat pebbles from the beach with guests names written on them in pretty writing
2. Splurge on the dress, save on the accessories and shoes
- Everyone will remember your dress, no-one will remember your veil, shoes, bracelets or jewellery
- Most wedding dresses are long and so cover your shoes anyway plus wedding accessories can be easily borrowed from friends and relatives. My shoes were £10 from the LK Bennett sales shop and my veil was borrowed from my sister (I wore my veil for about an hour whereas the dress stayed on all day!).
3. Splurge on the wedding breakfast, save on the entertainment
- Invest in the food – a few pounds will make a difference to the taste and the quality; save on the entertainment – no-one will care if it’s an ipod rather than a DJ
o WeddingSavingExpert.co.uk advises its readers to run a democratic playlist as part of the wedding invite. Ask the guests what their favourite tunes are in the invite and encourage them to send back a list with their RSVP. That way you can line up your ipod with songs everyone enjoys.
4. Splurge on the cheese, save on the wedding cake & midnight buffet
- If you aren’t into your cake, why not have a wedding cake made from rounds of cheese instead of a traditional sponge?
- This will not only serve as your wedding cake, but also your cheese course and can be used as your midnight buffet!
- For our wedding, we bought the cheese from Waitrose and my sister in law decorated it – it cost about £100 – a fraction of a professionally made wedding cake and looked rather more impressive.
5. Splurge on the wine, save on the champagne
- Very few people could tell the difference between champagne and prosecco or cava. Why not save money by choosing one of these cheaper alternatives and spend what you save by upgrading to a slightly nicer wine?
Article posted: 2009-01-26 22:28:36
The BHS Credit crunch Wedding dress
BHS have just released photos of their credit crunch wedding dress which costs just £100 for a pretty silk bodice, A-line floor length skirt and shoes.
So, it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're after something light, simple and really quite cheap - this could be the dress for you.
Article posted: 2009-01-15 23:47:31
Keen to forget the Credit crunch blues? - Head down to Bride Wars!
Lovely Brides-to-be! A couple of friends and I headed down to Bride Wars last night and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! I promised a bit of a review last week so here it is:
So it might be a bit cliched, so I guessed the ending half an hour in, but nevertheless if you fancy indulging in a bit of Weddingtastic fun, this is the movie for you. Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson are fabulous! The dresses are gorgeous! And you'll come out of the cinema filled with a warm glow of happiness. The perfect antidote for Brides feeling a bit mis with recession gloom and credit crunch blues. Enjoy! The Chief Bridesmaid xoxo
Article posted: 2009-01-13 23:34:29
50% off Wedding Dress storage boxes
50% off Perry de Montaignac Wedding Dress boxes!
Just because you've saved a fortune on your wedding dress, doesn't mean you won't want to keep it in pukka condition after the big day.
If you're keen to keep your wedding dress looking fabulous, we may well have the deal for you -
Top Wedding Dress cleaner and storage expert Perry de Montaignac are offering an exclusive discount of 50% off their beautiful wedding dress storage boxes.
These custom-made Wedding Dress boxes store and protect your lovely dress in a traditional and natural way, sealing it off from harmful environmental effects.
The acid-free tissue wrapping and ph neutral materials ensure your dress is stored in the optimum storage condition to ensure that your dress will be properly protected in a box which lasts a lifetime.
The box also protects from dust and light which can fade and mark your dress.
Plastic dress covers are not suitable for long term storage because they let in light which fades the fabric and they do not allow for changes in humidity which could cause condensation and mould. PVC covers will also break up after several years allowing dirt particles to drop into the fabric and spoil it.
Normal cardboard boxes (unless made with special pH neutral board) contain acid that can pass into the dress fabric causing discolouring and yellowing.
Wardrobes, drawers, suitcase linings and colour dyes in clothes will all have an effect on the purer fabrics of a wedding dress if they lie together and so always separate a wedding dress from any other item using an acid free tissue.
However, never wrap the wedding dress in coloured tissue paper - all coloured tissue paper contains dye which will affect the dress. Place the dress in a totally dark place and use tissue paper which is white and acid free.
Don’t hang a dress on a hanger other than for a short term in order to avoid stress on the seams and shape.
