Wedding Planning – user's Blog!

July 10, 2018

How to Build a Bachelor or Bachelorette Party Survival Kit From Scratch

If you have a bachelor party or bachelorette party coming up, you’re probably wondering what to gift the groom- or bride-to-be. Sure, you could go with cash or a gift card. Or you could get creative and win the day by giving a bachelor or bachelorette survival kit. If you’ve never heard of the concept, it’s essentially a basket full of all the items one would need to make it through a night out and the day after. I’ve put together my top picks for what to include in a kit. If you shop for them with Ebates, you’ll get Cash Back on all the best products.

Cocktail Kit to Take the Edge Off

Sometimes, the best remedy after a night at the bar is a little hair of the dog. This cocktail kit will ensure your friend is prepared to put together a pick-me-up the day after. There are multiple cocktail options to choose from, so go with your friend’s favorite.

Cocktail Kits 2 Go
from Jet.com

Advil for That Pounding Headache

Cure their pounding headache with a little over-the-counter love. Bonus points if you include some Alka-Seltzer as well.

Advil PM Caplets
from Rakuten

Nalgene Filled With a Sports Drink

If you want to do a bachelor party or bachelorette party right, the most important thing is proper hydration. A Nalgene bottle filled with your friend’s favorite sports drink — or even plain old water — will do the trick. That way, when you roll into the hotel at 4 a.m. you’ll have a mini hydration station at the ready.

Nalgene 32-Ounce Wide-Mouth Cadet
from Overstock

Hand Sanitizer for a Germ-Free Night

Simple and effective. No frills here. Bars and clubs are notoriously dirty, so your friend will thank you every time they bust out this germ-fighting lifesaver.

Freshwater Mist Hand Sanitizer
from Ulta Beauty

Candy to Cure Late-Night Sugar Cravings

You can never go wrong with candy. You know your friend best, so get them a few bags of their favorite for a pregame snack or late-night fix. My pick? Ghirardelli anything. I’m loving these dark-chocolate sea-salt caramels right now.

Dark-Chocolate Sea-Salt Caramel Squares Gift Bag
from Ghiradelli Chocolates

Cash for Wherever the Night Takes Them

Most people pay for everything with a credit card, so a wad of cash will be a welcome sight in this survival basket. The future bride or groom has a long night ahead full of unexpected adventures. It’s always smart to have some paper on hand for cover fees at the bar, impromptu cab rides or a tip for the pizza guy on his last delivery of the night.

[ebatesads id=”in-post”]

5-Hour Energy to Keep the Party Going

One of these before a long night out will give the future bride or groom the energy they need to make the most of the celebration. Most people get only one bachelor party or bachelorette party — being awake to experience all of it is a major plus.

5-Hour Energy Energy Shot, Orange
from Walgreens

A Mini First-Aid Kit for Mishaps

Injuries are expected when you mix alcohol and a big group of friends, so you need to have a mini first-aid kit on hand. This one from UST has all the basics to cover cuts, scrapes, splinters and other minor mishaps.

Featherlite First Aid Kit

from The Container Store

A Tide Pen to Tackle Stains

I can’t count the number of times I’ve been saved by a Tide pen. This little stick of magic will get your friend out of a bind when they drop nacho cheese on their new shirt at 3 a.m. All they need to do is shake, open and apply liberally to the stain.

Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover
from Office Depot

Pepto to Keep Them Comfortable

No bachelor or bachelorette kit would be complete without a bottle of Pepto. It’ll take care of upset stomachs and put an end to any unpleasantness caused by the greasy food and drinks from the night’s festivities.

Pepto-Bismol Original 8-Ounce Liquid

from Harmond Discount

A Basket or Container to Put It All In

Now that you’ve amassed an impressive collection of items to give your bachelor or bachelorette, it’s time to put them all together. What better way to showcase your gift-curation skills than this hyacinth-leaf basket from Bed Bath & Beyond. It has an iron frame to support as many goodies as you can fit in it. The lucky bachelor or bachelorette can also use it for other things long after the party is over.

Honey-Can-Do Large Woven Hyacinth Square Basket
from Bed Bath & Beyond

September 28, 2017

Guest Essentials to Make Your Fall Wedding the Coziest Event of the Season

From foliage color tours to toasty bonfires, fall is a particularly romantic season — especially if you’re planning a wedding ceremony. Autumn is an ideal time to pull from natural elements, seasonal favorites and elevated extras to make your nuptials a party for wedding guests to remember. Here are five ideas — ranging from wedding favors to wedding decorations — to consider.

