Recessionista Finds: Dresses!

The beginning of the year is prime time for deals on wedding attire, specifically wedding and bridesmaid dresses.  And being the recessionista-minded planner that I am, I have been thrilled to see a bunch of sales for brides come up so far this year.  Since there are so many discounts going on I rely on many blogs to keep me updated.  BrideFinds posted a great deal on Ann Taylor's wedding collection- 25% off wedding dresses for a limited time and oh yeah, Ann is throwing in FREE shipping too!  And for bridesmaids there’s a special coupon code in effect through Wednesday 2/15, giving your gals 20% off any order over $50!

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In even more awesome news, Target has just launched a bridesmaids collection!  I could LIVE at that store if they let me, so it is a no brainer that I'm pretty excited about this line.  All dresses are under $70, they offer both short and long styles and the size range is 2-28.  The cost of being a bridesmaid can add up quickly and being able to buy a dress at a trusted nationwide store that you will wear again is pretty much all a girl on a budget could ask for.  After scouring this line, I saw a bunch of dresses I'd wear as a guest to a wedding or big event which is a total score for the price.  Happy shopping!

Thank You, Gracias, Merci

During wedding planning, most couples are focused on the details of the big day.  When you get back from the honeymoon and start to settle into your new lives, there is still one more wedding related task on your plate: writing the thank you's to your guests and vendors. 

Thank you notes may be less common in our normal lives but etiquette is still a large part of weddings.  Save yourself stress by preparing for thank you's along the way.  There are two main divisions of wedding thank you's; pre-wedding and after-wedding.  Starting with pre-wedding, keep an organized guest list (with full addresses) and keep it updated as gifts come in before the wedding.  Although you are expected to send thank you's for all pre-wedding gifts (engagement party, bridal shower, etc.), the pre-wedding thank you's don't have to match the rest of the stationary and you can find great quality ones at Target, WalMart and A.C. Moore to name a few stores.

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For after-wedding thank you's, start to think about the design.  You will need to decide if you want to stay consistent with the rest of your wedding stationary; the invitations, programs, escort cards, menus, etc.  If you do, order your thank you's with your other stationary to save on shipping two separate orders. Wedding Paper Divas posted recently with new ideas for thank you cards.  If you think you may want to use your engagement or wedding photos, you may want to create a special "thank you" sign specifically for your after wedding thank you's cards.   Let your photographer know ahead of time so you can discuss the expected timeline for getting back the professional photos.  Speaking of vendors, it is always nice to sent a note letting your vendors know that your appreciate their hard work on your big day.  And last but not least, make sure to order new return address labels for your newly married selves!  Hope these tips help, enjoy!

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