An unforgettable wedding — at a discount

Army Sgt. Dane Scharff and his fiancee Danie Verlaque-Oldfield are doing their best to plan a memorable wedding.

But while the average couple will spend a little less than $27,000 to celebrate their nuptials, the Scharffs-to-be hope unforgettable can cost significantly less. Child support from a previous marriage has Dane’s paycheck about tapped out.

“We’re hoping to keep everything under $300,” says Verlaque-Oldfield, who’s planning the July 17 wedding. The date hinges on Dane being home, as scheduled, from field training at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., where he’s stationed.

“I don’t see that a wedding needs to be really expensive or the big stress fest that everyone makes it out to be,” she says. “We don’t need some really expensive or extravagant thing to celebrate our love. Meaningful gestures can mean so much more than all that anyway.”

Whatever your reasons, wedding experts say you can get your matrimonial bliss on without the broke-the-bank post-honeymoon hangover. Some ideas:

Look for local wedding gown giveaways. Verlaque-Oldfield got a big boost when she won a $1,000 wedding dress from a local bridal salon. Brides Across America, a nationwide nonprofit, has worked with local salons to donate more than 6,000 complimentary new dresses to military brides since 2007.

Brides Across America helps make weddings more affordable for military couples, with more than 25 bridal salons participating. Through July, these salons will be holding special military-only events for brides to pick out their dresses.

“These are free gowns with no strings attached,” founder Heidi Janson says. “We’re giving a gift. It’s a thank-you gift.”

To qualify, couples must be engaged, or married in a civil ceremony, and planning a wedding in the next 18 months. The bride or groom must also have been deployed to a war zone — or Japan — within the past five years, or be on orders to deploy.

Most bridal shops discount their sample dresses at the beginning of the year and the end of summer to make room for new lines. “Some of these gowns haven’t even been tried on,” says Jenny Baker, who owns a California boutique. “You can usually save at least 40 percent.”

You’ll be smiling all the way down the aisle knowing you saved 50 percent or more on a used dress. Brides are finding vintage dresses and getting them altered for their own contemporary flair, says boutique owner Mary Wiese.

Tips for Landscape Photography | Candle Making Supplies at a Great ...

Candle Making Supplies at a Great Discount

Candle making can be a great past time, hobby, or business venture. While the supplies for candling making are remarkably inexpensive, the cost does start to add up over time. There are many ways you can cut back the cost of the candle making supplies, but I caution you not to sacrifice the quality of the products you purchase just to save a few dollars. This is especially important for those who sell their candles. If the quality of the product goes down because you are buying wax and other supplies that are of less quality, you will end up costing your business money over the long haul. Keep a list of the candle making supplies you use. Include the brand, the price, and the amount of the item you get for that price. This will help you compare the prices with sales you run across and know if you are getting a better deal or not. Many craft stores run sales on candle making items before and right after the holidays. This can be a great time to stock up. If you use a large volume of candle making supplies on a regular basis, consider buying them wholesale. You will pay more up front for your supplies, yet overall you will save a considerable amount of money. You can search such wholesalers on the internet and compare prices. Many online wholesalers offer free shipping as well so that is another area where you can save money if you normally purchase your candle making supplies online. If you know other people who make candles as well consider buying in bulk and sharing the cost as well as the supplies. This is an easy way for everyone to get a discount as well as reduce the cost at the time of purchase. Some of the discount candle making products on the market are very comparable to the quality products you already use. A good way to tell is to compare the ingredients. You can research the necessary ingredients of each item on the internet. If the discount products contain all the major ingredients as the candle making supplies you already use, then give it a try. It is recommended that you only purchase one or two items at first to test the quality. Keep track of where you purchased the discounted items so you can return to that retailer or online store if you are happy with the quality of the products. Containers and holders for your candles are one area you should never spend a great deal of money on. I won't recommend buying them for regular price unless they are for a wedding or other very special occasion. You can buy mason jars, extra glassware, votive holders, and many other containers to use candle making at thrift stores and garage sales for a very reasonable price. You might also check the online auctions to purchase large quantities of candle making container and holders at a very good price. The supplies used in candle making can cost you a great deal of money over time. To save money on the quality supplies you use, take the time to compare prices both online and at local retailers. Take advantage of discounts and sales throughout the year at craft stores. Be cautious when looking at discount candle making supplies. You want to make sure they offer the same quality that you are already using. Finding supplies at online auctions and buying them in bulk are also great ways to save you money on candle making supplies.

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