As a massive travel fan, I always love getting down to the details of where newlyweds will be heading off on their honeymoons. This can be a massive expense though, so it’s great to know that there are loads of options for couples who want a gorgeous, romantic honeymoon to fit in with their wedding budget.
Here are five budget friendly honeymoon ideas to inspire you for your post wedding treat!
♥ Morocco: If you want to feel like you have flown long haul and been transported to another world altogether, Morocco is a stunning choice. With super cheap flights available from the budget airlines and an incredible array of hotels to stay in, this is an exotic option if you are on a tight budget. I would highly recommend researching the riads to stay in, within the Medina in Marrakech for a touch of luxury and style for your honeymoon! You will also get to experience the mayhem of the medina before retreating to your riad haven tucked away in the labyrinth of dusty streets. I wrote about our experience in Morocco here and here – we stayed at the Riad Camelia which was truly one of the most wonderful places I have ever stayed!
♥ The Lake District: Quaint villages, beautiful lakes to picnic by and romantic bolt-holes to stay in – The Lake District is a brilliant destination for a budget honeymoon. It’s a lovely idea to go self-catering as the freedom to come and go as you please coupled with the option to either stay in and cook your own romantic dinners or head out to the local eateries makes for a wonderfully laid back vibe on your honeymoon. Have a look at Lake Lovers for lots of house rental ideas in The Lake District.
♥ Turkey: If you want sun, sea and sand on a budget, Turkey remains a brilliant choice for honeymooners. The prices for all inclusive holidays remain low, even in peak season and you can get a lot of holiday for your money if what you are really after is a relax in the sun type break. The hospitality is fabulous and you will be able to eat and drink to your hearts content in lovely candle-lit restaurants lining the beach without busting your budget.
♥ Iceland: This remains one of my most highly recommended options for a honeymoon with a difference. At just 3 hours flight from the UK, Iceland is certainly a ‘different’ destination for honeymooners. What appealed most to me was the variety of things to do – from floating in the Blue Lagoon to searching for the Northern Lights, this really feels like an adventure holiday and couldn’t be more romantic when you’re snuggled up warm in your hotel after a day exploring! Iceland Air offer amazing packages from the UK, usually including an excursion on your break.
♥ Cornwall: OK, so everyone knows that I am a little bit biased on this one – John and I go to Cornwall every single year in May, but I just can’t get enough of the place! Hire out a little cottage or luxurious apartment and enjoy romantic dinners in cute restauraunts, boat trips in the bracing sea air and wonderful walks along deserted beaches… What’s not to like? I always feel like I have arrived in a different country when you drive into Cornwall from Devon and I think it makes the perfect honeymoon destination if you want to keep the finances in check. Have a look at Holiday Cottages for some great self catering properties to browse through.
So where are you going to be heading off to for your Honeymoon? Join the conversation over on our Facebook page!
Happy Honeymoon booking!
Laura x
Photo Credits: Thomas Tolkien / Ömer Ünlü / Ennor / Stewart all via photopin cc
Dressing your Groomsmen on a Budget
/in Budget Bride Boutique, Wedding Style /by lauraDressing your Groomsmen on a budget and in a way that fits with your colour palette and wedding style is a key point to consider whilst planning your wedding. Are you looking for more of a classic look with morning suits and cravats? Or something more laid back with tweed jackets and maybe some braces? There are lots of fun ways to style your Groomsmen, here is a selection of some lovely bits from the Boutique, which should help you to keep your budget on track!
♥ I love the colour of these braces – totally a Mumford and Sons look and priced at £12 – bargain!
♥ This cream tie is classic and classy… And only £8
♥ This white, regular fit wedding shirt will go with any colour palette, and at £18, you can dress all of the boys in your wedding party well!
♥ I love the cute sentiment with these novelty cuff links – they would make a sweet pre-wedding present to your Fiancé to wear on the wedding day! And a steal at £12.99.
♥ This waistcoat is super smart – I love the deep navy colour and great value at £25.
♥ If you want to go the whole hog and splash out on a suit that can be used again and again after the wedding, this Daniel Hechter suit in Charcoal has a lovely smart cut and will look gorgeous on the wedding day.
So how are you going to be dressing your Groomsmen on a budget? Are you going traditional, modern or laid back? I remember when my Dad got remarried, he opted for a ‘Blue Jeans’ dress code – which I thought was a great idea! Whatever you choose, I hope the Boys in your life look gorgeous. Send us a picture of the outfits on Twitter - @budgetbrideco!
