Date Day .. On the Cheap!

Bikes, helmets, water, flashlights, jackets, food .. CHECK.

Today's date began when we left home at 9:30 AM .. and headed across the state line into Montana to pick up the Route of the Hiawatha 'rails to trail' bike ride.  We probably used a few gallons of gas in the truck.  Trail tickets $10/each.  Food ~ scavenged from the pantry and garden (cheese, grapes, teardrop tomatoes, dill pickles, crackers & peppermints).

The trail is well groomed and every so often, a trail guide would be available in case of an emergency or to answer questions.  I found some wild elderberries!  Date days don't have to be expensive.

A 'New' Read

Today a friend sent me this lovely organic blog site to peruse.  They work with their community in such ways as to offer help to all searching for better ways to grow, eat and deliver organic produce to the local folks.  Recipes and photos abound.  Enjoy

The Homestead Organic Farm - Peachland, British Columbia,  Canada

Trying Not To Be .....

NORMAL!
Today's standard of NORMAL usually includes massive DEBT!

How we saved  $$$ on a beautiful, very personal meaningful wedding.

After all, this blog is about thrifty living.

First and foremost, we are a very (old school) traditional family  (think ...Ma and Pa Walton).  Family is high on our agenda.  Right below our relationship with Christ.  Going into debt is foolish .. even more so when parents of bride are retired.  We saved beforehand.

The average cost of a wedding in the U.S.A. is about $30,000.  The average cost of a wedding in Idaho is just over $16,000.

How we pulled off a wedding for $2,500.

1. Prayerfully
2. Set a budgeted goal
3. No credit card involved .. unless used on-line and the $ spent was deducted immediately from said budget
4. Local resources.  Family and friends helped.  Such as having a friend as a retired florist, having a friend that is a wedding planner in training, family friend photographer
5. Being organized
6. Being reasonable
7. Inviting only those that were important to the bride and groom.  (That meant my list of invitees was minimal) .... total in attendance 65.  We rented 60 chairs and had a few picnic table benches placed in the back row.
8. Borrow items (such as tables from the church, table cloths, decorations)
9. Rent items (such as a portable enclosed toilet, chairs, large capacity coffee maker, china plates)
10. Keep it simple

Cost breakdown:

• Mother of bride took engagement photos (free)

• Wedding dress (off Etsy) $280 (custom fit .. ordered online .... staying out of a tempting big $$$ bridal shop saved TONS of $$) ... and paid for by the bride.
• Veil (family heirloom.... and free)
• Venue ~ our property (free)

Wedding alter ~ made from wood pallets, burlap, thrift store finds

• Rentals (chairs, plates, 20x10 tent, etc.) $480

• Flowers $150 (at cost .. labor was a wedding gift to bride and groom).  Table and isle flowers were grown in the garden .. (free).
• Food $225 (juice punch, coffee, croissant sandwiches from Costco, salsa/bean dip/chips 'bar', fruit platter, veggie platter, nuts, mints, sparkling cider for toasting) NO ALCOHOL. 
• paper goods/plastic toasting glasses/cute paper cake plates/forks/cocktail napkins from the dollar store $25
• 3 homemade wedding cakes (bride and groom tiered cake, 1/4 sheet cake, Texas sheet cake) $25
• Hay bales $63 (a country wedding must)
• sound/music guys $300 (from church)
• professional photographer $800 ... family friend
• Wedding invites and postage $55 (designed by a graphic artist friend, printed and assembled at home)  If you were local, it got hand delivered.
• Thank you favors $60 (small decorative boxes filled with pistachio nuts and a printed note of appreciation/thanks from bride and groom)
• Misc.  $5  (incidentals ... from thrift stores, candles, lace, etc.)

The groom took care of the minister fee, wedding license fee and his purchased clothing.

Bridesmaids/Groomsmen paid for their clothing .. discounted on-line and at J.C. Penney's on sale.

The bride paid for her dress.

Rehearsal dinner was at a lakeside pizzeria ~ no host 

Without the pressure of cost and deadline to reserve a venue, the bride and groom were able to plan, strategize and orchestrate in a short four months.

Bride's engagement ring was set using a heirloom/family diamond for the center stone .. both meaningful (as it came from her grandmother) and cost effective as groom had to only purchase the 'empty' ring setting.  Groom's ring is made from tungsten .. which is durable and less expensive than traditional gold.

Not to say this was an 'easy to pull off' wedding .. it was a lot of work .. but work that was heartfelt and shared by those that love the bride and groom.

A thrifty wedding in the woods ... at a price 1/12th the average cost in the U.S.A.  A couple on the road to having a successful marriage not straddled with debt from the get-go.  Their wedding .. their way.  A good thing.

Oh Happy Wedding Day!

A Wedding at Home

The wedding was held this past Saturday ... Our baby girl is now with her husband in their new home.

Ann and her Father

 My what a blessed day!

Giving her our blessing

May the good Lord bless their wee nest.

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

and the rain fall soft upon your fields

And until we meet again my friend

May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Irish Blessing