Bargain bomboniere or wedding favours: Bago Vineyards

For a bomboniere that is something a bit different, how about a bottle of Port?

Bago Vineyards, a boutique vineyard near Port Macquarie, Tel: (02) 6585 7099 offer a baby sized bottle of very good Port for $7.50 per bottle.  There is a minimum of 80 bottles per order. Handling and freight are extra. The bottles are sent to you via either courier or Australia Post, depending on who gives the most reasonable quote at the time of posting your order.

You need to contact Bago Vineyards at least one month before your wedding to give them enough time to organise your order and have it delivered to you.  

© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

Bargain bomboniere or wedding favours: Dolci D'Oro Chocolates

The outlet of Dolci D’Oro chocolates at 380 Princes Highway, St Peters Tel: (02) 9550 1707 sells the most divine truffles. They have an impressive selection and also have a bomboniere range.

Their bomboniere collection comprises either truffles or foiled hearts. Their truffle collection is priced between a tiny $1.55 for 1 truffle in a box with a label called Blessing (1) and goes up to $4.20 for 3 truffles in a box with ribbon and a personalised label aptly called Love.

Their foiled heart collection has either mini hearts or 30 gram hearts. Their foiled heart collection is priced between $2.20 for 3 foiled mini hearts in a box with a label called Blessing (2) and $3.00 for 3 mini hearts in a box with ribbon and a personalised label called Eternity.

Dolci D’Oro’s heart 30 gram heart collection is priced between $2.50 for a 30 gram heart in an organza bag and $4.15 for a 30 gram heart and 2 foiled mini hearts in a box with ribbon and a personalised label called Memories (2).

If you are on a very tight budget, consider buying either the 1 kilogram bags of truffle chocolates or 1 kilogram bag of mini hearts. Each bag is priced at $25 (there are about 20 - 25 chocolates in each 1 kg bag of truffles and probably about 35 – 40 mini hearts). You can then go to your local discount shop and buy a bag of little organza pouches in the gift wrap aisle. I have seen the plastic packets of 5 pouches priced between $1.50 and $3.00. Put one or two truffles or mini hearts in each pouch and you have some spectacular looking bomboniere for a maximum of $3.

If you prefer to go the traditional route, Dolci D’Oro Chocolates also sell sugar coated almonds at $17.50 for 200 pieces.

© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

Bargain bomboniere or wedding favours: Fardoulis Chocolates

Fardoulis Chocolates, 105 – 109 Princes Highway, Kogarah, Tel: (02) 9587 4155.  Fardoulis Chocolates  sell a range of chocolates specifically for wedding bomboniere. You can choose from solid milk or dark chocolate hearts in different coloured foils to match your bridal colours at 40 cents each (minimum order 25 chocolates per colour) or filled chocolates for 50 cents each.

They also have gift boxes ranging from $3.30 for a box of 2 chocolates to $8.00 for a box of 8 chocolates.

You can order the chocolates online.

Delivery is $20 anywhere in the Sydney metropolitan area and $40 for the country NSW and interstate.

If you are on a very tight budget, buy the foil covered chocolate hearts at either 40 cents or 50 cents each. Go to your local discount store and buy plastic packets of those little organza pouches where there are five or more pouches per packet. (They are usually found in or near the gift wrapping aisle/area).  I have seen those packets for sale priced between $1.50 and $3.00 per packet.  Put 2 hearts in each organza pouch and you have an impressive looking bomboniere for a maximum of $1.50!   

© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

Bomboniere or wedding favours

If it is expected in your cultural heritage to offer a bomboniere, put out one bomboniere per couple or one per family.

Go the traditional route and wrap five almonds in tulle. It is a lot less costly than the usual bells or photo frames.

If you are looking for something different but still reasonably priced, I will be recommending three different alternatives that are big on the “wow” factor but not budget busting.

© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

Wedding Speeches

Speeches at weddings can be very tedious and potentially embarrassing, if there is not enough thought put into them by the speech maker.

The golden rule is that wedding speeches should be kept to a maximum of 2 minutes.

If serving a multi course meal, have one speech between each course, that way while your guests are waiting for their next course, the time is wisely spent and there are less speeches at the end of the meal before the cutting of the cake and the dancing (if you have dancing).

One small anecdote is a lovely addition to a speech but a shopping list of tales or gripes regarding the bride or groom are just plain embarrassing.

