How to Survive a Recession Wedding

presents

How to Survive a Recession Wedding

by Laura

Alastair and I had been dating for about 18 months when he proposed to me on a quiet side street in the quaint seaside French town of Honfleur.  And with a date set for 21 May 2011 the wedding planning commenced almost immediately.  It became very clear, very quickly just how expensive a wedding can be.  We knew we didn’t want to take out a loan.  So after some brainstorming about how to pay for the wedding The iDo Project was born!  My family and friends and I have been busy knitting iPhone cases.  We designed and produced all the packaging ourselves.  Inside each knitted case is a little note indicating who knit the case along with a personal tidbit about them.  Our goal is to knit and sell 400 cases, at £10 each, to make a profit of £3,500.

The biggest thing I’ve learned was how supportive my family, friends and colleagues have been; whether they’re knitting, or buying or selling or helping with the launch party (yes! we had a launch party at my office).  My friend Claire is a photographer and she took the photos shown in this post plus lots more, to help us promote the project.  I was really worried people would feel obligated to help, but everyone has been eager to help.  And that would be my biggest advice to anyone who had a similar idea – don’t feel that you are burdening your friends and family, because people will rally around you!

So far we have sold around 100 cases. Cases are currently being sold via Facebook, through face-to-face connections, through Etsy, and through a shop in London called Fabrications. Try one for yourself!

About the Blogger

Laura will be marrying Alastair in Canada on 21 May 2011.  A Canadian, she moved to the UK in 2007 with work where she met Alastair’s sister who introduced them.  She has a big family and solid friends who have helped her create The iDo Project, a temporary project to raise money for the upcoming nuptials.  She loves shopping and knitting and works as a consultant and project manager at Pulse Brands in London, UK. Big Fat Cake Founder, Christine, blogged about her iPhone case last week.