Wedding Tip Wednesday: Stock Up Now!

If you are getting married sometime next year, now is the time to start your stockpile of wedding decor.  Discount stores such as TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Home Goods, and Target have already started putting out their Christmas merchandise and it's a great time to stock up for your wedding! 

Although you may not be having a Christmas wedding, this is the time of the year when stores will have the biggest selection of white, metallics (of all kinds), reds, and greens.  Christmas decorations come in all sorts of themes (elegant, homey, cheesy, etc), so there should be something out there for everyone.  If you are planning on having any sort of bling at your wedding (mirrors, candle holders, decorative dishes, etc.), there is a much greater selection of these items at Christmas.  If bling is not your thing, also check out these stores for more rustic items but in rich colors like forest green or cranberry (both of which are perfect for fall weddings).

Christmas decor is also much more affordable than if you purchased a similar item at a different time of the year.  Stores are trying to attract consumers and encourage them to buy more by offering inexpensive items to decorate the home.  So a silver votive holder that may cost $4 in the summer is only $2 now.  Don't forget about table linens, these can often be some of the best prices you'll see all year!

I would start looking now to decide if there is anything that might fit in with your wedding decor.  If it seems like a good deal or is within your price point you may want to consider buying early for the best selection.  Stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Home Goods have continous stock turnover, so if you like an item and its affordable, snatch it up!  However, department stores and places like Target have their stock set pretty much for the entire season  So, if you are looking for a bigger discount on the items you love, or simply can't afford the price tag, you can wait until the day after Christmas for the big sales.*

If you are going to try to get the bigger deals after Christmas and you are hyper organized (like I sometimes am), take pictures (including the price sticker!) as you shop throughout the season, creating a wish list/inventory of all the items you would like to purchase.  You can then organize your day of shopping around which stores you should visit to pick up the items you MUST have and which items you would LIKE to have.  Enlist help from your neighbors, friends, and family if they are going out the day after to shop, ask them where they are headed, ask them to pick up the items you want, and send them pictures and the price you are willing to pay for each item.  Using this method, you should be able to (1) make a budget and estimate the costs of your purchases and (2) snag some significant savings!


*Bonus tip: I have been in Target before on Christmas Eve at about 4 PM looking for a Snuggie (don't judge, I want to keep my mama warm and still allow her to sew while she watches TV) and  Target had already started marking down its' Christmas stock.  Might be worth looking into if you have the time!