So, if either the bride or groom’s parents are deceased or not at the wedding, don’t ask a sibling to make a speech unless they are very close or you risk having a speech full of “When s/he was 10, s/he pulled my hair” type moments.

Speeches should be limited to: the groom, the bride (if she wants to make a speech), the best man and the father or mother of the bride and groom.

© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

Master of Ceremonies (MC)

Your choice of MC is very important. An MC can keep the reception moving along and really enhance the tone of your wedding.

You don’t have to hire a professional MC but choose someone whose job or hobby involves lots of public speaking or talking in general.

Great examples are barristers/attorneys or solicitors/lawyers, doctors, teachers, real estate agents, social workers, hairdressers, sales people, even car salesman or someone for whom public speaking is a hobby, like members of organisations like Rotaract and Jaycees.

© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

Bargain wedding dress shopping

The next wedding gown update will be about boutiques in the southern suburbs.

Bargain wedding dress shopping - Consignment Shop - A Bride to Be at Normanhurst

Whilst I have been discussing bargain wedding gowns in Sydney, referring to boutiques in the City, the Northern Suburbs and Western Suburbs and before I start discussing boutiques in the southern suburbs; I thought I would alert my readers to an amazing store in Normanhurst that sells wedding gowns on consignment.

Consignment shops specialising in pre-loved or never worn wedding gowns are worth considering. If the gowns have been worn before, it’s only once  and the gowns have then been professionally cleaned and look as good as new. 

The leading store in Sydney selling gowns on consignment, one that has been established for over twenty years, is A Bride to Be  at 74 Hinemoa Avenue, Normanhurst. Viewing and trying on gowns, is by appointment only. Appointments can be arranged by telephoning Ivy on 0411 249 929.

There are some truly stunning gowns in this shop.   The gowns are all the latest styles and recent designs – Ivy does not stock any gowns that are more than two years old.

Ivy’s collection is a constantly changing, treasure trove of exquisite, high end couture gowns. At the moment, some of the sumptuous gowns that Ivy has in stock, include 4 x Vera Wang gowns, as well as gowns by Mariana Hardwick, Sarah Devine, Alex Perry and Karen Willis Holmes. The gowns in stock now are from size 6 to size 12. These gowns were originally priced between $4,000 and $20,000.  

These same gowns are listed at A Bride To Be at prices starting at just $1,500 and going to up to $4,000. You don’t have to be a mathematician to work out just how massive the savings are.

Some of the gowns offered for sale at A Bride to Be are new. Some are brought in by brides who bought two wedding dresses because they could not decide on one dress and then the gown they don’t end up wearing on the big day, is offered for sale on consignment, at a considerable discount on the price the bride originally paid.

If you have your heart set on a high end couture gown but can't afford the accompanying price tag, it is worth keeping an eye on this store as the stock is constantly changing.

For more information on the gowns currently in stock, check out the website of A Bride to Be.

© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget  

Bargain wedding dress shopping - A Brides Blessing at Wentworthville

A Brides Blessing, 350 Great Western Highway, Wentworthville. Tel: (02) 9636 7135 is a veritable bridal superstore stocking hundreds of bridal gowns going up to size 30.

They have a budget section of gowns crammed with beautiful dresses from designers including Demetrios, Watters, Peter Trends, Alfred Angelo, Paco and Henry Roth starting at an unbelievable $250! This range goes up to $1,000, so for those brides on a razor tight budget, this is a must on your list.

The regular range at A Brides Blessing starts at $1,000 and goes up to $4,000 but the majority of gowns in that range are priced between $1,000 and $2,000.  

They also stock bridesmaids gowns, flower girls, and outfits for Mother of the Bride/Groom as well as shoes and accessories.

At the moment they are having a sale with discounts ranging from 10% up to 75% on selected styles.

© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

Wedding Shoes - Update - Panache Bridal Shoes - Sale shoes at $50!!!!!!!

I popped into Panache Shoes the other day and saw an absolute plethora of gorgeous wedding shoes in different sizes, styles, colours and heel heights reduced to a ridiculously low $50.  


© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

SALE ALERT - Bridal and Couture Sample Gown sale - Menzies Hotel 10 July 2011

The Menzies Hotel at 14 Carrington Street, Sydney is having a bridal and couture sample sale on Sunday 10 July 2011. Wedding gowns, bridesmaid gowns, evening gowns and shoe designers will be offering their sample stock at up to 70% off. My sources tell me that a number of well known bridal boutiques will be selling gowns there.

Entry is $5.

My tip is to apply to be on the hour of power list to be one of the first 35 brides to view (and try on and buy) a gown from 11am to midday for $50.

I suggest that it helps to have an idea of the sort of gown you have in mind at these events when there are lots of people crowding around the same racks and not much time.

© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

Bargain wedding dress shopping - Bridal Reflections, Sydney

BridalReflections Suite 10 and 12, Level 3, Dymocks Building, 428 George Street, Sydney;  Tel: (02) 8094 8686 stock a range of gorgeous gowns including designers Henry Roth, Caleche, Pronovias, San Patrick, Atelier Diagonal and Secret by M in sizes 4 to size 28.

Their gowns are priced from $699 to $3000.

At the moment they are having a sale with gowns priced from $699 to $1700.


© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

Bargain wedding dress shopping - Bridal Avenue, Sydney

Bridal Avenue, Level 2, Suite 15, Dymocks Building, 428 George Street, Sydney. Tel: (02) 9221 4488.  Bridal Avenue stock gorgeous gowns from Brisbane based designer Roz La Kelin. Their range consists of Roz La Kelin, 93 Bridal and Glamour Plus.

Bridal Avenue always have gowns on sale. Their sale gowns range in price from $800 to $1400 and represent amazing value.  Their sale gowns include on-off samples that did not make it into production. So you can have a stunning one-off couture gown for as little as $800. Their gowns are absolutely breathtaking.  Their samples are generally a size 10 but their off the rack stock (and sale gowns) go to a size 24.

Their normal off the rack line is priced from $1500 to $3500.

Drop in and ask for Tania - she is a lovely lady and very helpful.

© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

Bargain wedding dress shopping - Be Enchanted Brides at Hornsby

Be Enchanted Brides at Avanti Building, Shop 506, 88-90 George Street, Hornsby, tel (02) 9476 4200, carry a range of gowns priced from a miniscule $350 up to $4,000. The designers they stock include Cosmobella, Demetrios, Halo, Donyella, Henry Roth and a range designed exclusively for them – Bethany Joy.

Be Enchanted Brides cater for sizes 2 to 30. They often have sale gowns. At the moment they have sale gowns priced from $300 for bridal gowns and $460 for a Mother of the bride gown.

They also stock wedding accessories such as veils, shoes, wedding jewellery and more.

© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

Bargain wedding dress shopping - Brides of Beecroft

Bridesof Beecroft, Shop 8B, 16 – 24 Hannah Street, Beecroft, tel: (02) 9980 6889 carry a variety of bridal designers. It is not a very big store but it is full of truly stunning gowns.

Brides of Beecroft carry designs by:-

Alex Perry (his exquisite gowns are much coveted)

Henry Roth (a very talented Australian bridal designer with a store in New York, whose gowns are stocked by Kleinfelds – if you’ve ever seen an episode of "Say Yes to the Dress" you’ll recognize the store name and at least one of the brides in the first season of "Bridezillas" was wearing one of his gowns. He has also been the mentor on Australia’s version of "Project Runway").

They also carry gorgeous designer gowns by Elizabeth De Varga, Pronovias, Caleche, Brides Desire, Peter Trends, La Sposa and Emanuella.

They stock sizes 8 to 20 and their prices start from a very reasonable $990.

They often have a sale rack as you walk in to the shop crammed with massively discounted designer gowns. For example, at the moment, some of their discounted stock includes an ivory Elizabeth De Varga gown in a size 12 reduced from $3,200 to $950; an ivory Peter Trends gown in a size 20 reduced from $1960 to $599 and a size 10 ivory Alex Perry gown reduced from $1,500 down to $599.  Nothing on their sale rack at the moment is over $1,500.

They also stock bridesmaids gowns, formal dresses and accessories.

© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

Bargain wedding dress shopping - Bridal Secrets, Parramatta

BridalSecrets at Level 1, 60 Macquarie Street, Parramatta. Tel: (02) 9635 3311 have a range of gowns including imported designers such as Maggie Sotero, Mori Lee and Pronovias starting at a very reasonable $700.