Play with Pumpkins

From lattes to storybook carriages, people go mad for pumpkin come fall. And although the idea may seem commonplace, there are plenty of possibilities to incorporate pumpkins into your wedding in a way that feels meaningful and special. Try artfully etching these gourds and lining them up to create a magical path, or carving initials into them as unique place settings. You can also play around with shape and size, crafting a centerpiece out of mini ’kins. Decorative pumpkins, such as this set from Oriental Trading Company, are affordable and easy to work with.

Decorative Minature Pumpkins
from Oriental Trading Company

Sweeten Up with S’mores

S’mores may seem like a summertime campfire staple, but they’re equally appreciated in colder months. Try incorporating them as a late-night pick-me-up for guests. Set up a fire pit and build a s’mores station for guests to help themselves to the saccharine sweet, and then send them home with a sweet treat like these Milk Chocolate Gourmet S’Mores from Macy’s. Elevate this idea by allowing your guests to light sparklers as they toast their marshmallows.

Milk Chocolate Gourmet S’mores
from Macy’s

[ebatesads id=”in-post”]

Blanket a Barn Venue

Barns lend themselves well to the crisp vibes of a fall wedding. A florist can help transform these eclectic spaces from a place where horses live to a fairy-tale setting for the most memorable night of your life. Experiment with twinkling lights, autumnal blooms and a rustic decor to really set the tone. You can also decorate with blankets for guests to get really comfy. These cozy gray blankets from Target are an affordable option.

Fuzzy Blanket
from Target

Heat Things Up with Hot Chocolate

Warm beverages are one of the simple luxuries of the fall season. We all look forward to curling up with a pumpkin spice latte or a frothy cappuccino come autumn. Bring the magic to your big day by setting up a hot chocolate or latte station for guests to help themselves. Stock up on toppings for hot chocolate — whipped cream, chocolate shavings, cinnamon and mix-ins. You can also create your wedding cocktails around a hot toddy theme. You can even send guests home with their own, such as this Hot Cocoa from Ghirardelli.

Hot Cocoa Mix
from Ghirardelli Chocolates

Send Your Guests Off Warmly

A fall wedding presents possibilities to customize the favors in step with the season. Keep guests feeling warm and toasty by giving them scarves, mittens or earmuffs. These sartorial goodies will keep them warm well into the winter and give them a loving reminder of your special day. We love the classic looks from L.L. Bean.

Irish Lamb’s Wool Scarf
from L.L. Bean

June 27, 2017

How I Saved More Than $1,600 on My Wedding

My fiancé, Ryan, and I are planning a wedding in Healdsburg, California, in the heart of wine country. Like so many couples, we’re learning that planning a wedding means lots of shopping. Whether it’s paper for invitations or ties for your groomsmen, spending becomes second nature. So, as a bride with a budget she’d like to stick to, I’m obsessed with getting the best deals when I can. Thankfully, Ebates helped me save on so many wedding essentials, such as invitations, decor, attire — even our honeymoon. In this series of posts, you’ll get a chance to see exactly how much I was able to save and how.

According to The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. in 2016 was $35,329. That’s the average, which means plenty of couples are shelling out more than that. Although it’s tough to fight the fun and adorable trend of enhancing the guest experience (we all want the most memorable wedding nowadays), that trend can throw your budget into a tailspin.

Thanks to some crazy, unheard of (but very real) savings through Ebates stores and incredibly easy Cash Back at Ebates, my fiancé and I were able to save more than $1,600 on our wedding.

During this series of posts, I’ve been through invitations, save-the-dates, honeymoon travel, wedding decor, attire and gifts for the bridal party — some of the unavoidable expenses that can really add up. But we did so much saving. Let’s break down the ways to save money on wedding details that matter:

Invitations

Our save-the-date cards and invitations were unique, personalized and so very us. They also ended up costing only about one-third of what we had budgeted for them.

Savings

Total saved on invitations and save-the-date cards: $124

To recap, we downloaded a PDF design for the save-the-date cards from Etsy, where we also purchased a personalized stamp with our return address. Then we printed the cards through Vistaprint and the envelopes at home (on our old-school printer) with cartridges from InkCartridges.com. To save ourselves the hassle, we decided to do a one-stop shop for our invitations by designing and printing them at Wedding Paper Divas.

Overall, we saved roughly $124 and spent just under $265 on invitations and our save-the-date cards. That’s about $200 less than the national average and $135 less than our budget. Check!

Honeymoon

Savings

Total saved on honeymoon: $502

Finding savings at Ebates on our honeymoon was one of the most rewarding wedding-planning tasks on our list. Not only could we plan an amazing adventure, but we could also see the dollar signs go down with each booking. Our Croatian adventure would take us from historic Dubrovnik and Split up the coast to the Istria peninsula and finally out to the island of Hvar. To start, we saved $300 on our round-trip flights at Expedia. We continued to save as we pre-booked hotels at Hotels.com and Expedia. Again, we purchased some amazing excursions — including a food and wine tour and a boat ride through naturally glowing caves — at Expedia and Orbitz. (Yes, Expedia nailed it on pretty much everything.)

