10 Simple Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding

Everyone has a budget. Even weddings that claim that the sky's the limit, have a ceiling. If you're one of the over 2 million people planning to get married this year, chances are, you're working with a budget. There are hundreds of ways to save money, but these are my favorite ways to cut back without missing out. Take it from a former budget bride and current wedding planner. I've got your back!

1. Pick a "shoulder date." That means getting married on a Friday or Sunday. Venues, caterers, and other vendors often offer a price break for those who aren't getting hitched on the ever-popular Saturday. Things to keep in mind: Friday weddings might need to take place further into the evening to give your guests a chance to come from work, change, and make it in time to see you say "I do."  Sunday weddings often end a little early, because some guests might be anxious to get some sleep before work the next day. If you plan your wedding around a holiday to avoid work conflicts, keep in mind that not everyone wants to give up their long weekend to celebrate your love. That's just the cold, hard truth.

2. Get married in the off-season.  For most areas, wedding frequency spikes during the summer months. If you're looking to get married in the fall or winter, you may find that venues are thousands of dollars cheaper, and wedding vendors are more willing to cut their prices in order to take more work on. If you are flexible on your wedding date, but have a dream venue in mind, ask what their prices are for different months out of the year. You could be surprised by the difference!

3. Hire a wedding planner or coordinator. While it might seems like paying yet another person to plan your wedding might be counter-intuitive to saving money, working with an industry professional will almost always save you more money than you spend on hiring him or her. Not only will their connections and negotiation skills save you dollars, their expertise will spare you plenty of heartache and wasted man hours.

4. Be nice. I can't emphasize this enough. So many people think that being nasty and pushy will get you a price break. The truth is, wedding vendors are more likely to discount their services, offer freebies, and bundle goods for brides and grooms that they like working with. Being a bridezilla will only result in being the victim of the dreaded wedding up-charge. I know a bride who got a free conference room to get ready in on the day of her wedding simply because she was easy to work with.

5. Be clear about what your budget is. When shopping for wedding vendors, be straightforward and say, "I have x amount of money to spend on this service." Chances are, they will be somewhat flexible about their pricing. Even if they can't meet your bottom line, they might be able to recommend a friend who can. Wedding vendors know other wedding vendors. Ask for recommendations. The worst thing that can happen is that they tell you no.

6. Don't get seduced. You're going to hear "it's your special day, why not go all out?" a lot. Prepare yourself. It's just one day out of your entire life. No not succumb to the pressure to make it perfect. And remember, spending tons of money, does not necessarily equal a successful, beautiful, or perfect day. If you need a second to think about the purchase, take that time. Your wedding is not a pack of gum; don't impulse buy.

7. Decide what's important and what's not. For me, flowers were at the bottom of the list. I didn't want to pay thousands of dollars for something that would wither and die. I ended up spending about $100 on a bundle babys breath, that make 4 bouquets, dozens of centerpieces, and I still had leftovers. Because my floral budget was so minimal, I was able to spend a little extra on the entertainment and food, which mattered to me more.

8. Pay your totals upfront. Some wedding vendors offer a price break if you pay the entire balance right away. Your savings could be 10% or more.

9. Get wedding insurance. Here's another one of those spend-money-to-save-money moments. You'll especially want to do this if you are paying for a lot of your wedding up front. Insurance covers everything from no-show vendors, cancellation due to natural disaster, to postponement because of a loss in the family. If something goes wrong at your wedding, you can get out of being held financially, or legally, responsible. Most wedding insurances cost between $300-$600, but could save you tens -- or hundreds -- of thousands of dollars in the long run. So worth it in my book!

10. Slash the guest count. This might be obvious, but if you're looking to save some serious dough, get brutal when it comes to your guest list. Imagine that every person who walks into your wedding will cost at least $100. Cutting out those 10 distant cousins or former co-workers you don't talk to anymore can easily save you a thousand bucks.

I hope these tips are helpful. There are so many ways to save, but in my opinion, these are the most effective. If this list was helpful, stay tuned for next Wedding Wednesday. I've got tons more tips coming up!

I Don't Work Out

Last month, Jessica and I attended a Bloom Gathering hosted by Krysta Masciale. Bloom Gatherings are like baby Yellow Conferences that happen once a month. This one was all about goal setting -- and achieving. I've had getting in shape on my to-do list forever, but never actually made myself do it. After attending one evening with Krysta and having a pal to keep me accountable, I finally just effing did it. I went to my first yoga class! And I'm going to another one at the end of this week.

The secret to finally getting my ass off the couch, I think, was this amazing tool, a workbook called START, created by Krysta and Ruthi, that breaks goals down into yearly quarters.  By setting goals that should be achieved in 3 months or less, the unattainable is broken down into bite-sized portions that are much more manageable. See, instead of saying, "I'm gonna lose 10 pounds," I decided to just try and find the kind of workout I was comfortable with and would do again.

By breaking down a bigger, more long-term goal, into mini goals, the pressure to achieve is alleviated, and I'm met with a satisfying sense of accomplishment when I get to check off a simple task from my list.

