Thrifty Threads: Wedding Edition

Welcome to Thrifty Threads, AKA Most Stylish Compact-y outfit, where readers model their favorite secondhand clothes.

A Compact-y outfit is used or recycled, from Goodwill, a thrift store, a consignment shop, ebay, craigslist, a yard sale, or anywhere else you find secondhand clothing.

Today's model is Melanie, with this beautiful photo of her wedding dress from her wedding last December in New Zealand. Not only is it lovely, it's about as Compact-y as you can get, because it's both thrifted and handmade. The fabric is a secondhand Broderie anglais duvet cover and net curtains. The total fabric cost was NZ$60 and she paid NZ$180 to have it made, for a total of NZ$240. That's just $160 in US dollars! Amazing. Just the sort of creativity, resourcefulness, and ingenuity we love on Thrifty Threads.

Melanie and her husband Anu had a lovely frugal wedding, recycling wherever possible, and with 50 guests their total cost was about $2100. She says it was the most wonderful day of her life, there was no stress, and it was just perfect! A New Zealand magazine is even doing a story about their "recycled wedding." There was no charge for the photos because her sister-in-law was the official wedding photographer.

I think one of my favorite things about this wedding is that the groom is barefoot! It must be my hippie roots: every one of the weddings I loved as a kid back in the 1970s was outdoors.

What a stunning photo of her father walking her down the "aisle."

Melanie is a full time student of Naturopathy and herbal medicine in New Zealand. Her blog Lavender Loveliness shows the things she makes out of old items to save the environment and save money, for example a cushion cover made out of an old jersey and a t-shirt, herbs and their medicinal uses, and lots of baking. I can't wait to try some of her recipes, the only problem is deciding which one to try first. Will it be chocolate peanut butter delectables or peanut butter chocolate crunch? She even makes her own peanut butter! And bagels! Today's post includes photos of an absolutely beautiful "Hummingbird Cake" she has baked for their flatmate. I think Melanie is my new idol!

And one more photo of Melanie, just because it's so gorgeous...

Thanks Melanie for those fabulous photographs! Your wedding looks perfect, and the dress is lovely. And what an inspiration that it was all done for a fraction of the cost of the average wedding.

Readers, it's your turn. I always need more photos, so put on your favorite secondhand outfit, snap a photo, and send it to me at barton.angela@gmail.com. We all want to see your thrift store scores! Please leave your thrifting tips and compliments for Melanie in the Comments section. And click here to check out previous installments of Thrifty Threads.