In sum, we saved just over $500 on our honeymoon — all through Cash Back at Ebates.

Decor

Savings

Total saved on wedding decor: $205

Ah, decorations. Because Ryan and I are both busy but also shared a vision for a particular look for the big day, shopping at Ebates stores made our decor selection better than expected. It was also much easier to save money on wedding decor than we were expecting. We started with some romantic and rustic globe lights from Lighting Direct for our Northern California wedding. Then we lit up a few other tree trunks in the surrounding area with solar-powered string lights from Overstock. For centerpieces, we opted for simple candles, glass votive holders and adorable agate photo holders (which we used to display our table numbers) from Pier 1 Imports. The Container Store’s milk-glass bottles made perfectly rustic flower vases, and Ghirardelli chocolate squares and olive-oil-filled swing-top bottles from Michaels completed our place settings.

All in all, we saved more than $200 on our decor, and we were able to nail the look. (Did I mention it was rustic?)

[ebatesads id=”in-post”]

Attire

Savings

Total saved on wedding attire: $600

It was unbelievable to tally the actual savings from our attire shopping. We hosted an entire weekend of events for our semi destination wedding, and I was able to score my more casual white dress at JCPenney and fun floral shoes at Macy’s. We also were able to get some wedding-day attire at some Ebates stores. Ryan’s blue wedding-day suit came from Men’s Wearhouse, and his light brown leather oxfords and my sweet blush heels (so comfortable for the vineyard!) were from Macy’s. Our groomsmen looked dapper in their wine-colored bow ties and leather suspenders we purchased for them at Men’s Wearhouse and the Belt Outlet, respectively.

We saved $600 — a huge win for our wedding budget.

Bridal Party Gifts

Savings

Total saved on bridal party gifts: $470

Our bridal party was so special to us, and we loved every minute of the wedding day, including the time we spent getting ready with our bridesmaids and groomsmen. As a thank you, Ryan supplied the guys with awesome (and really handsome) bow ties and leather suspenders (see above). I gave my favorite ladies cute “Mornings Are for Mimosas” tank tops from Design by Humans, etched and personalized stemless wine glasses from Things Remembered (to hold said mimosas), prints from Minted with each person’s astrological sign over watercolor and a card from Greeting Card Universe. Our parents were also a huge part of the day, so we felt they deserved some great gifts too. We started with a classic picture frame from Things Remembered, personalized and framed with a sweet note, and also gave the moms 90-minute massages and the dads a round of golf — all from Groupon.

To sum it up, we were able to save $470 on gifts to show our bridal party and parents how grateful we were that they were there with us on our wedding day.

Total Savings

Total saved on wedding at Ebates: $1,650

Overall, our wedding saw some incredible savings, and we didn’t have to sacrifice anything to make it work within our budget. Thanks to coupons we found at Ebates stores and Cash Back at Ebates, we were able to put $1,650 back in our pockets. Now that’s a wedding savings plan.

June 13, 2017

How I Saved More Than $1,600 on My Wedding: Bridal Party Gifts

My fiance, Ryan, and I are planning a wedding in Healdsburg, California, in the heart of wine country. Like so many couples, we’re learning that planning a wedding means lots of shopping. Whether it’s paper for your invitations or ties for your groomsmen, spending becomes second nature. So, as a bride with a budget she’d like to stick to, I’m obsessed with getting the best deals when I can. Thankfully, Ebates helped me save on so many wedding essentials, such as invitations, decor, attire — even our honeymoon. In this series of posts, you’ll get a chance to see exactly how much I was able to save and how.

Weddings can be expensive for brides and grooms. This we know.

The cost for the bridal party to be in a wedding, though not nearly as much, is also high. Asking someone to be in your wedding is a commitment, which is why thanking them for making that commitment (and doing it with a huge smile) is essential.

Giving groomsmen and bridesmaids gifts is one of the best ways to show your gratitude to some of your favorite people. We also wanted to give our parents something special to thank them for all their help (not to mention years of support).

Ryan and I were able to save almost $500 on some really meaningful and fun gifts. Here’s how:

Bridesmaids Gifts

With a bridal party filled with sisters and friends, I wanted to make sure every one of them understood they were special to me. Standing up for someone at their wedding isn’t the cheapest of endeavors, nor the most convenient. But they were all there for me during the planning process and on the wedding day. It was so fun to spend the early part of the day with my best friends, getting our hair done and telling stupid jokes.