Laura x
Photo Credit (top of page): Photography by Danielle Mobbs - Photography Packages from £650.
Wedding Day Survival Kit 101
/in Health and Beauty, Wedding Planning /by lauraSo, after all of your planning and preparations, your wedding day has finally arrived!! You will want to enjoy every single moment of the day from when you open your peepers in the morning, right through until when you collapse at the end of the day with your newly wed darling! To ensure that you get as much enjoyment as possible out of the day, I would highly recommend putting together a wedding day survival kit, which you and your bridesmaids can have easy access to on the wedding day and can be transferred from home to venue easily.
This survival kit will keep you refreshed and feeling on top of things throughout the day and should be full of those necessities which will give you a quick pep when you feel like you might be flagging… Assign the responsibility of looking after this kit and stashing it in a safe place with your Maid of Honour and then you can ask for various items from it as and when you need them throughout the day.
Below is an excerpt from our 30 Day Plan Your Own Wedding Course and what I have recommended to stash in your wedding day survival kit!
Wedding Day Survival Kit
♥ Spray deodorant and perfume
♥ Plasters and blister patches
♥ Spare full set of make-up for touch ups
♥ Hair brush, straighteners or curlers, hair spray, hair grips and hair bands
♥ Fashion tape
♥ A selection of wrapped snacks such as babybel cheeses and granola bars
♥ Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouth wash, mouth freshener and chewing gum
♥ Pairs of flip flops
♥ A spare copy of the Running Order of the Day schedule and of the Main Contacts names and numbers list
♥ Instant ice packs
♥ A present that you might want to give to your Beau at some point on the wedding day
♥ Pens and pencils
♥ Mobile phone charger
♥ Spare stockings if being used
♥ Your house keys in case anybody needs to go back for anything
Good luck packing your wedding day survival kit! What will you be taking in yours? Let us know over on the Facebook Page or tweet us @budgetbrideco!
Laura x
Photo Credit: Danielle Mobbs Photography - Wedding Packages available from £650
Five beautiful wedding dresses under £750
/in Budget Bride Boutique, Budget Wedding Dress Ideas, Wedding Style /by lauraSo, you’ve sorted your wedding venue and confirmed your date – the next thing on your list will probably be looking for wedding dresses, right?! This part of your wedding prep is so much fun, because as soon as you have the perfect wedding dress, you can start to visualise your day! I always find that I look forward to any event or party so much more, when I know that my outfit is sorted, and your wedding day is probably the best example of this that I can think of!
So, to help you start your perfect wedding dress search, I have found you five of my favourites from the Budget Bride Boutique. These are all dreamy, and all wedding dresses under £750!
Elodie Wedding Dress, Phase 8: £750
What they say: “A gorgeous satin wedding dress with a luxurious beaded lace overlay and hand beaded motifs at the bust. With a dramatic fishtail silhouette and a long train that can be looped up this romantic wedding dress is styled with sheer tulle straps and a separate inner boned corset which is attached to the neckline to keep the dress tight to the body. Finished beautifully with a pretty lace scalloped hem this wedding dress closes with a concealed zip at the back."
Sofia Bridal Dress, BHS: £150
What they say: £Our stunning Sofia bridal dress features beautiful scalloped lace that falls into a flattering V neckline and an elegant full skirt that gives you a feminine silhouette. With a satin champagne lining and grosgrain belt, this standout dress is both elegant and timeless."
Esme Wedding Dress, Phase 8: £350
What they say: “A fairy-tale wedding dress with a striking fishtail silhouette featuring a fitted crossover sweetheart neckline and a luxurious floor-length lace skirt. A full tulle skirt overlay adds gorgeous volume for an enchanting ethereal accent. This romantic strapless wedding dress features a corset constructed inner bodice to cinch in the waist. Clear tape around the neckline edge ensures the bodice stays in place. This wedding dress comes with detachable straps and closes with a concealed zip at the side. Train loops up for the evening."
Ella Wedding Dress, BHS: £110
What they say: "Elegant and timeless our Ella bridal dress features a demure sweetheart neckline and stunning diamante trim. With a pleated waistband that is tailored to accentuate your waistline whilst skimming over the hips to give a silhouette that fits and flatters the body whilst adding grace. The full skirt sits beautifully on the body and adds graceful movement whilst you walk down the aisle."
