Happy Friday: Frugal & Fun Wedding
Sent from reader, Laura
My husband and I will celebrate our one year wedding anniversary tomorrow. Being the savvy shoppers we coupon for everything. I began couponing with my dad who was a banker as a child. We couponed so my mom could stay home and we could go on great vacations every year. We always had a stockpile and my sister and I would “unrotate” his stock just to get a rise out of him.
So when it came to planning our wedding last summer was no exception. We rented a lake house for the occasion so we had complete control over the menu and drink options. Renting it for the week also gave us a nice lakeside honeymoon destination!
We had a laid back affair with about fifty guests. We bought all of our appetizers with coupons (cheese and crackers, stuffed mushrooms and veggie trays). We used soda coupons and sales to offer soda to all of our guests free of charge. We were also able to have a limited open bar thanks to rebates offered on liquor last summer. I made all of the flower arrangements myself using free milk bottles from a local dairy and flowers from Trader Joes (only $3.99 per bouquet!) I bought my dress off the sale rack at David’s bridal. I even encouraged my bridesmaids to just wear a black cocktail dress and flip flops they already owned. My husband and my father bought suits at a buy one get one sale at Men’s Warehouse. Buying two suits was cheaper then renting one- go figure!
Since we began couponing two years ago our life has changed so much and for the better! We have paid off all of our credit card debt, opened and maintained a savings account and just purchased our first home last month. With the help from friends and family we collected enough free paint from the recent Ace promotion to paint every room in our eight room house for free! Living frugally and responsibly has made our lives better and will continue to for years to come! Thank you for everything you do Hip2Save.
HAPPY FRIDAY! 
Do you have a funny, “Hip”, or unique photo to share?! Email us at happyfriday@hip2save(dot)com. Every Friday, I will post one photo, submitted by you and/or another Hip2Save reader, that gives us a glimpse into your frugal lifestyle or simply makes us smile. If your photo is published on Hip2Save, we’ll email you a $10 Amazon e-card!
** Check out all of the previous Happy Friday pictures here.
Congrats on your upcoming anniversary! 🙂
Love that story! Thanks for sharing! ;-D
i really really could use some free paint lol happy anniversary
Great story and so proud of you as a young couple. Most people young I know don’t coupon and I didn’t until I was married. Happy Anniversary
I just wanted to reply and tell Laura that you look absolutely gorgeous in your wedding photo! I love your dress and hair! Just stunning! Happy Anniversary! =)
You are already so far ahead of many, many others by couponing and using your money wisely from the start! Keep up the great work and Happy Anniversary!
What a beautiful couple and a lovely story! Thanks for sharing! Congrats!!!
This story is so refreshing. Congratulations.
Laura, your gown is beautiful!
Happy Anniversary to you and hubby 😉
I’ve been couponing for years and whenever anyone asked me if I worked, I would say I coupon. Couponing is a job in itself!
Best wishes for a bright future!
I was thinking the same thing; what a beautiful wedding dress.
Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversay…what a great story, keep up the great work..
That is an awesome idea! Way to go you guys. You just had a perfectly beautiful wedding on an inexpensive budget. Thanks for the encouragement!
Good job!!! Happy Anniversary 🙂
Beautiful story, thanks for sharing. 🙂
Congrats! Thanks for sharing Your story! It’s inspiring! <3 🙂
Happy Anniversary! So happy to hear of your beautiful, thrifty wedding and way of life.
Love that’s story! Happy Anniversary to you both!!
Beautiful dress, beautiful flowers! That’s a great picture! Happy Anniversary!
Awesome idea of the lake house. You look absolutely beautiful!! I’ve been outing off getting married but you’ve given me some great ideas!!! Congrats!
That is wonderful. Thank you for telling us your story and Congratulations!
Thanks for sharing your story. You are a lovely couple !
Awe 🙂
one word AMAZING!!!!!!
LOVE the lake house idea! Great story – happy anniversary!
Just love this story, I have to say I have never met someone else that their Father was the couponer in the family also ! I remember when I was younger my sisters and I would laugh how Dad had a “feminine” slot in his coupon box.
Great story. Living this lifestyle makes you appreciate things more.
This couple will stay married b/c they will avoid a major cause of divorce – money problems. Great story. I love it!
Absolutely!
Congratulations! Best wishes for a wonderful anniversary and fabulous life together.
Love it!
I love it so much! happy anniversary! 🙂 such a fantastic story!
Amazing work done by collin…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would love to meet u in person .. I was never a coupon person .. but your web page has made me so much addicted to freebies and savings . .that I am not actually doing it just for the sake of doing . .but I am enjoying it .. and I have even included my hubby in super saving …and to my surprise .. he never says no …love you collin…
That is truly a great story of how being savy can help you have a wonderful life. Thanks for the encouragement.
Love your story!!! BTW – did anyone do the JCPenney “Best Price” Friday Deals today? Just wondering what everyone found. I did it early a.m. and got some great stuff, just wondering if anyone went to the actual store.
I went today and was so disappointed. Every best sale was $10 or up and everything was at least $20 or over. The shirts that I use to get for my husband with sale and coupon were usually $5 now on sale they were $25….Kids section had one little rack and it was all skirts blah…so disappointed.
I love that your father was a banker as a child. Great story!
LOL thanks!
Congratulations! Enjoy your life!!! :)))
Love the story and the message. You look lovely in that dress, what a nice couple. Happy Anniversary! 🙂
This is amazing! bravo!!!
Love, love, love your dress!!! Happy Anniversary!
What a great story! Our families hate each other, so we won’t be having a wedding reception and instead spend our money on a great vacation. But, congratulations to you! It all sounded so very fun!
Happy Anniversary, may you have many happy years & moments throughout your marriage. Your frugal habits will save you from the perils of poor financial planning (namely arguments about money).
Congratulations! May your first anniversary be everything you hoped it would be and more.
Awee frugal couples are always the cutest! 🙂 Happy Happy one year!
Happy Anniversary!! It was a joy reading your story, thanks for sharing!
You do not even mention it, but I bet you or a friend/family member did your hair and makeup, nails etc. I am constantly shocked that these simple items are usually purchased at a high cost…even for prom around here!
Have a happy and frugal life!
I don’t often comment, but the account of your lovely yet inexpensive wedding really hit home with me. The amount of money most people spend on their wedding is outrageous. The stress it puts on budgets and nerves is definitely not necessary, especially when the day is meant to celebrate the best freebie in life — love! I can say that the simple wedding I had in no way diminished the love and happiness I have shared with my DH over the last 35 years. You are an adorable couple, and I wish for you a happy (and frugal) life.
I agree …its an outrage how much weddings cost….and in a begging You are already with this huge debt…I know people who are now divorced and they are still paying money for their wedding now…..
I rarely comment but this post moved me. I am always stunned to hear how much couples spend on there weddings…..sometimes more than a down payment on a house! I never understood it and this is such a beautiful example of a couple in love having the wedding of their dreams (on a budget). I wish you a lifetime of happiness!
oops….I hate my own typos, “their weddings” lol
Love it!!! Specially, renting the lake house for the venue and honeymoon…that was an excellent idea… my sister is looking for a venue for her upcoming wedding so am stealing this idea, THANK YOU!!! OHH, and Happy Anniversary!!!
I love hearing stories like this! Congrats to the beautiful bride and hubby!
Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your story! A great inspiration for others!
LOVE renting the lake house idea! That is a FABULOUS idea!
Wonderful story!!! Congratulations and Best of Wishes!!!