To take advantage of this fabulous 50% offer, call Perry de Montaignac on 0871 437 2848 quoting The Chief Bridesmaid; or check out their website pdem.co.uk
Article posted: 2009-01-12 22:06:16
Things I wish I'd known before my Wedding day
I'm lucky enough to be heading off to a preview of "Bride Wars" tonight - Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson's new movie. (Can't wait - will let you know how good it is tomorrow).
Therefore, I'm taking a day off blogging and handing over to the wonderful Livvy who's written a hugely helpful list of things she wish she's known before getting married.
Over to you, Livvy:
When I was about to get married I wished there was an article I could have read which were 'the five things I wish I'd have known before I got married' (re. organising the wedding not about marriage per se!).
So here goes. For what it's worth my top 10 wedding planning tips would be:
1. Don't forget your mother-in-law! Involve her in the wedding planning in some way so she feels involved, however small the task. Offer to go wedding dress shopping with her (you can always ensure that you have a couple of girlfriends there too if you think she may need diluting a little for you to spend an afternoon together!) or on an outing to source ideas for the table/ribbons/flowers etc.
2. Also give you mother-in-law a specific job to do for the wedding day itself, again however small. Ask her to be in charge of the arrangements for the confetti for example. Just be sure that you tell her whether you want real petals, what mix of colours you'd like and ask her to source a basket and some paper cones etc. Or if you're having a wedding at home, ask if she'd mind sourcing the hand cream and hand wash for the toilets, or making the car parking, toilet or wedding this way signs.
3. Time will creep up on you very quickly on the day itself, be ready at least half an hour before you're due so that you can enjoy a drink of champagne/tea or whatever your tipple with your mum and bridesmaids etc. Being rushed on your day is a horrid feeling, you want to be able to relax and enjoy it.
4. On the day itself, once the ceremony has taken place, the wedding can often pass in a complete blur with you and your newly-wed husband often off talking to different relatives and friends. Afterwards on the honeymoon, it's too easy to find yourselves dissecting the day and wishing you'd said or noticed things on the day itself. So I would advise you to interrupt and steal your hubby away a couple of times during the day to take some time to walk away from the crowds to share a few private moment and savour the day. It'll be your only chance to chat to one another without the fear of being interrupted. A number of people gave me this tip and it doesn't make sense until the day itself but it's a gem!
5. Ensure that the Best Man and Ushers are clear of their roles (even if it means you have to circulate a to-do list in advance). Don't assume they will know what they are doing! Work out who will carry the flowers from the Church to reception, who will fetch people as they are needed for photos (this may not be the Best man - you may want to nominate either the loudest or a couple who know the family members!), who will direct the cars, who will keep a list of taxi numbers and help people get home etc.
6. Water. Whether it's hot or a cold day make sure that one of the Bridesmaids and at least one Usher has a small bottle. Nerves and excitement can often leave you completely parched!
7. Make a list of formal pictures you want to capture, I can't tell you how many friends say they wished they'd remembered to get one of just their siblings with the bride and groom etc. It's difficult to remember on the day itself and the photographer can advise you of what is realistic, and how long it's likely to take.
8. Plan for extremes eg. umbrellas, hand held fan, shine control powder paper, insect repellent, lipstick to touch-up with. (We got caught out terribly with a midge attack the likes of which have never been seen before or since?!)
9. If you are having children at a wedding, be clear that the boundaries are understood, if of course you want any there at all (!). So many friends have said they found it so upsetting that toddlers and babies were not taken out when in tears during the service. Parents seem deaf to their own child's cries if they want to see the ceremony themselves. Sounds obvious that you'd take them out if they cry, but it's not at all.
10. If you are changing your name, be sure to book your honeymoon tickets in your correct name depending on when you plan to change your passport.
Article posted: 2009-01-27 10:00:25
Another Wedding Giftlist supplier falls victim to the Credit crunch: Wedgwood - will it affect your Wedding Giftlist?
Luxury china maker Waterford Wedgwood has gone into administration after the economic slowdown hit the debt-laden firm. Ironically, Wedgwood themselves gallantly offered respite to couples who faced losing wedding presents after online gift service Wrapit went into administration earlier this year.