They also stock accessories, flower girl dresses, Mother of the Bride outfits and bridal shoes such as Alan Pinkus and de Cavalier.  

They have an impressive array of bridesmaid gowns.

At the moment they are having a massive sale with 75% off floor stock designer gowns.

They also have their other stock on sale. When I was there I saw a stunning Mori Lee beaded tulle bridesmaid’s dress reduced from $549.90 to a tiny $150. I also saw a pretty flowergirl’s dress reduced from $149 to an unbelievable $79.

© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

Bargain wedding dress shopping - Jean Fox, Parramatta

The Jean Fox store at 85-93 Victoria Road, Parramatta Tel: (02) 9683 6446 has a wide range of stunning gowns for sale from a number of designers.  They also have a constant selection of couture samples and discontinued lines for sale at a tiny fraction of their original cost. What sometimes happens is that a gown will be designed and created, when it is finished it will turn out to have cost double what the store can sell it for. So it is placed on the sale rack and offered for sale for under $1,000 which is always at least 60% less than what the dress cost to create.   You get the quality of an exquisite unique Jean Fox gown with the added bonus of a huge saving.

They also carry a range of bridesmaids and groomsmen outfits.

I cannot recommend this store and their stock highly enough. Jean Fox has been in business for many many years. Their gowns are stocked in boutiques all around Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

Bargain wedding dress shopping - Brides of Sydney

Over the next week or so, I will be listing some more shops that sell quality bridal gowns at very reasonable prices.

I will start this weeks list with Brides of Sydney at 259 Clarence Street, Sydney. Brides of Sydney carry a large selection of designer gowns from noted designers including Jean Fox and Elizabeth De Varga. They have a range of off the rack gowns priced from a tiny $300 up to a very reasonable $1,500.  

At the moment they have a range of couture gowns on sale with prices slashed to under $1,000. The original price of some of these gowns was over $2,000.

They also stock a range of clothing for the bridal party.

Their telephone number is (02) 9264 6562.


© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget

What to consider when shopping for your wedding gown - Plus size brides

Avoid fitted styles and very low strapless gowns.

Consider a dress with horizontal ruching, a gown with a heavily beaded short sleeved or lace bodice or a gown with a lace overlay.

Styles that will be perfect for you:

What to consider when shopping for your wedding gown - brides with a pot belly, bottom heavy or large hips

Avoid fitted styles or mermaid dresses that draw attention to the belly, hips or thigh area.
 
Styles that will be perfect for you:

An empire line gown which is fitted at the bustline and then flows out.

Try a dress with diagonal ruching. This will draw the attention to the side of the dress and conceal those problem areas nicely.

An A - line dress with a small hoop which will lightly skim over your tummy, hips and thighs.

A non fitted lace sheath style is also a gorgeous choice. 

Choose asymmetrical styles or slightly drop waisted styles.

What to consider when shopping for your wedding gown - busty brides

To those lucky to be well endowed brides - a halter neck will look fantastic on you.

What to consider when shopping for your wedding gown - problem upper arms

If you have problems with your upper arms, choose a dress with sleeves, a wrap or a bolero.

Here ae some examples:

What to consider when shopping for your wedding gown - Petite brides

When shopping for your wedding gown, you must consider your figure type.

For Petite brides you should steer clear of huge skirts with plenty of ruffles as these will swamp your tiny frame.

Choose a fitted gown in a fabric like satin, lace or a soft chiffon.

A ballgown without too many layers in the skirt also works well.

SALE ALERT - Bridal and Bridesmaids gowns

Honey Bee Dress Collections at Shop 21 - 22, Level 5, 150 Pitt Street Mall, Sydney, (Tel: (02) 9221 0222) is having a sale on bridal and bridesmaid gowns. Their sale is lasting for another 3 weeks.

I popped in to have a look at their stock.  They have a gorgeous range of wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses in a range of beautiful colours at amazing prices. I saw a sheath style wedding gown with short sleeves that would look great on a petite bride reduced from $1,700 down to a tiny $399. 

Even when the sale is finished, their gowns represent incredible value with their off the rack wedding gowns starting at $700 up to $2,000. Their off the rack bridesmaid gowns start at a very reasonable $150 and go up to $600.

They also offer a made-to-measure service.


© Sydney Fairytale Weddings on a Budget