START recommends setting goals in a few different categories, including work, networking, investment, personal development, financial, and family & friends. I didn't set goals in every category, but I have three more quarters to get to the ones I missed or still feel need attention.

Other goals included paying more attention to my blog (check!!), working on relationships with female friends, and very simply, just deciding what I wanted to do about my career. I've hashed that whole issue out over here.

When Jess and I left the gathering, we we're like "Yes! 2015 is gonna be out bitch!" After what felt like a rough 2014, I'm looking forward to taking control of this year, and shaping it into what I want it to be.

Big thanks to Joanna Waterfall for putting the whole thing together.

Sunday Soups: Quinoa Grilled Chicken

I get a lot of inspiration for the food I make at home from the food I order when I'm out. At my part time retail job, I often order a soup-salad-sandwhich combo from the newly opened Orange Tree. The soup is always different and last week, they had a quinoa soup. Call me a dummy, but I never thought to put quinoa in soup. I whipped up this simple recipe, and the result is hearty, satisfying, and so totally delicious.

- 2 chicken breasts, grilled and shredded
- coconut oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, sliced
- 4 carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 4 celery stocks, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 parsnips, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 boxes of chicken stock
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- salt and pepper

1. In a quart-sized soup pot, cook the onion and garlic in the coconut oil until they start to soften. Add carrots, celery, and parsnips and stir to combine. Cover with chicken stock and bring to a boil. Let simmer for about 20 minutes or until the veggies are nice a soft.

2. If you haven't done so already, grill your chicken, and cook your quinoa.

3. Add chicken and quinoa to boiling soup, and stir until combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with crusty bread and enjoy.

In Flux

If you follow me on instagram, you might have noticed a couple changes and been like, "wait, what?" I'm not just talking about my pink hair, so let me explain.

Writing honestly about this has been hard because so much of my identity has been tied up in being a designer, and owning Expect. But, lately, I've been feeling like it's time for a change. Late last year, I experienced a painful epiphany: running my business wasn't fun anymore. Being the girl behind Expect was a stress-inducing, frustrating process that kept pulling me further and further away from who I was as a designer and as a person. Rather than spending my time making cool stuff, I used my hours chasing customers on social media, trying to launch new and desirable products, and frankly, comparing myself to others.

In December, I was was met with a failure so epic, it felt business-ending. I was exhausted. I was burnt out. I was unhappy.

It was at a craft fair. I had paid a huge booth fee, make hundreds of pieces of inventory, driven two hours, and set up the booth on my own. I had made a huge investment in this one day both financially and emotionally. My hopes were so high that this would be the moment my business finally took off. When the market opened, the room filled with potential customers and I was excited. But then, I stood in my booth for hours waiting to make some sales. All around me, it seemed like other makers were selling out of their goods, making connections, and raking in the cash. As the minutes ticked by, I started to panic. I rearranged my booth. I started slashing prices. I tried every sales technique I had in my arsenal. 

I fought back tears as I felt my hopes at making any sales that day melt away. Over the course of the eight hours in that convention center, I felt my business dying.

Was it my designs? Was I, myself, off-putting in some way? Were my prices too high? 

By the time the show had ended, I had make three sales, and I was sure Expect was finished. I kept thinking about Mean Girls.

I loaded my car full of the merch that I made but hadn't sold, drove out of the lot, and headed home. Before I even made it a few blocks down the road, I had become so blinded by my tears, I had to pull over. 

I had failed. My business was never going to take off. This whole thing was a terrible idea. 

I pulled into a strangers driveway and sobbed. 

At the same time that I realized that I didn't want to run Expect anymore, I felt that I was being forced to break up with something I was still in love with. It was horrible.

When the tears subsided, I drove home, calling each member of my family. I wallowed in my sadness, indulged myself in their words of kindness. It's going to be okay. 

Over the next few days, I vacillated between wanting to throw away and delete all things Expect, and desperately wanting to take a defibrillator to the operation and make it work. I eventually decided that it didn't have to be either-or. Expect was my first business, my first passion, and while I wasn't ready to say goodbye to it, I felt it's time to take a break.

Over the holidays, I allowed myself some space to rest, think through my options, and change my mind as many times as I wanted to. It was such a tender gift to give myself. For the first time in what felt like months, a weight was lifted and I was able to just breathe.

They always say that when a door closes, a window opens. And that's just what happened to me. Just as I decided to hit pause on Expect, a new opportunity arose.  Brooke, my boss at Orange Blossom Special Events, the wedding planning company I was sporadically working for, asked me to become more involved. It couldn't have come at a better time, or made me feel more valued. I was intrigued and excited, and so pleased to be able to put my talents and abilities to good use.

After a three-day retreat with Brooke and the other Blossoms, I felt connected back to my life and to those around me. Bonded by our passions for the wedding industry and a few too many whiskeys by the hot tub, I felt as though I was finally one with my coworkers at Orange Blossom. I felt happy. And the more I became interested and invested, the more it felt right to give Expect a rest.