Recession-hit Waterford Wedgwood called in administrators after six years of loss-making in which the group has racked up debts of almost £400 million. BBC News published its business editor, Robert Peston, expressing that there was "no surprise" that the heavily indebted firm has floundered. "Waterford Wedgwood's collapse is a resonant event, that speaks of a noxious global squeeze on consumer spending," he said. "Almost everything that it manufactures is a nice-to-have rather than a must-have. And most of us are thinking twice about shelling out on nice-to-haves."
I've been in contact with Wedgewood who offer their own wedding gift list service to see what will happen to outstanding gift lists that have not yet been fulfilled. I'll update here as soon as I hear back. It looks like the trauma won't be on the scale as Wrapit, however, as their website already mentions that their wedding gift list service has been closed down - let's hope it was sometime ago.
In the Summer, Wedgwood valliantly vowed to honour all Wrapit orders for their china (despite having nothing to do with company) and gave brides who ordered direct with them a £25 gift voucher for future purchases for every £100 they spent.
It also set up a special customer services hotline for the estimated 240-plus brides that would have missed out on Wedgwood gifts.
Let's hope that another company behaves as honourably as Wedgwood did and comes to the rescue of any Brides and Grooms who have outstanding wedding lists with them.
Did you hold a wedding list with Wedgwood? Please let me know and I'll do everything I can to help. Email me at ChiefBridesmaid@weddingsavingexpert.co.uk
Article posted: 2009-01-06 23:25:22
Get your wedding paid for & appear on BBC3's "Don't tell the Bride"
Credit Crunch Brides & Grooms - worried the recession could cause you to postpone the wedding? Here's the perfect solution for you!
One of my favourite TV shows, BBC Three's "Don't tell the Bride" is coming back, and they're looking for couples who are desperate to wed!
Do you have hundreds of ideas but not hundreds of pounds? Are you willing to put all of the wedding planning into your groom's hands?
This could be your chance to have a wedding that you'll really remember - and on the cheap! The TV Producers are offering £12,000 as your wedding budget if you agree to participate in the show.
Email weddings@renegadepictures.co.uk or call 020 7479 4210 if you'd be interested in taking part.
Article posted: 2009-01-05 23:06:04
Happy 2009 from Wedding Saving Expert!
Credit Crunch Brides - it's the beginning of a new year and so it's time to make your new year budget resolutions! Here are The Chief Bridesmaid's moneysaving resolutions to avoid starting married life in debt -
1. Resolve to seek out better, cheaper bargains for your wedding day!
2. Resolve to not overspend just because you feel that otherwise your big day won't be perfect!
3. Resolve to beg and borrow on those aspects of your wedding that are not your priority.
4. Resolve to work out a wedding budget - and stick to it at your peril!
The deepening recession is going to make 2009 a financially stressful enough year as it is - overspending on your wedding isn't going to make it any easier. Your wedding day will be perfect because you're marrying the man of your dreams - regardless of whether you spend £100, £1000 or £10,000 making it happen.
Don't start married life in debt - follow The Chief Bridesmaid's advice and have the wedding day of your dreams without the debt.
Article posted: 2009-01-04 23:23:55
How has the Credit Crunch & Recession changed your attitude to your Wedding budget?
To my lovely Brides and Grooms-to-be (plus any already-marrieds who happen to be reading this),
As we plunge into recession, I'm keen to assess how this has changed Bride and Grooms' attitudes to their wedding budget. Are you reconsidering your Bridal bonanza for a cheap wedding? Or is your wedding budget remaining the same? I would love to hear what you think...
It would be really helpful if you could possibly email your answers to me at: ChiefBridesmaid@weddingsavingexpert.co.uk
Questions to Already-weds & Bride/Grooms-to-be -
1. Did/Is funding your Wedding Day/Honeymoon drive/driving you into debt?
2. Did you feel like wedding services/products offered good value for money? It'd be great to hear about any areas you felt you were ripped off on if relevant.
3. Has/Would the credit crunch made/make you re-consider how much you're willing to spend on your big day? Will you be seeking out cheaper options?
To Unmarrieds
4. Has the recession put you off getting married altogether or made you consider postponing your big day? If so, by how long?
