Budget Nashville Bride Gets Married in Her $139 Wedding Gown from the Goodwill Gala!
Friday, January 11, 2013
Ashley, a budget Nashville bride, was married last Fall and was one of the lucky brides to find her wedding dress at a steal at the 2012 Goodwill Gala, after reading about it right here on AshleysBrideGuide.com. Ashley is a sweetheart and was kind of enough to share her story with me, and you, to help other Nashville brides discover the deals that are available at the Goodwill Gala and how to navigate this incredibly unique event.
Ashley and Grant
Wedding Date ~ October 7, 2012
Guests ~ 85
Budget ~ $3 to 5K
Ashley wasn’t sure if she would find her dress there but definitely thought it was worth checking out.
She’d tried on a few gowns at David’s Bridal and found a few styles that she liked and also determined the size that she wore in bridal gowns. What she didn’t know was that what she learned at David’s Bridal would help her for the shopping adventure of a lifetime.
Ashley and her "true friend" camp out at the Goodwill Gala!
Ashley arrived at the Goodwill Gala at 11pm with one of her girlfriends, who she calls "a true friend." They camped out, sleeping on the sidewalk until two more friends joined them at 5am. Ashley’s then fiancé, Grant, brought Ashley and her faithful crew coffee and donuts and the girls turned the campout into their own little party.
The doors opened – at 6am sharp.
And the madness ensued! It was hectic and fun. There were people grabbing everything and she was so happy that she’d enlisted her friends for help. Ashley and her friends grabbed every gown they could, within her size and created a human fitting room to cover her as she tried on gowns. Her girls pulled dress after dress over her head. Luckily, she was prepared, only wearing a body suit, which made it easy for things to fit over her without being completely…naked... in the middle of the store! The scene was insane.
Then she found it…
There was no mirror in this human dressing room but the moment she put it on, It felt right. Then she saw the look on her friends’ faces, which said it all. As she walked to find a mirror, strangers complimented her on the dress even asking if they could have it if she decided against it. But that wouldn’t happen because when she saw it, she was 100% certain that it was the right dress.
Arriving at the gala, Ashley didn’t really have a budget for her dress. No gala gown is priced over $400 but she wasn’t sure she would like anything she saw at the Gala. But she did! She found the perfect dress. It was clean. It didn’t need to be altered. She did decide to turn to a seamstress friend to reinforce a few seams but other than that, it was the deal of a lifetime.
…she paid only $139 for her dress at the Goodwill Gala!
Wedding Vendors
Dress I Goodwill Gala
Photographer I Nathan Morgan - Website & Facebook
Venue | Montgomery Bell State Park
Ashley’s big day
Ashley and Grant’s goal was to have a simple, casual wedding with personal touches; they were also determined to stick to a budget ranging from $3000-5000.
Along with 85 guests, Ashley and Grant got married on October 7 at Montgomery Bell State Park. She kept it simple by having her ceremony at their chapel, with its cute stained glass windows and then proceeded to their lake side pavilion for their sunset reception.
She splurged some…
Sticking to her budget was important but she also wanted to make sure her guests had a great time and ate well. Even with her modest budget, Ashley was able to serve her guests a full buffet dinner, thanks for the affordability of catering at Montgomery Bell State Park.
... and saved some
Buying her dress at a fraction of the cost at the Goodwill Gala wasn’t the only way Ashley saved. She also bought much of her wedding décor from Goodwill, including blue glass bottles that she collected over several months. She also made her own wedding signs and display boards. She found her photographer online and thought he’d be way out of her price range. But, because he’d just moved to Nashville, he was willing to work with her and gave her a great deal. In fact, Ashley asserts that she loved working with Nathan, her photographer, and he and her dress find were the two things that she never doubted.
Ashley highly recommends that budget brides check out the 2013 Goodwill Gala. “I like saving money and it was an adventure that added to my wedding experience. Plus, I received many compliments on my dress and on our budget wedding. No one could believe the dress came from Goodwill for $139!"
You never know what you will find at the Goodwill Gala. This year's takes place on Saturday, March 16 so mark your calendar and prepare to save!
About the Author:
Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide
Hey - I'm Ashley! I started AshleysBrideGuide.com to give Nashville brides, or folks planning a Nashville wedding, a local resource for inspiration and resources. Hope to see you at a bridal show soon! Happy Planning.
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Posted on January 11, 2013 |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Contests, Giveaways, Specials, DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Real Nashville Weddings