After years of struggling for money, feeling lonely and isolated in running a business by myself, and unhappy with my level of perceived success, working for OBSE seems like everything I had been missing: more financial stability, camaraderie and community, and fulfilling and meaningful work.

I love being part of a couple's special day. It's a wonderful thing to witness so many beautiful moments, and to know that, no matter how small, I was able to help in making someone's big day go more smoothly. It's a dream.

All this is to say, I haven't closed down Expect -- everything is still live for made-to-orders, but I'm just shifting my focus to wedding-related endeavors. I've decided to start handcrafting some bridal accessories for sale now live on my new etsy shop, MarriedAndBright, and continue working for Orange Blossom making wedding dreams come true!

Sometimes life throws you curves. I'm trying to roll with it. Thanks for sticking around.

Golden Girl

Have I ever mentioned how much I love the #coasttocoastchallenge? Yesterday's theme was wearing the 'it skirt,' which gave me the perfect excuse to sport this metallic gold pleated wonder of a garment that I purchases over the holidays, but never had the chance to don. Even though it probably was slightly insane to wear out of the house for casual errands, I felt so good about myself in this outfit, I really didn't care about the WTF-esque stares we were getting while taking pictures in front of this ten commandments mural. I clearly broke at least of them during the process.

Wifey Tank

Gold Skirt

Polka Dot Sweater

Glitter Keds

Key Necklace

The Dress

As a fashion design and fashion lover, the wedding dress was one of the most important elements to my big day. I tried on about fifty dresses before deciding to just make my own. I kept thinking about how challenging and stressful it would be to make my own dress, but the more I tried on dresses, the more I began to believe that my dream dress couldn't be bought: it had to be created. Here are some shots of the finished product. I luuuuurve the way it came out and I wish I could wear it all over again!

During most of the wedding planning process, I was determined to wear three wedding dresses. Two dresses are for sissies, I declared! I ended up going with one and a half dresses, and boy am I glad! I constructed a layer of swiss dot tulle to go over my dress like a apron. Halfway through the reception, I scampered upstairs and removed the top layer (only held on by one button), and swapped out my shoes. It made the rest of the night so much more comfortable. It got a little silly after that!

I have every intention of posting a making-of series behind the dress. So, stay tuned for that. Any other awesome brides make their own dress? I would love to hear your stories!

Marriage Monday: Five Things No One Tells You About the First Year of Marriage

I'd be totally lying if I said that my first year of marriage was all rainbows and unicorns. Don't get me wrong, being married is basically amazing. However, there were moments when I felt totally alone and almost betrayed by the married women who came before me. Like, why didn't anyone tell me about this!?

1. Being married is different than dating. Right now, you're like, duh, Annika! But hold up. I was under the impression that, given the fact that Alex and I had been living together for over 2 years by the time we got married, nothing in our relationship would change. Boy, was I wrong! Something about saying, I do, forever and ever and ever and ever does a thing to your brain. It kind of makes you freak out. At times, knowing that there was no way out of this deal, made me want out extra-bad. Let's take a moment to recognize that being married is a whole different crazy level of commitment than dating, living together, or even being engaged. It's kinda scary. Deal with it.

2. Joint bank accounts are not always awesome. It's up to each couple to decide how they want to handle their finances. I know a lot of committed couples who keep everything separate, and that works for them. Alex and I decided to take the plunge and join our banks right up. I suppose I thought it would relieve some pressure of splitting the bills, paying rent, etc. But it also lead to this question: "Honey, what did you spend fifty bucks on at Target?" (Uh, hello. I'm pretty sure that's the admission fee to Target these days, amiright, ladies?) Being accountable to another person about my spending habits has been... interesting. Did I really need to spend $22 in the dollar spot? Did I have to hit the In N' Out drive through twice this week? (The answer is actually chyeah!) But seriously, no. I didn't have to.

3. You will get way to comfortable. I'm pretty sure I'm quoting Jersey Boys when I say "marriage is not love -- it is you shaving as your wife sits on the can." I do think that marriage is about love, but truly sometimes its about being waaaay too close to each other. Set your boundaries and prepare to blow right by them. It's gonna happen.

4. You will fight about everything. And laugh about everything. I can't tell you how many stupid fights I had over the course of the last year. I had to take myself for a walk once because we got really heated about where the milk goes in the fridge. For real. Milk fight. In the door or on the shelf!??! On the flip side, for some reason, everything becomes more hilarious when shared. Alex and I love our dumb dog so much that we will have full-on conversations in our Bucket voices pretending to be the guy. It so damn weird and we love it.

5. Your marriage is yours. Sometimes I get freaked about because my marriage doesn't look like my parents' or some of my friends' marriage. What I've come to realize is that not every marriage could or should be the same. Mine works for me. Whatever is working for you, is your business. Don't get bogged down my traditional gender roles, or comparing it to sitcoms. It's as unique as you are.