To Marrieds
5. In retrospect, do you feel you spent your wedding budget wisely? I'd love to hear any great decisions versus less wise ones!
Thank you so much for helping me with my research!
I'm hoping I can use the results to help future Brides and Grooms-to-be find better value in the wedding market.
with love, The CB XOXO
Article posted: 2008-12-30 15:46:01
15% off Unique Wedding Venue hire- Trevor Hall!
Special offer for The Chief Bridesmaid readers - 15% off fabulous wedding venue
Whether you are looking to have a fairytale wedding with a marquee, a small bespoke affair or a stylish civil ceremony, Trevor Hall can be the perfect setting. Even better news is that Trevor Hall are offering a 15% discount on their venue hire to The Chief Bridesmaid readers for bookings taken after 1st November 2008 for January to the end of March 2009.
Voted one of "Top 10 Country Houses to stay at in the UK" by The Sunday Times, Trevor Hall is nestled within 85 acres of park and woodland with breathtaking views. Situated just three miles from Llangollen, it is a much loved and cherished family home that is entirely at your disposal.The interior style combines lavish Regency with eccentric furnishings, quirky artefacts and pop memorabilia, that help to make the Hall completely unique. Check out my reception venues section in "the reception bit" for photos of this stylish venue.
Downstairs comprises of a Medieval dining hall, incorporating the main staircase, stone fireplace and access to drawing and smoking rooms, snug and games room with pool table.
If you're interested in finding out more and taking advantage of this fabulous offer, call one of Trevor Hall's in-house event co-ordinators on 01978 810505.
Article posted: 2008-12-05 23:14:00
Was this the ultimate Credit Crunch Wedding?
As the Recession gloom continues, a couple have enjoyed the ultimate Credit Crunch wedding
With the recession deepening, more and more Brides are getting The Chief Bridesmaid savvy when it comes to their Wedding planning. In the age of the credit crunch, Brides are learning to stretch their wedding budgets further, get more for their money and save every step of the way. Just take the story of Odette Fenwick’s credit crunch wedding. Instead of spending £25,000 on their big day, she and her fiancé Chris May got hitched for just £597.29.
Odette said: "I would've liked a big wedding, but it's too expensive. It's better like this as we've enjoyed the bargain hunting."
She bought her amazing cheap wedding dress online from auction site eBay for just £52 and cut costs by buying second-hand rings for just £19. They saved more money by asking their 30 guests to bring their own food and wine for the wedding reception - and saved money on venue costs by holding the reception at the garage door showroom where Chris is a fitter. Instead of champagne, they bought 89p a bottle Chardonnay .
Instead of going away on honeymoon, the newlyweds - who have five month old daughter Bailey - will have a romantic stroll on the seafront near their home.
The couple persuaded a radio station to loan them a car and a local newspaper photographer took the pictures. They talked the local bakery into making a three-layer sponge wedding cake for £80 instead of a normal £250 wedding cake.
Two gazebos for the showroom reception cost £70 and 40 plastic champagne glasses were £13.26.
What, however, was most refreshing about these wedding savers is their wonderful attitude to their wedding day and wedding planning. The groom said: "I'm so happy I don't mind what sort of wedding it is."
With the money the couple have saved, they are hoping to move into our first home. And there lies the point - savvy brides invest in their whole marriage, not just their wedding day. Don’t risk starting your married life in debt - plan to a wedding budget that you can afford - and have fun trying to stick to it.
With love, the Chief Bridesmaid
Article posted: 2008-11-11 21:54:59
10% off Fabulous Wedding Photographer for Wedding Saving Expert readers
Special discount for all The Chief Bridesmaid readers! Fabulous photographer Hannah Songer of Alma Wedding photography is offering 10% off the cost of her services to all readers who mention "The Chief Bridesmaid" when booking.
Hannah is a professionally trained photographer who gained a degree from one of the top photography colleges in the country.
She offers incredibly good value yet comprehensive wedding photography packages from just £590! Hugely good value for a photographer who covers everything from your wedding morning preparations to first dance.
Alma wedding photography is based in Tonbridge, Kent but Hannah is reasonably flexible to attend Weddings in London and across the South of England.