Isadora Wedding Dress, Phase Eight at John Lewis: £350
What they say: “The epitome of romance, this short floral embroidered organza wedding dress has a flattering sweetheart neckline and a pretty scalloped hem. A tulle underlay creates a full skirt, while a detachable organza waist tie with a pretty oversized back bow cinches in the waist to create a feminine fifties inspired fit and flare silhouette."
I hope these have got your imagination going and will help you with your search for your perfect wedding dress! Which one is your favourite? Let us know over on the Facebook page 🙂
Love and tulle,
Laura x
Real Life Budget Wedding – Annalisa and Glen
/in Budget Wedding Inspiration, Real Life Budget Wedding, Wedding DIY /by lauraAnnalisa and Glen were married last May in a gorgeous real life budget wedding for just £1,200.
As a keen member of her local church choir, Annalisa managed to get the Church, Church Hall for a vintage afternoon tea after the wedding, and the Organist free of charge which really helped her stick to her budget. The couple got their Prosecco for the wedding from Lidl and had a mixture of home-made and shop bought wedding cakes. All of the vintage napkins and paper plates were sourced from Ebay.
The couple were really lucky with their wedding transport owing to friends with beautiful cars! They travelled in style in a luxury BMW, a Vintage Jaguar and an Audi TT.
Annalisa was delighted with the Grooms outfit which came in at £9.99! And again by shopping on Ebay, the couple managed to dress their bridesmaids for just £32. Annalisa had an absolute find with her wedding dress – paying just £183 for an Ian Stuart Baroque wedding dress which included dry-cleaning and seamstress fitting. Annalisa even managed to sell the dress after the wedding to help with costs!
Annalisa knew that saving on budget would mean having to take on a lot of wedding DIY herself and rising to the challenge, she took on the making of the bouquets, decoration of the afternoon tea hall and the evening reception hall, doing the Bridesmaids hair and make-up as well as her own.
Annalisa loved her naked vintage wedding cake! Having seen them in a magazine, her daughter tried out the recipe once and was then able to bake and decorate the official one the day before the wedding. The guests loved the Victorian sandwich cake which was absolutely beautiful.
Annalisa kept the reception buffet on budget by cooking all of the food herself along with some help from her family. This kept the evening food budget down to just £6 per head for her guests. There were traditional sandwiches and cold meats, lasagnes and vegetable pies, salmon and even a four tier cheese cake decorated with grapes. Normally this would be around £200 but Annalisa found a local cheesemonger who did it for £90!
The couple managed to secure the evening venue in a beautiful Tudor Hall for just £60, and provided entertainment with Glen’s band. The hall had been decorated the night before and Annalisa adorned the tables with lace runners, tea lights in glass bowls filled with red and white crystals, and heart shaped tiny soaps and bath bombs with rose petals that made the room smell gorgeous and the guests could take away as favours. The candelabras and crystals were all sourced from local interior shops during sales.
There was a crazy rush on the last day before the wedding with decorating the halls and then in the morning sorting out all of the hair and make-up, but it was all worth it in the end! Annalisa says that she was super lucky with the help and talents of their family and friends. She said that the trick is to shop around and don't hesitate to ask for assistance, people are always willing to help.
Thanks so much for sharing your real life budget wedding with us Annalisa – congratulations to you and Glen 😀
Laura x
An amazing DIY Candy Buffet for your wedding in four easy steps
/in Budget Wedding Inspiration, Decoration, Wedding DIY, Wedding Planning /by lauraHaving a beautifully laid out candy buffet at your wedding is a popular idea at the moment for adding a fun touch to your wedding reception. Both adults and kids relish the chance to grab a sugar rush and it’s a lovely talking point for your guests.
There are lots of fab companies who can bring in a ready-made candy cart or candy buffet ready for your guests to devour, but if your budget cannot stretch to this, or you simply want to give it a go yourself, here is a guide to pulling together your own DIY Candy Buffet for your wedding!
♥ Decide on the overall look and feel that you would like to present for your candy buffet. For all colour palettes and themed weddings, I would recommend starting with a trestle or round table (ask your venue for where will be best to set this up) and dressing it in a one colour lace or cotton table cloth. As you are going to be filling the table with a lot of things, it’s a good idea to keep the base as quite simple, so you don’t end up with a garish look!