This camaraderie was even more fun when I presented them with a few little gifts. First, these “Mornings Are for Mimosas” racer-back tanks from Design by Humans were perfect for getting ready. They were loose enough to slip over our heads without messing up our gorgeous wedding hair, and they inspired a sort of pride in our pre-noon cocktails. Since the wedding was taking place at a winery, some wine-themed bridesmaids gift ideas were in order. I purchased these etched stemless wine glasses, personalized for each bridesmaid. The wine glasses were 20% off and even more discounted thanks to a BOGO coupon at Things Remembered, which also offers 6.5% Cash Back at Ebates. The savings on the wine glasses was huge, and they turned out to be as adorable as they were useful that day.

I also wanted a gift that was somewhat nicer and reflected something that was personal to me. I opted for these astrology art prints from Minted.com, which was offering 10% Cash Back at the time I purchased them.

And to top it off, I wrote each bridesmaid a very simple thank-you note with adorable greeting cards from Greeting Card Universe. I thought that, plus all my thanks during the big day, would come close to showing them each how much it meant to have them standing up there with me.

Savings

Ebates Cash Back savings: $30

Total saved on bridesmaids gifts: $100

Groomsmen Gifts

Ryan decided our gift to the groomsmen would be part of their attire for the day. It was also a great way, Ryan pointed out, to make sure they wore the same thing and looked snappy (they did). In the end, the groomsmen’s look was one of my favorite visuals of the entire day. The bow ties and leather suspenders came together perfectly for a sophisticated but wine-country-chic look. Plus, going jacketless was the casual touch that helped Ryan’s baller suit stand out so well.

Our Cash Back button told us there was a buy-one-get-one-free coupon available at Men’s Wearhouse for ties and an additional 50% off additional items — plus free shipping and 4% Cash Back — so we scooped up some classy bow ties for the guys that were perfect for our winery wedding. The tan leather suspenders we purchased from the Belt Outlet — where we enjoyed 5% Cash Back at Ebates — were 25% off and included free shipping, saving us a ton.

Savings:

Ebates Cash Back savings: $15

Total saved at Men’s Wearhouse: $140

Total saved at Belt Outlet: $65

Total saved on groomsmen gifts: $220

[ebatesads id=”in-post”]

Parents

Although they weren’t technically part of the bridal party, our parents were an important part of the day for us. We believed they deserved a little special recognition, and decided to shower them with a couple gifts to show our love and appreciation.

For both sets of parents, we landed on etched frames from Things Remembered, personalized with a picture of the three of us and a sweet note. The frames were on sale, thanks to a buy-one-get-one-half-off deal at Things Remembered and a 20% off coupon for personalized items I discovered with the handy Ebates Cash Back button in my browser. Then, of course, the store’s 6.5% Cash Back saved us even more.

We also wanted to give the moms and dads separate experiences that would relax them and make them feel special. For the moms, we landed on massages. In hindsight, maybe we were thinking more about what we wanted after the wedding. They both loved their local Groupon massage, which we booked for them and scheduled into their visit. Not only were we able to give them the perfect gift, but we also saved a ton. Groupon’s deals are no joke, and we saved about half off the regular price of each massage, plus an extra 25% off coupon that was valid for a few days around the time of our purchase and 6% Cash Back.

While the moms were getting pampered, the dads and Ryan and I put their gift to good use: a foursome at the beautiful Napa Golf Course. They couldn’t have been happier, and we were happy to get some quality time with them — a gift for us as much as for them. Again, Groupon’s amazing built-in discounts gave us an incredible deal on the round, and an extra 20% off.

Savings

Ebates Cash Back savings: $20

Total saved at Groupon: $45

Total saved at Things Remembered: $40

Total saved on parents’ gifts: $85

Total saved on bridal party gifts: $470

To sum up all these incredible deals, we saved $470 on bridal party and parents’ gifts. These gifts came close to expressing our thanks to some of the most important people that made the day so wonderful.

Next up, I’ll recap all my wedding deals. Stay tuned to learn how much I was able to save on our wedding overall.

May 17, 2017

How to Throw the Best Bridal Shower Ever

Bridal showers don’t have to fall victim to the usual cliches. Instead of awkward games and raunchy entertainment, take the opportunity to hone in on what the bride-to-be really loves. Bridal showers are another opportunity to celebrate the bride’s originality and spirit. They should be fun! Here are five tips for how to plan a party that will please all the guests.

Decide on a Theme

Themes tie everything together and help all the planning details fall into place. If your bride’s wedding will take place in an exotic destination, pay tribute to the location with food, decor and gifts. Does your bride love Mexican food? Is she obsessed with spas and pampering beauty treatments? Has she always had a strange love of New Orleans? Allow her favorite things — even if it’s just colors she likes — to guide the way. To take it to the next level, keep in mind all five senses: touch, taste, sight, scent and sound.

