Weddingbee Blog

On and off for the past 5 years, I have sold on e-bay as a second source of income. Besides selling for other people, I also scoured garage sales, estate sales, and flea markets for the perfect finds. The items need to be 1) cheaper than I would sell it for, 2) Light enough to conveniently ship, and 3) of my own personal taste in case I got stuck with it. Also, to ensure I spent my time and gas wisely, I put a lot of thought into deciding which sales I would be visiting.

For the past 6 months, I haven’t really gone out because I’ve been so busy, but I decided to try my luck this weekend in hopes of finding decor for our wedding. The budget has been dwindling and I needed to start getting more creative. And hive- I wish I had started sooner. Because I found so much great stuff at “Just what I need” prices.

Take a look at my weekend wedding finds. All were found at local garage sales and the grand total for everything came out to under $20. After the last picture, I’ve listed some advice on how to get the most out of garage sales for your own wedding finds.
Leonard Silver Plate Champagne Cooler: $10; Will be used for 1 of centerpieces

Wood Crate with handle: 75 cents; Potential Program Holder

Glass Fish Bowl: 50 cents; Perhaps candy dish

Shabby Chic Candle holders: Two for $1

Ok- so this isn’t really for our wedding, but this will be our future kitchen phone (for our future home), and I love it! Oh- and it was a whopping $2

As for the tips? Here are the method I’ve come to rely on.

• To find Garage and Estate Sales: I check Craigslist, Pennysaver, and my local paper
• I then cross reference all 3 to find which surrounding cities are having the most sales, and on which days (Friday mornings have less crowds and a longer potential buying window, but Saturdays offer more options)
• After I pick which sales I’m going to (based on the given description, date, and area), I map out my route using Mapquest. (Any map service is fine) Mapping out my route may seem a little obsessive, but it honestly insures I use the least amount of gas possible and that I don’t miss any of my stops
• The morning of the sale, I dress comfortably and in layers. Mornings in So Cal can go from cool to sweltering in a flash. Mr. Espresso jokes that I dress like a celebrity trying to avoid the paparazzi: big dark glasses (no make-up) a workout cap (bed hair) and I’m always carrying a cup of coffee (well… I’m Miss Espresso, what else would I be holding- orange juice?)
• Also make sure you have all your money on hand, and in cash. I carry a large coin purse full of mostly quarters, dimes, and dollar bills
• If you’re looking for something with specific dimensions, I also highly recommend that you bring a measuring tape and paper and pen.

Good luck!  What have been your best garage sale finds?