Then think about your colour palette or theme. For vintage weddings, add flower print bunting around the front of the table and piles of classic books bound with ribbon or twine to present your sweets on top of! To pull a colour theme into your candy buffet, use pom-poms to decorate the front of the table and ribbon around your candy jars. For a natural themed or barn wedding, use lots of burlap and gingham to add a boho feel.
Vintage Lace Candy Bar Kit: £9.99
♥ Have a think about the kind of sweets you want to serve. Do you have a favourite that you would like to take pride of place? Or are you happy to provide a wide variety for your guests to choose from? Draw up a list of up to 10 options that you can focus on – you might want to include: sherbert flying saucers, cola bottles, rhubarb and custards, red rope licqorice, jelly babies, jelly beans, chocolate rasiens, chocolate buttons, humbugs and dolly mixture. You can order online from websites such as Sweets n Candy, Handy Candy and aquarterof.co.uk.
♥ How would you like to present your sweeties? Different sized jars are a great idea for keeping the look neat and pretty, but you could also use bowls such as these novelty heart shaped ones! Remember to get some sweetie scoops for each of the bowls or jars, so that your guests don’t have to use their fingers!
♥ What kind of portions would you like your guests to have? Based on the amount of sweets that you have purchased, you should have an idea of how much each guest will be able to take. Bearing this in mind, have a look for cones or containers that each guest can use to fill with their portion of sweets from the Candy Buffet.
Have fun creating your candy buffet! Send us an Instagram or Twitter picture of yours using the hashtag #budgetcandybuffet!
Laura x
Top and Bottom Photo Credits: The Wedding of my dreams via photopin
Five reasons you’re going to love being married…
/in The Budget Bride Company /by lauraGetting married is such a big thrill – the lead up to the big day is so full of excitement and anticipation and then you get the best bit: actually being a Mrs! It’s like you join a new club and your relationship with your other half is taken to a whole different level.
Here are five reasons you're going to love being married - it's all to look forward to!
♥ Feeling oh so grown up when introducing your other half as your husband /wife. This is a wonderful moment and you will feel so proper! No more of this girlfriend/ boyfriend stuff – you have moved on!
♥ Feeling like you’re part of a Team… When you’re married, you will truly feel like you have made your own little unit in the world. When I have asked my friends what changes when you get married, I have had responses like 'it just feels more special now' and 'it feels like us against the world'. Your marriage will be your safe haven that you can return home to every day – cherish it all you can!
♥ Having the best decoy for unwanted chat ups in bars – flash your wedding band! Being a married lady is a great way to quickly get rid of uninvited attention 🙂
♥ Getting to say ‘I’m Mrs…’ – again a beautifully grown up and sophisticated feeling when you introduce yourself with your new name for the first time! Plus you get a new signature and the chance to take a gorgeous new ‘married’ photo for your passport and driving license!
♥ Married people live for longer… There has been loads of research carried out on the topic of longevity and marriage and the overwhelming conclusion is that married people live longer lives – hurrah! Is there a better reason to tie the knot?!
What are you most looking forward to about getting married? Let us know over on the Facebook page!
Laura x
Photo Credit: tedmurphy via photopin
Pampering Treats for Brides To Be
/in Budget Wedding Inspiration, Health and Beauty /by lauraLet’s face it, if you can’t have a luxurious pamper in the run up to your wedding, when can you?! In the weeks and months in the run up to the big day, it is so important to take time out for yourself to relax and rejuvenate and to ensure that you are not only looking on top form, but feeling on top of the world too.
It can be very easy to forget yourself when you are organising outfits, the venue and catering amongst everything else that you have to do whilst preparing for your wedding, but ensure that you put aside a bit of ‘you time’ every single week in the countdown to your big day.
Of course, booking into a spa or going and having your hair and nails sorted out by a professional is always amazing, but sometimes you just don’t have the cash spare. This doesn’t mean that you have to miss out though, just dedicate some time to yourself at home, with these lovely pampering treats for Brides to Be which don’t cost the earth…
♥ The Tisty Toasty Bath Bomb from Lush: This amazing fizzing bath bomb is apparently based on a medieval love potion! With real rose buds and a gorgeous combination of scents, this is a great recipe for relaxation in your own bath tub.
♥ I love this French Manicure set from Bourjois: For £9.99, you can have beautifully manicured digits in the run up to your wedding day, the big day itself and the honeymoon after too!