Bring in a Statement Piece

You don’t have to go wild on super expensive food or cocktails. Experts say splurging on one attention-grabbing component will make all the difference. Ideas include a wow-factor cake, floral arrangements for the dinner table or even a musician to perform as guests arrive. Elevate the idea by researching the most outrageous cakes available in your area. Guests will go wild capturing it on social media.

[ebatesads id=”in-post”]

Make It Intimate

Sometimes it’s not the food or the decorations we remember, but how the occasion makes us feel. Invite guests to share their favorite memories of the bride or to make individual toasts in lieu of bringing basic gifts. Step up your bridal-party game by recording this part of the shower so the bride has a visual reference to return to whenever she wants.

Have Fun with the Food

It’s tempting to resort to tried-and-true bridal-party cuisine (mimosas, finger sandwiches), but really putting thought into interesting, eclectic dishes will have a huge impact. Peruse Pinterest, go through your local book store’s cookbook section and scour blogs to pull together a menu that takes guests out of their culinary comfort zones. For the maximum effect, invite one of your area’s best personal chefs to cook for guests at the party.

Invite the Groom to Participate in a Creative Way

There’s a trend in bridal-party games that involves the groom in a starring role. Before the party, invite the groom to answer questions about the bride in a playful way. Play the answers for guests during the shower, and allow the bride to chime in with her own responses. It’s a fun way to share a couple’s unique love story, and guests get a kick out of it. Don’t hold back! You can try creating a mini-movie of how the bride and groom met, or pull inspiration from the couple’s favorite love films.

May 16, 2017

How I Saved More Than $1,600 on My Wedding: Decor

For us, decor was one of the budget items that got thrown into the “miscellaneous” category. So as we approached the wedding day, we were looking for as many deals as we could find. In addition to flowers, there were other wedding decorations we wanted for our winery wedding to give it a personal touch and tie the whole day together. For bud vases and candles as centerpieces, string lights illuminating the outdoor dance floor and wedding favors decorating the dinner table, we budgeted $400.

In the end, we saved more than $200, essentially halving our budget. Here’s how:

Lights

One must-have for our Northern California wedding was dancing under the stars. To light the way for our guests, we chose classic round globe lights strung up overhead. These frosted white string lights from Lighting Direct were perfect for the soft glow and charming backyard-party ambiance we were going for. Between the 10% off coupon for string and rope lights that was available when we purchased, free shipping for orders more than $49 and 5% Cash Back at Ebates for Lighting Direct, we were able to save a pretty penny on our dance floor lights.

Savings:

Ebates Cash Back savings: $6

Total saved at Lighting Direct: $25

Wrapping a few strands of string lights around a couple trees was also among our wedding-decoration ideas. Since we were setting up our dance floor outside, it was crucial that the area was well lit. With these solar string lights we found on Overstock, we were happy not to have to worry about the major tripping hazard of electrical cords taped to the floor. And (bonus!) we were saving energy by powering our lights with the sun.

For our tree lights, we went with two packs of 225 solar-powered and long-lasting lights from Overstock. A free-shipping offer and 6% Cash Back at Ebates saved us a few bucks, and helped save the planet.

Savings:

Ebates Cash Back savings: $3.50

Total saved at Overstock: $10

Total saved on lights: $35

Centerpieces

Since we were doing a farm table for dinner with natural green-leafed garland down the center, our centerpiece needs were mainly to decorate our wine-barrel cocktail tables, the bar area and the dessert table. We preferred to keep it simple, with votive candles and bud vases for flowers at the center of the barrels.

Decorating the cocktail tables was the first priority. Even though we were looking at simple votive candles, candle holders and small bud vases, buying enough for tables for 100 guests meant preparing to spend. Luckily, we found some crazy-good deals at Pier 1 Imports, including clean-lined votive holders and ivory candles at a great price, with free shipping. Since Pier 1 was offering 15% Cash Back at Ebates, we decided to poke around for other decor goodies. We ended up discovering some adorable agate photo clips on clearance — saving us $30 — which we used as table-number holders at dinner.

Savings:

Ebates Cash Back savings: $25

Total saved at Pier 1: $75

We found bud vases at the Container Store. We went with vintage-looking glass milk bottles to hold our flower centerpieces on our wine-barrel cocktail tables. We saved $10 with a 15% off coupon that was available at the time of purchase, earned free shipping because our order was more than $75 and got 4% Cash Back at Ebates. And our wedding flowers couldn’t have looked sweeter.