Contact Alma wedding photography for more details of the special discount at info@almaweddingphotography.com or check out the website at almaphotography.co.uk. Please note this offer is subject to availibility.
Article posted: 2008-10-30 20:35:32
STOP PRESS - Bargain Wedding Dress - Marks and Spencers selling £15 Wedding Dresses
Credit Crunch forces a Wedding Dress revolution: Marks and Spencers has put one of their wedding dresses on sale for £15 (reduced from £100!). It’s stylish, elegant, beautifully bridal and there won’t be a guest at the wedding who could tell that it was such a bargain. Even if you decide not to wear it having bought it, at such a cheap price, you could probably sell it on eBay or a second hand wedding dress site and still make a profit!
Brides - don’t let the credit crunch put you off getting married - now is a better time to organise a wedding than ever before - wedding dresses are going on sale for the cost of a cheap dinner out. After being featured in the Metro, the £15 Marks and Spencer wedding dress has already been taken off the M&S website and so it’s a matter of phoning around the stores THIS WEEKEND to see if they still stock the wedding dress in question.
With budgets being squeezed, and the nation tightening its purse strings, it’s time for brides and grooms to hone their negotiation skills and fight for bigger discounts, fairer prices and better value deals with their wedding suppliers.
With the credit crunch in full swing, it’s a buyers’ market and so Wedding suppliers will have to be more responsive and cut their costs if they’re to win your custom. Don’t be scared to ask for a discount - obviously be nice, but you can be firm too. Think positively - there’s always room for a discount if it means that they could lose your custom altogether. You aren’t being stingy - you are just rightfully seeking better value for your money on your wedding day.
But according to Marie Claire magazine, for some lucky brides, credit crunch or no credit crunch, they’ll be spending a bomb on their big day. Wedding planners insist big-budget brides are undeterred by the current economic climate and are ploughing ahead with lavish celebrations.
The organiser of The Designer Wedding Show which takes place in Battersea this weekend (until October 12 2008) said, ‘Our brides see their weddings as a once in a lifetime event and so far we have no sense that the current economic outlook is putting them off.’
Perhaps the sorts of brides visit the show should read weddingsavingexpert.co.uk before they head to it - Marie Clare reports that most spend an average of £5,000 on a wedding dress and £89,000 on the whole day!
Ladies - just because your wedding budget might be less than those uber-spenders, doesn’t mean your wedding day will be any less valuable - it’s just about being clever with your choices, prioritising the aspects of your wedding day that are most important to you and saving the pounds on those elements that aren’t. After all, beginning your married life in debt would certainly be no honeymoon….
With love
The Chief Bridesmaid xoxo
ChiefBridesmaid@WeddingSavingExpert.co.uk
Article posted: 2008-10-10 22:23:08
Escape the credit crunch blues with a super chic yet good value honeymoon
The Chief Bridesmaid is chilling in Spain for a few days and has found the perfect chic but cheap honeymoon venue on the Costa de la Luz. Huerta Las Terrazas is the Café del Mar of bed and breakfasts. “Bed and Breakfast” whilst strictly true, seems like a bit of a poor description for this boutique hideaway. Perched on the hillside, the rolling, stunning gardens have a sea view and in the distance you can see the lights of Morocco. The Moorish influenced rooms are an absolute joy to sleep in - beautifully decorated with sprigs of lavender left on your pillow. Very romantic and an ideal place to relax after your wedding and enjoy a fabulous honeymoon.
The Chief Bridesmaid and her “best man” have had a great couple of nights cuddling up under the Romeo and Juliet mosquito net over the bed - it’s been like a second honeymoon! (Not sure if the mosquito net is strictly necessary, but it feels very romantic and bridal!)
Indeed, some honeymooners who got married on Sunday arrived two days ago and the hosts Al and Amy laid out rose petals over their honeymoon bed!
But don’t worry, this isn’t the sort of venue where every other person is on honeymoon - this sort of thing makes my flesh crawl - it’s like going to a restaurant on valentines’ day and having to compete in being the most in love! There’s been a mix of trendy media types, kite surfing enthusiasts with young families and couples looking for a bit of R&R. Tarifa, the kite surfing capital of the world is a ten minute car ride away, so it feels like an upmarket Ibiza meets Cornwall meets Rip Curl catalogue.
