Gifts, loans, and student debt: the importance of being clear about money
Ariel was recently quoted in an “Ask Brianna” article over here. The issue was how can someone pay for a wedding while they’re really trying to pay down their student loans at the same time. It’s a sticky issue with the hugely rising costs of college AND weddings.
Here’s what Ariel had to say about communication regarding financing with your family.
Homebodies unite: some of our favorite at home weddings EVER
Simone and Andrew’s at home wedding was practically a how-to in at-home awesomeness. They made total use of foliage, extra seating, fairy lights, and a portable dance floor (oh, and a flower grandma!) to make their home seem like wedding venue magic. You can do it, too! It may not be the right choice for everyone, but at home weddings can be just as glorious as any other kind and we’ve got the proof.
Let’s walk down memory lane to see some of our very favorite weddings at home…
Are your parents helping pay for your wedding? Have them read this.
The only rule is to talk openly and honestly about expectations clearly before accepting any money — is the money a loan? A gift? If it’s a gift, does it come with stipulations or expectations? Talking about money is uncomfortable and awkward for everyone, but it’s critically important for parents who might be contributing to weddings to be VERY clear about what their expectations are… and to watch out for predatory marketing that targets parents…
Self-funded wedding budget: one couple’s lessons learned
We got married October 2016, and we paid for 90% of the wedding. We have a few self-funded wedding budget tips and examples for making it work when you’re on your own budget. The biggest thing I found for saving is networking and negotiating.
Most importantly for us was picking our “thing” — the one thing you want to splurge on/don’t want to have a wedding without.
Plan your $20k wedding with this sample wedding budget spreadsheet
Wendy and Robert rocked a steampunk-themed costume wedding that we loved. We featured their steampunk duel recently. Wendy shared with us their $20k wedding budget that we felt would be an awesome sample wedding budget for anyone rocking that general area of price tag. Let’s take a peek…
There’s a REALLY good place to find awesomely cheap wedding DIY supplies
Reader Gina recently clued us in to a great way to snag cheap wedding DIY supplies: your local restaurant and janitorial supply store! If you have one in your area (pro tip: Google “restaurant and janitorial supply store + your city”), you’ll find great deals on bulk DIY supplies like table coverings, candy buffet supplies, and serving tools.