Savings:

Ebates Cash Back savings: $3

Total saved at the Container Store: $25

Total saved on centerpieces: $100

[ebatesads id=”in-post”]

Favors

Part of our wedding favors included a little ode to San Francisco, where Ryan and I live. We wanted to pair a couple of our favorite Ghirardelli chocolates in a tiny sachet to place on each plate. Because we happened to be shopping on a triple Cash Back week at Ebates, we found some incredible savings at Ghirardelli. We saved $25 on our order thanks to 15% Cash Back, and our guests loved the personal touch.

Savings:

Ebates Cash Back savings: $25

Total saved at Ghirardelli: $25

Chocolates weren’t the only favors we decided to give out. I had seen small bottles of olive oil handed out at a few weddings on Pinterest, and I thought it was the perfect idea — especially for a California wedding. The winery where we were getting married was dotted with olive trees. This idea turned into a small DIY project that was well worth it and loved by everyone, and Michaels was our store of choice for the tiny bottles. Thanks to a buy-one-get-one-50%-off deal on swing-top bottles and 2% Cash Back, we were able to pour some local olive oil into each bottle with a thank-you tag for our guests. These were a huge hit!

Savings:

Ebates Cash Back savings: $3

Total saved at Michaels: $45

Total saved on favors: $70

Total saved on wedding decor: $205

Overall, we saved $205 on wedding decor, cutting our budget for that in half. An extra $200 went back in our pockets thanks to all the deals and Cash Back we discovered at Ebates. We’ll take it.

Next up, I’ll share even more wedding deals. Stay tuned to learn how I was able to save big on wedding attire.

April 26, 2017

Brides: How to Pack for Your Destination Wedding

Imagine yourself on a plane, heading to your wedding destination. You’re relaxed — a feeling that might only become a reality if your packing game is truly on. Put packing off until the last minute, and you could risk leaving behind something crucial. Give yourself more time and space than you think you need, and you likely will be the relaxed bride you deserve to be. Here are some ideas for packing for your destination wedding, and earning Cash Back from Ebates to spend on the honeymoon.

Start packing early

There are so many things to remember, so make yourself a wedding-planner checklist starting three weeks ahead of the wedding. Spend that week picking up any items you don’t have but need to take with you, including killer wedding shoes, rings, jewelry for the big day and any undergarments you might need. Two weeks out, you should start to populate your suitcase with purchased items. Don’t forget lingerie for the rest of the trip, wedding-day makeup, new beachwear, a beach bag and the other white dresses you’ll need. With one week to go, you should be as packed as possible. This also is a good time to make another wedding-planner checklist so you don’t forget things like your toothbrush and deodorant in the excitement of getting all the big stuff in your bag.

Keep your carry-ons organized

You will want to keep the dress, the marriage license, the carefully selected Etsy-made wedding rings and other essentials with you in the cabin of the plane. Otherwise, you’re taking a risk that your luggage won’t make it to the right place at the right time. The best way to manage the carry-on situation is to make sure your wedding dress is in a garment bag, like this one from eBags. Call ahead to your wedding hotel to make sure they have a steamer to get the travel wrinkles out of the dress. The dress is your carry-on, while a super well-organized bag can be your personal item. In here, you’ll want to keep all your critical documents, your passport and the rings in a secure pocket where they won’t roll around or fall out.

Think about the what-ifs

What if the dress you packed for the rehearsal dinner has some stubborn cat hairs on it? What if you drop airplane food on your favorite comfy T-shirt? What if the groom gets a painful sunburn the day before the wedding? There are so many things that could go wrong, and the nature of destination weddings makes it tough to get necessities at the last minute. It’s best to be prepared with random emergency items you can get from Walmart — things like aloe, a lint roller, travel stain remover, safety pins and a needle and thread. If there’s a wedding-day issue, you’ll be ready and relaxed instead of panicking.

Outsource suitcase space

If you and your fiance are planning to DIY a few things or looking for more space for wedding-day essentials, tap into a friend or close relative early. If you know you need to bring table cards, a guestbook or other supplies for crafting once you arrive, see if you can use some space in someone else’s bag. Securing your packing fallback space beforehand will allow him or her to plan on leaving extra room for you should you need it.

April 25, 2017

How I Saved More Than $1,600 on My Wedding: Invitations

The Knot 2016 Real Wedding Study puts the average cost of wedding invitations at $462. (Is it just me or do these numbers seem to be going up every year?) Ryan and I budgeted $400 for our save-the-dates and invitations. I’m happy to report that, thanks to the great deals we found at our favorite Ebates stores, we came in comfortably under budget and well below the national average.

In the end, we saved $124 on save-the-dates and invitations, which was about a third of what we had budgeted.

So how did we do it?

Save-the-Dates

Since Ryan and I live in the Bay Area, our wine-country wedding is not technically a destination wedding. But because so many of our family and friends are traveling from around the U.S. and the world to be there, we decided that sending out save-the-date cards was in order.