At night time, the garden and house is lit with beautiful fairy lights and twinkling candles, accompanied by Ibiza chill out tunes. The chief bridesmaid is sitting back writing this having raided the honesty bar laying on a sun lounger next to a pretty pool in the garden. This is truly bliss. What more could you need for your honeymoon...and it won't break your budget either...
With love,
The Chief Bridesmaid xoxo
www.WeddingSavingExpert.co.uk
Article posted: 2008-10-10 22:31:37
Can you have a cheap Wedding Dress with style?
Most girls have been dreaming of their Wedding Dress since they were in school uniform, and so is cost really something brides should have to compromise on? Just the thought of a cheap wedding dress is enough to make even the most chilled out bride come out in a sweat...
But among the gloom of the credit crunch, fuel prices and rubbish weather, there is unexpected reprieve in the form of fashion - you might not have to spend quite so much as you anticipated on an on-trend wedding dress after all....
Folk is one of the on trends for 2008 - 1970s inspired floaty dresses, (faux) furs, heavy lace and sumptious feather trims were seen across the catwalks from Gucci to Hermes. With haute hippy chic high on the agenda, vintage wedding dresses are the way to go, and the good news is that they're usually cheaper (and far more unique) than something bought brand new!
To lay your hands on a vintage wedding dress, call Oxfam's special bridal stores or the Vintage Wedding Dress company in London. Not only will you be high fashion, you might grab yourself a bargain in the process.
with love
The Chief Bridesmaid xoxo
ChiefBridesmaid@WeddingSavingExpert.co.uk
Article posted: 2008-10-11 20:57:12
Credit Crunch Vogue - Simple Wedding Dresses are the most beautiful
In times of economic boom, fashion gets decadent. Designs are more elaborate, textures are fussier and colours are richer. It's all a bit rah-rah and bling! Make up and hair is affected too, during economic upturns, hair gets bigger and make up gets heavier - think about the heavy black eyeliner, red lipstick and huge perms in the 80s for evidence!
When the economy slows down, everything gets pared back. Lines are simpler, fabrics are lighter and when it comes to design, less is infinitely more.
As seemingly classic as Wedding Dress design might be, Bridal styles are very much influenced by the tide of fashion.
With the credit crunch upon us, simpler wedding dress designs will be en vogue. Fussy Jordan-esque Princess wedding dresses will be replaced by cleaner less extravagant, slimmer cut silhouettes - like fishtails or grecian shapes. In 2009 and 2010, we'll be looking at less sequins, less embroidery and less flounce on Bridal looks.
Rather, we'll see more brides dressed simply in plain white satin, with their hair loose and barely-there make up. It'll be about showing off your natural beauty - looking like yourself - rather than someone else on your wedding day.
I think grooms are going to be pretty pleased to see their brides looking natural on their wedding day. I can't think of any boys who actually like girls caked in make up - or with their hair scraped back into some elaborate style and covered in hairspray.
And so if the credit crunch spells the end for Bridal runway blusher stripes, tangerine spray tans and croydon facelifts and brings back a bit of natural beauty to Wedding Days - perhaps it's not all bad after all..........
Article posted: 2008-09-06 11:30:02
5p Wedding Dress seen on GMTV
OMG - did you see the Bride who got married in a 5p Wedding Dress on GMTV this morning? Amazingly, it actually looked really nice too!
Believe it or not, the Wedding dress was not secondhand AND it was made to measure! I think she bought it from ebay and there was a £40 postage cost (the designer was based in Singapore) but that still meant the total cost was a miniscule £40.05.
I guess the great thing with auctions is that if no-one else bids, then you can get a complete bargain. But be careful - there are a lot of scam merchants on there, so it's not a risk I'd typically want to make...
Have any of you girls bought your dresses from overseas designers on ebay at a rock bottom price? I'd love to hear your stories...were you as successful with your bargain dress buys?
Or was it a complete disaster?
with love
the Chief Bridesmaid xoxo
Article posted: 2008-09-03 21:32:32