As I navigate through my engagement bliss, I realise that my thoughts are scattered! Particularly on the budget for our wedding. However, I would still want to make it a fun and enjoyable time for everyone close to my fiancé and I. It's the beginning stages, and once the bliss subsides, the planning begins. As an avid internet researcher, bargain hunter and ALMOST professional Do-It-Yourselfer, this is my domain! This is my first EVER blog. I've started this endeavour to gather my thoughts, plan a DIY South African wedding on a budget, whilst keeping somewhat of a "internet-scrapbook-diary" to look back on. We're planning a micro/intimate wedding/elopement.
These are the 5 initial tips (or should I say, initial thoughts) for a DIY South African wedding on a budget: Venue - Obviously! This is where most of the budget goes to. An intimate wedding venue requires you to book out the full lodge so that other people not part of the wedding, can't stay there. Depending on the amount of guests, this could work out to be the same amount as a full on venue, but with accommodation for all guests. If you're connected and have a relative or friend that has a beautiful home with a lovely garden, and maybe some extravagant views, I would most definitely opt towards that as a venue option. Otherwise, I've considered guest farms, Airbnb, holiday homes etc. Some guest farms are expensive (R6 000 - R13 000 a night), but it's self catering, which makes food and drinks cheaper and accommodation for all of your guests included! Farms such as Guinevere guest farm (found on Airbnb) exactly what I've been eyeing. However, with a guest amount under 20, I did a quick Google Maps search and found an ideal place for 18 guests, pet friendly, for R5000! Score! A 3 night wedding getaway here we come. (Tip regarding venues, or anything actually: Whatever you do, do not mention the word wedding. Prices can increase by as much as 50%. Rather state that you're having a family gathering) Invitations - Not needed! At all! Considering most invitations received get lost or thrown away. I've created beautiful designs for marketing, invitations, certificates, you name it - for free with Canva. Some designs are not free, but there are plenty designs to choose from. An e-vite to save your date? Yes please! If you really want the real deal, scrap the graphics designer, use Canva, and print your own invitations at a printing studio. Canva's designs are optimised in PNG which is the exact format any printing studio needs. www.canva.com
Free invite from Canva
Paid invite watermarked (1 USD)
Dress - I personally want a casual white dress that I can use again as is, or dye a different colour. I've searched high and low for deals all over. If you've said yes to the dress then splurge baby! But if you haven't, consider Superbalist and Takealot.com. There are some dresses that have potential! Prices range from R1000 to R5000. I've had some good experiences with Zando (a last minute bridesmaid dress) but I've never used their shipping from abroad options.
Smaller boutiques cater for "wear again" wedding dresses. I'm eyeing my dress on Doll Me up Fashion and Princess Lola Boutique.
For the chance-taker (which I most definitely am), order something extravagantly cheap from Wish or Shein. You'll be surprised! (Tip: Order from Wish. Because of our lousy postal service, your order will not arrive on time. Wish will give you your money back in the form of Wish Cash, and you get to keep your item when it arrives. Order something else, for FREE, while you're waiting for your dress)
Lastly, Facebook marketplace. Nothing wrong with a second hand dress!
Flowers - I'm a serious cheapskate when it comes to flowers! These amazing scent bombs grow freely in nature! Proteas grow all around the Overstrand, Bunnytails are like weeds, Pampas grass around water masses.
On a lighter note, if you do not want to pick your own flowers, but still want to save a few bucks, once again Facebook marketplace is a good place to start. I recently found someone selling Peonies for R40 a bunch!
Another alternative is to make your way to Woolworths, Spar, or a vendor, and buy your flowers to create your own personal bouquet.
I'm torn between flowers and succulents. Succulents have the ability to be kept alive and make for a nice gift for guests, but flowers on the other hand, would have to be preserved.
Photo by: WENDY LAUREL PHOTOGRAPHY (www.marthasteward.com)
Photo by: E.P. ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY (www.marthasteward.com)
Food and drinks - This is the reason why most South Africans attend weddings isn't it?!
- If each guest brings a dish, we would end up with a feast!
- A bring and braai maybe? Maybe....
I'm not a fan of formalities but a bring and braai seems a bit to informal for me. I've opted towards a spit braai! It is extremely cost effective and you can choose between gas (for a rainy day), fire, or even prepared before the time for a more formal setting.
There are numerous spitbraai companies so it is extremely competitive. Hence it being cost effective. Excellent Spitbraais and Catering (I've used this company for functions before) offer starters, mains, sides and dessert with cutlery and crockery for under R200 per person. They serve and clear all plates as well! I would most definitely have them start the spit on my wedding day because... vibes! But most spitbraai companies' food is amazing so you can get away with it being pre-made and served formally as a buffet style.
Drinks... Drinks... Drinks...
Let's not do the cheap wine on each table now. I personally feel it is an absolute waste of cash. As a South African, it's brandy; gin; whiskey; beer; ciders!
There obviously needs to be a celebratory drink, and everyone loves Champagne. Buy your Champagne during the Christmas and New Years period as this is when the specials are best. We've opted to buy each couple a bottle of champagne as well as the "pre-drinks", like ciders and beers. Since we know our crowd, we know exactly what to buy. However, the hard-tack liquor is for their own account.
We aren't renting a venue with a bar. If you aren't either, then a mobile bar is a fun option! You can also create your own signature cocktail or drink.
If there is a bar available, keep corkage to a minimum. Most of the time, people have their own drink that they're drinking and would much rather stick to their drink than the cheap wine on the table. If a cheers to your speech is a must, a fun idea is to pre-empt your guests before your speeches take place. Have a tumbler made with their names on (as a wedding gift) and a coupon for a free drink of choice at the bar for the speeches ahead. The guests will be sure to appreciate it.
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