We decided to go with Etsy to find a great PDF — created by a talented designer — that we could simply customize and download to send to a separate printing service. We chose a vibrant watercolor design for our save-the-dates. This design from Etsy shop RoseGoldandCopper almost had a feeling of spilled wine, which was lovely and on-theme for us. Cost: $25

After ordering the save-the-dates, I decided to also order a self-ink stamp with our return address, to make labeling our envelopes much easier. Cost: $9.90

Etsy didn’t have any coupons at the time of our purchases, but we were able to take advantage of 1% Cash Back at Ebates. It’s a pretty small return, but I knew I was saving by doing a little DIY.

Savings:

Ebates Cash Back savings: $0.10

Total saved at Etsy: $0.10

Once our Etsy design was ready, we were able to easily download the PDF and upload it to Vistaprint. The process was simple and completely painless. Vistaprint has a foolproof ordering process for save-the-date postcards (and other add-on goodies, such as thank-you cards and save-the-date magnets). We ordered a set of 90 cards, which came with 90 free envelopes.

At the time I ordered, there was a 40% off coupon for invitations and announcements. After that deal, I also qualified for a site-wide $5 off coupon. These deals, which I was able to access instantly with the help of my browser’s Ebates Cash Back button, brought the printing cost down from $51.30 to $25.77. On top of that, I saved even more with 4% Cash Back at Ebates.

Savings:

Coupon savings: $25.53

Ebates Cash Back: $1.03

Total saved at Vistaprint: $26.56

The save-the-dates from Vistaprint turned out gorgeous — just as they looked in the store. Now, our task was to stamp the back of all the envelopes and then print all the addresses on the front. We were counting on a hand-me-down printer to do the job, which we dusted off — and realized required some fresh ink.

We jumped back online and found InkCartridges.com. Not only were we able to score an awesome deal on two new cartridges that outlasted our save-the-dates, but InkCartridges also delivered the ink to our door that day, which meant I didn’t have to take time to run yet another wedding errand. That was impressive.

I was able to access a 10% off coupon for the ink cartridges. Plus, I got an incredible 11% Cash Back at Ebates. Yay, more savings!

Savings:

Coupon savings: $3.20

Ebates Cash Back: $3.16

Total saved at InkCartridges.com: $6.36

Invitations

When it came time to send the actual wedding invitations, we decided to eliminate any possible stress. At this point in the planning process, we had a lot more on our plates, including two full-time jobs and an energetic puppy!

We went with an all-inclusive, fully customizable invite package through Wedding Paper Divas, and we loved it. With some incredible coupons and Cash Back at Ebates, we were able to get some awesome savings.

Our favorite design was Heritage Vineyard, since it kept a consistent watercolor look but brought more of our wine theme into it. All we had to do was customize an existing template, and we had control over everything from the typeface to what the text said. We changed the font to something a bit more rustic and playful, and we changed the wording to fit our casual style.

Then we personalized our envelopes. All we had to do was upload a Google sheet with all our guests’ addresses on it, and our envelopes were created and sent to us. So simple.

Now to the savings. Ebates found us a Wedding Paper Divas coupon for new customers, and we automatically got $50 off our order! Plus, Ebates found another coupon for an additional 20% off wedding invitations. And then, of course, we saved even more with our 2% Cash Back at Ebates. Once Ebates worked its magic, I saved $91.02. Not too shabby.

Savings:

Coupon savings: $86.38

Ebates Cash Back: $4.64

Total saved on invitations: $91.02

Total saved on save-the-date cards: $33.02

To sum up all these incredible deals, I saved about $124 and spent just under $265 on invitations and save-the-date cards. That’s about $200 less than the national average and $135 less than our budget.

I’d say that’s a win.

Next up, I’ll share even more wedding deals. Stay tuned to learn how I was able to save big on honeymoon travel.

April 11, 2017

10 Surprise Tips for Planning a Destination Wedding

From exchanging vows on a tropical beach to celebrating with family and friends in a European city, the idea of a destination wedding presents unlimited options. Ten percent of all couples get married away from home, but it’s not all plane tickets and passports — planning a destination wedding requires a certain know-how. Here are a few surprise tips that will help make your destination wedding the day of your dreams.

1. Residency Rule

Many countries require couples to spend some time there before tying the knot. These requirements range from no big deal (a couple days in the Caribbean) to more serious (France’s six-week residency rule).

2. Give Serious Notice

Wedding planners suggest mailing your save-the-date announcements and wedding invitations at least eight months in advance. This allows your guests to arrange for airfare and accommodations ahead of time. Experts also recommend creating a website detailing any questions guests may have related to their travel.