♥ If you are having a hair style with tonnes of volume for your wedding, invest in the gorgeous Thickening Hairspray from Bumble and Bumble. At £8.50 for 50mls, you can ensure that your locks have enough lift for your wedding day look.
♥ Are you after a healthy glow for your wedding day? Invest in some great quality home self tan that you can practice with a couple of times before the wedding, to make sure you are happy with the application and depth of tan. Fake Bake offer a quality home tanning solution for a natural look.
♥ If you want your teeth to be their pearliest white for the wedding, save a fortune on dentist whitening treatment prices by sorting it yourself at home. You can get easy to use kits like this one from Boots for £8.25 which will give you a noticeably whiter set of teeth in a week.
What are your favourite ways to pamper yourself in the run up to your wedding? Let us know over on the Facebook page!
Happy Pampering 🙂
Laura x
Photo Credit: Galveston.com via photopin cc
Wedding Planning Infographic
/in The Budget Bride Company, Wedding Planning /by lauraI love this Wedding Planning Infographic, to help you with your tasks in the 12 month countdown to your wedding! How are your wedding planning preparations coming along?
Laura x
Five Budget Friendly Honeymoon Ideas
/in Budget Honeymoons, Budget Minimoons /by lauraAs a massive travel fan, I always love getting down to the details of where newlyweds will be heading off on their honeymoons. This can be a massive expense though, so it’s great to know that there are loads of options for couples who want a gorgeous, romantic honeymoon to fit in with their wedding budget.
Here are five budget friendly honeymoon ideas to inspire you for your post wedding treat!
♥ Morocco: If you want to feel like you have flown long haul and been transported to another world altogether, Morocco is a stunning choice. With super cheap flights available from the budget airlines and an incredible array of hotels to stay in, this is an exotic option if you are on a tight budget. I would highly recommend researching the riads to stay in, within the Medina in Marrakech for a touch of luxury and style for your honeymoon! You will also get to experience the mayhem of the medina before retreating to your riad haven tucked away in the labyrinth of dusty streets. I wrote about our experience in Morocco here and here – we stayed at the Riad Camelia which was truly one of the most wonderful places I have ever stayed!
♥ The Lake District: Quaint villages, beautiful lakes to picnic by and romantic bolt-holes to stay in – The Lake District is a brilliant destination for a budget honeymoon. It’s a lovely idea to go self-catering as the freedom to come and go as you please coupled with the option to either stay in and cook your own romantic dinners or head out to the local eateries makes for a wonderfully laid back vibe on your honeymoon. Have a look at Lake Lovers for lots of house rental ideas in The Lake District.
♥ Turkey: If you want sun, sea and sand on a budget, Turkey remains a brilliant choice for honeymooners. The prices for all inclusive holidays remain low, even in peak season and you can get a lot of holiday for your money if what you are really after is a relax in the sun type break. The hospitality is fabulous and you will be able to eat and drink to your hearts content in lovely candle-lit restaurants lining the beach without busting your budget.
♥ Iceland: This remains one of my most highly recommended options for a honeymoon with a difference. At just 3 hours flight from the UK, Iceland is certainly a ‘different’ destination for honeymooners. What appealed most to me was the variety of things to do – from floating in the Blue Lagoon to searching for the Northern Lights, this really feels like an adventure holiday and couldn’t be more romantic when you’re snuggled up warm in your hotel after a day exploring! Iceland Air offer amazing packages from the UK, usually including an excursion on your break.
♥ Cornwall: OK, so everyone knows that I am a little bit biased on this one – John and I go to Cornwall every single year in May, but I just can’t get enough of the place! Hire out a little cottage or luxurious apartment and enjoy romantic dinners in cute restauraunts, boat trips in the bracing sea air and wonderful walks along deserted beaches… What’s not to like? I always feel like I have arrived in a different country when you drive into Cornwall from Devon and I think it makes the perfect honeymoon destination if you want to keep the finances in check. Have a look at Holiday Cottages for some great self catering properties to browse through.
So where are you going to be heading off to for your Honeymoon? Join the conversation over on our Facebook page!
Happy Honeymoon booking!
Laura x
Photo Credits: Thomas Tolkien / Ömer Ünlü / Ennor / Stewart all via photopin cc
A Brief History of Weddings Infographic
/in The Budget Bride Company /by lauraI found this cute A Brief History of Weddings Infographic and I thought I would share it with you today! You know I'm always up for a bit of wedding trivia 🙂
Laura x