When it comes to feeding, new mums deserve an informed choice
When it comes to feeding, new mums deserve an informed choice

Filomena Kaguako

This Dublin bungalow was transformed to create a bright space, while keeping its character
This Dublin bungalow was transformed to create a bright space, while keeping its character

Megan Burns

5 easy ways to help yourself mentally reset
5 easy ways to help yourself mentally reset

Niamh Ennis

Mairin Ni Bheachain of MoStyle on her favourite fashion finds
Mairin Ni Bheachain of MoStyle on her favourite fashion finds

Sarah Gill

Want to prioritise your mental health? Start with these crucial steps, says author Caroline Foran
Want to prioritise your mental health? Start with these crucial steps, says author Caroline Foran

Shayna Sappington

House Tour: inside Zoë Jordan’s dreamy Mallorca home
House Tour: inside Zoë Jordan’s dreamy Mallorca home

Megan Burns

Matching short sets: Your summer season best friend
Matching short sets: Your summer season best friend

Sarah Finnan

This Galway home with a swimming pool and gym is on the market for €2.3 million
This Galway home with a swimming pool and gym is on the market for €2.3...

Megan Burns

May 29: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds
May 29: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Sarah Finnan

‘I wanted to create something that cut through the wellbeing noise on social media’
‘I wanted to create something that cut through the wellbeing noise on social media’

Amanda Cassidy

Image / Editorial

Tie the Knot on a Shoestring


By IMAGE
14th Dec 2014
Tie the Knot on a Shoestring

Cacti Colour Scheme

blank
blank
blank
blank
blankSee More Photos
blank
blank
blank
blank
blank
Getting hitched can be expensive, especially when you have Christmas expenditures to contend with. If you don’t have a Trump-sized budget and aren’t willing to compromise on your dream, we have some money-saving tips for the thrifty bride-to-be.

One of the most spendy parts of your day is the cake. It’s also one of the most frustrating things to spend an arm and a leg on, because nine times out of ten, it never passes your lips. Combat the cost by unleashing your inner Mary Berry; butter up some cake tins and have the oven warming, you’re about to enter the great wedding bake off. When choosing a recipe, a pinch of foresight is required. You need to bake a cake that will stay fresh and, ideally, improve after a few days, so that you can make it in advance. For this reason, you can’t go wrong with a bundt cake. The humble bundt is a great base to add your own flavours to; caramel, honey, chocolate and lemon are a few of our favourite taste-boosters.

Make your cake look a million dollars with some handmade cake toppers. We’re partial to a crafty afternoon and can think of nothing better than making glittery (preferably gold) hearts to go atop your beautiful bundt. These are stupidly simple to make. All you’ll need is a jar of glitter, kebab skewers, card paper, glue and about ten minutes. Make sure you have your hoover handy because your house is about to look like the dance-floor of Studio 54.

Caught the crafting bug? We thought so. If you want to substitute traditional wedding d?cor – sedate satin backdrops, unintentional iridescent accents – then go back to basics with paper. Paper has become the go-to medium for wedding d?cor with paper pinwheels, bunting and crepe flowers being our picks to prettify your day. Coincidentally, your first anniversary is known as your paper anniversary. So, be sure to save your homemade decorations and put them to good use for a romantic dinner at home. We’re suckers for old school romance.

Flowers are another expense that can really put a stinker on your budget. Be considerate of your hay-fevered friends and think outside of the greenhouse when bringing the outside in. Ivy is a really good alternative, it’s cheaper than garlands of flowers and it saves time when putting the finishing touches on your tables. Other cute alternatives could be fruit arrangements (they’ll be cheaper, if you buy seasonally) or a variation of miniature succulents.

There you have it, our Credit Union-friendly wedding guide. Now you can save the money you would have used for lotto tickets and put it towards your first honeymoon cocktail. So, Cheers!

Head over to our Pinterest for more penny-saving ideas, or scour the pages of BASH Volume Five, for DIY inspiration? on shelves now

Follow Zara on Twitter