3. Hire Cars

Instead of making your family and friends schlepp all over town, hire cars to pick them up at the airport and safely transport them to their hotels. Traveling can be a huge hassle — especially international travel. This is a small gesture guests are sure to appreciate.

4. Fly in Your Pros

Depending on where you’re getting hitched, it may be tricky to find reliable photographers, hair stylists and makeup artists. If you bring your own, you’ll be working with professionals you trust.

5. Arrive Early

Arrive at your hotel at least a few days before your guests do so you can customize welcome gift baskets and stock their rooms with anything they may need — maps, favors, a bottle of wine, sunscreen.

6. Pay Attention to Details

Wedding planners suggest meeting with as many people involved in the wedding as possible, including the officiant, the photographer and the caterer. Inspect the accommodations and rehearsal-dinner and ceremony sites.

7. Stay Calm and Flexible

The bride’s energy will impact everyone. Things may not always go as planned — especially if you are in a foreign country — but roll with any changes, schedule a time each day to do yoga and keep a relaxed state.

8. Factor in Exchange Rate

Even though destination weddings seem cheaper than getting hitched at home (especially if you live in a major U.S. city such as New York or San Francisco), you’ll need to factor in the exchange rate. Always convert prices into dollars to get a better idea of what you’ll be spending.

9. Create a Pinterest Board to Communicate Your Vision

When you’re planning a destination wedding, you’ll be communicating your vision to a lot of different people. Descriptions can be subjective, down to color shades and cake patterns. By creating a Pinterest board, you’ll have something to show and share.

10. Leave a Personal Note

Your guests are traveling a great distance to watch your special day. It’s advisable to greet them with a hand-written personal note at check-in. If you’re short on time, you can work with a calligrapher.

April 5, 2017

Where to Go on Your Mini Moon

Lots of newlywed couples are taking a long weekend or short week away immediately after their wedding to let down their hair and kick off their marriage with some relaxation, fun and time set aside just for the two of them.

For some couples, a long weekend away is plenty (and saves bundles!). For others, the mini moon is just a taste of a longer trip planned later, after the couple has had time to recover from wedding expenses and can afford to splurge (again). Either way, the post-wedding mini moon ritual is practical only if you travel to a destination that’s close and you can treat yourselves affordably. A few deals at these perfect-for-newlywed mini moon destinations could score you Cash Back at Ebates and save you a fortune in the process.

California Wine Country

El Dorado Hotel

California wine country is the perfect long-weekend getaway. All you need is a few days away to get your fill of sun, wine and award-winning food in Sonoma and Napa. It’s the best way to wash away stress and make the fun and excitement last a little longer.

Stay in town for an adorable (and walkable) experience that gives you the best of the countryside without compromising convenience. Book the El Dorado Hotel in advance through Hotels.com for a great deal and a poolside brunch.

Sedona, Arizona

A Day in the West Jeep Adventure

Amara Resort and Spa

Sedona’s brilliant red rock formations are enough to awe any newlywed couple looking for a majestic, beautiful mini moon retreat. Find yourself on the A Day in the West Jeep adventure, or take a tour of the town’s wine, beer or art scenes. Then settle in at your room in the eco-friendly and secluded Amara Resort and Spa, tucked into your own mini Grand Canyon. Book with Hotwire.com to get a great midseason deal.

Quebec City, Canada

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

If you can’t do Paris right after the wedding, consider visiting its North American cousin, Quebec City. This Quebecois destination has a stone-walled fort and streets reminiscent of the old country, and you’ll hear a mix of languages on the street that will transport you to Europe. Stay at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, a luxurious European-style hotel, to truly feel like you’re in a foreign land.

Key West, Florida

Key West Sunset Key Cottages

Key West is ideal for achieving a romantic beach getaway without leaving the U.S. Post up on a quiet island to get your fill of bungalow living, snorkeling, diving, fresh fish dinners and unbeatable rum cocktails. Come to think of it, there’s nothing mini about Key West. Stay in a romantic ocean-side bungalow at Sunset Key Cottages, booked through Expedia for a great deal.

Bermuda

Cambridge Beaches Resort and Spa

Just a two-hour flight from New York, Bermuda is a popular honeymoon spot for newlyweds on the East Coast. Its popularity shouldn’t be a put-off, however, since it’s still possible to find empty, pink-sand beaches and crystal-clear blue water. Stay in a cabana on one of four private beaches at Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

The Cape, a Thompson Hotel

For those tying the knot on the West Coast or in the Southwest, Cabo could be perfect for a beach mini moon. Its local flair gives it that true honeymoon destination feeling, and you’ll relish endless beaches, mind-blowing al pastor street tacos and margaritas. Book ahead on Travelocity to stay at The Cape, a Thompson Hotel, perfect for ocean views and modern luxury.