RECEPTION VENUES - What to look for when choosing one

A fairytale wedding on a budget in Sydney is eminently achievable. The key to this is as simple as looking at ways to save money on every aspect of your wedding (I will continue to provide plenty of suggestions in this blog) and thinking outside the square. 

Part of thinking outside the square is to consider how one decision can impact others. For example, photographers have packages based on the number of hours starting from 4 hours upwards. One of the ways to save money on your photography package is to choose a reception venue with a fabulous view so your wedding photos can be taken at that venue, saving money on having to travel elsewhere to have your wedding photos taken and thereby saving some of the photographer's time in your package which you can then have to take photos at the reception or at your home before you leave for the ceremony.  

With a venue for your wedding reception, an amazing view is a great start but just as important when considering a reception venue is great food. Look at the menu being offered. Does it sound more exciting than what an average cook can make (something beyond roast chicken with gravy and apple pie for dessert)? Does it have a range of menu items including vegetarian options? Would you eat there if you were looking at somewhere to dine? 

If you are unsure, this is where forums are incredibly useful. Put a post up on a wedding related forum like theknot or easyweddings asking if anyone else has attended a wedding there or had their reception there? (Recent brides do tend to be on wedding forums). 

If you find a venue with both of these items ticked off on the checklist - ie amazing view and great food, you're half way there. 

If you can find both of these things for an affordable price, you've struck the wedding jackpot. 

Considering the average cost per person at a wedding reception venue is $250 per head, I have uncovered a number of venues in and around Sydney where you can have a stunning view, a delicious meal and stay around $100 per head on a Saturday night!

Stay tuned.....

SALE ALERT - 2 days only - Villoni Bridal

Villoni Bridal have some really stunning gowns. Their bridesmaid gown collection are not your typical bridesmaid dresses - they have a real wow factor about them.

They are having a sale of 20% off their bridesmaid dresses for 2 days only at both their Sydney and Melbourne boutiques. If you have some time available over the next two days, it is worth the trip to 137 Parramatta Road, Annandale or 467 Sydney Road, Brunswick.

Buying your wedding dress online - Another example of a questionable listing

A while back I referred to a questionable listing on a wedding dress website to show my loyal readers how to exercise caution when buying your precious wedding dress online from individual sellers.

Whilst there are some superb buys on these websites, some sellers unfortunately do not seem to see anything wrong with being less than truthful in their listings.

The most recent example is one seller who proclaimed her dress as "(Name of designer) - New". When you read the listing (and see the photographs) it is clear that the dress was worn by the seller on her wedding day and it is therefore not new at all.

When considering buying a dress online, read the listing VERY carefully. If the seller is advertising it as worn once - look for wedding photos on the listing. If she has not provided any, that is indicative that it is being sold before the seller herself has actually worn it. In an earlier post, I have already listing the problems with buying such a gown.

If the seller is advertising it as new and she provides wedding photos of herself in the dress and makes reference to the dress having been dry cleaned, then you know that it is not new at all but second hand.

I will keep posting listings that I have analysed thoroughly with dresses that in my opinion are excellent value for money.

Wedding dress bargains - Top wedding dress picks from Still White from $501 to $1000

Featured today are my top wedding dress picks for the bride on a budget from Still White for the $501 - $1000 price range.

As you can see, you can find some incredible stunning dresses locally even when you're on a tight budget. You do not have to go online and risk ending up with a sub standard poor quality imitation from China to get your fairytale dream dress.

Here are some of the gems I uncovered on Still White:

New Vera Wang White sheath - $550. (originally $800). This label is only available in the US.

Collette Dinnigan Chantelle A- Line. $600 (originally $2,290)

Baccini and Hill Laticia Vintage sample. $700 (originally $4,300)

Collette Dinnigan Snow Fishtail gown. $700 (originally $2,500)

Pronovias La Sposa ballgown. $700 (Originally $1,800)

Rosa Clara Silk Sheath. $750. (originally $4,200)

Alex Perry Minerva A-line. $950 (originally $2,500)

Evermore ballgown.$1,000. (originally $2,500)

Stay tuned for more gems tomorrow from other websites.

Wedding dress bargains - Top Wedding dress picks from idogowns from $501 - $1,000

Looking for bargains on quality wedding dresses when you are on a budget is a minefield. There are so many beautiful dresses - but how do you pick the best ones that represent true value?

Well, I have done the research for you and hand picked my suggestions for the top picks between $501 to $1000 from the various locally based websites available.

My top picks in this post are from website www.idogowns.com.au.

New Maria Chiodo Trumpet gown . $550 (originally $3,200)

Linda Gorringe A-line. $599 (originally $2,800)

Mary Ionnadis A-line. $600. (Originally $6,000)

New La Sposa mermaid. $850. (originally $2,300)

Baccini and Hill A-line. $900 (originally $4,500)

Ivy and Aster tea length. $950 (originally $2,200)

Vera Wang. A line. $980 (originally $6,000).

Wedding dresses priced at $500 and under

For those brides on a REALLY tight budget, I have scoured the internet for you and found some fabulous, quality wedding dresses, available locally, that are priced at $500 and under.

My top picks are:

From www.idogowns.com.au

Bella Donna by Wendy Makin. $500 (originally $2,000).

New David's Bridal mermaid. These dresses are only available in the US. $350.

From www.stillwhite.com.au

Rhonda Hemmingway slip dress. $500. (originally $5,500!!!)

Maggie Sottero "Victoriana" light gold ballgown. $500 (originally $2,600)

New Carla Zampatti strapless with peplum. $500 (originally $949)

St Pucchi (US designer) ballgown $499. (originally $1,300)

From www.abridetobe.com.au

Henri Josef A-line. $350 (originally $1,200)

New Mari Gourlay. $250. (originally $499)

New Lisa Ho. $500.

An example of a questionable listing for a wedding dress

I recently saw a sold listing on a second hand wedding gown website which raised red flags that I wanted to warn my dear readers about.

I do not place any blame whatsoever on the people who run this website but rather the individual bride who has listed and sold this dress. 

In this listing, when you read the first paragraph, it appears that the bride has already worn the dress and the buyer is buying a wedding dress that has only been worn once. It seems like such a bargain - only worn for 5 hours. It's in very very good condition! It's a very sought after label, so any poor bride reading this would think it was the bargain of the decade. 

However read the listing carefully and it becomes clear that the bride has listed her gown before her wedding. In later paragraphs, she states that the gown will be dry cleaned after the wedding and the dress will be available after mid November 2013. There are absolutely no wedding photos at all - just photos of this girl in the studio in her dress. 

Buying a wedding gown from a bride before she has worn it for her own wedding, is fraught with problems. If anything happens to the dress at the original owner's wedding and the dress gets stained or torn and these cannot be cleaned or repaired, then the buyer has absolutely no recourse and their money is lost. 

What could damage the dress permanently:

(i)   Salty water which can cause discolouration; 

(ii)   Wet grass:

(iii)  Red wine;

(iv)  Coffee or tea;

(v)   Fake tan;

(vi)  Heavy Perspiration;

(vii)  Rips from guests stepping on the dress;

The only winner here is the bride who has onsold her dress and has recovered part of the price of her wedding dress from a buyer who has effectively subsidised the original bride's choice of dress.

If you are considering buying a dress with an arrangement like this, I have one piece of advice for you - Don't!