Handy Dandy Thrift Store Tips

Handy Dandy Thrift Store Tips

October 15th, 2009 @ 4:56 pm by Mrs. Lamb
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Just get out your handy dandy notebook (anybody else nanny or babysit and OD on Blue’s Clues?), and your jumbo pencil, then lean real close and I’ll let you in on my centerpiece secrets.

spspsphspshspshpsspsh…

Hahahaha, I wanted to do a fake out whisper until you leaned closer, but I don’t think it’s translating in type. Riiiight.

Anydandy, I’ve pulled together the majority of the glassware that we will be using for centerpieces. Here are all the pieces that I’ve collected so far:

Cool huh? I’ve collected most of it from various thrift stores in the area.

The larger candle holders in the back are from Home Goods and averaged $7.00 each. The total for everything I have on the table is a whopping $160. I’m proud of how much I’ve bought for so little, but I’ve also learned some lessons the hard way. Feel free to either repeat or learn from my mistakes - whichever way you learn best.

Visit several thrift stores regularly - choose 3-4 that are on your grocery store or bank circuit and then drop in whenever you’re running errands. This way you’ll be seeing good items as they come in.
If you think the price is too high, come back next week. At the CHKD Thrift Stores in the Hampton Roads area, they keep marking down the prices each week.
If you or your fiance or one of your parents is military, see if they give military discounts. The Goodwill Family Store on Virginia Beach Blvd. gives 25% off to military members on Tuesdays.
Bring a box or bags and newspaper with you - sometimes if you’re buying a large number of glass items, they have limited supplies of packing supplies.

If you haven’t tried thrift store shopping, just be prepared that you’ll have to sort through things. You will get an eclectic assortment - which is just the look we’re going for, but if you’re going for matchy-matchy, it might not be the place for you. Also, don’t be disappointed if, every once in a while, you come up empty. We all strike out on occasion. Then again, we all strike gold on occasion. See my two cake plates up front? $3.99 each! Booyah Target, booyah!

Are you thrifting for any wedding related items?

Tags: decor, reception |

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27 Responses to “Handy Dandy Thrift Store Tips”

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Hostess

Jessie516 (message) 5,480 posts, Bee Keeper

What a great collection AND great price!

10/15/09 @ 5:09 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Moonbeam (message) 1,732 posts, Bumble bee

Ooh, nice stuff. I’ve got to look for a few things.

10/15/09 @ 5:14 pm (reply)

Member

Miss_Carmel (message) 316 posts, Helper bee

I love me some thrift stores, it’s like treasure hunting!! Great post!

10/15/09 @ 5:34 pm (reply)

Member

vintage2010 (message) 2,257 posts, Buzzing bee

How many guests are you having? How many plates have you collected thus far and how long have you been collecting?
Just curious to see if this is something I can accomplish

10/15/09 @ 5:40 pm (reply)

Member

Gator (message) 607 posts, Busy bee

Great advice! I hit up a local church’s community rummage sale and scored huge! My friends dropped the “engage” word and we rolled with it. We ended up getting glasses for 10cents each and some free plates!
People (old women in specific) are suckers for a newly engaged girl on a budget

10/15/09 @ 5:43 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Hot Dog (message) 317 posts, Helper bee

I do all of those things on a regular basis! LOL I visit 3 thrift shops about 2-3 times a week. It’s an addiction, I tell you…

10/15/09 @ 6:32 pm (reply)

Member

pmerr (message) 2,518 posts, Sugar bee

I love thrift store and dollar store finds! Haha I
Grew up with blues clues!

10/15/09 @ 6:51 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Mouse (message) 5,844 posts, Bee Keeper

Great finds! I love thrift store shopping. I got very familiar with Goodwill and flea markets during my wedding planning.

10/15/09 @ 7:19 pm (reply)

Member

nhlchick4 (message) 258 posts, Helper bee

Great tips and way to go on finding your collections!

10/15/09 @ 7:57 pm (reply)

10.

Guest

summer

hi, lamby-kins. see, i really love wedding bee. i really love reading about your wedding-to-be. i really love reading about you and what makes you tick. i really love creative word choices. and i hope this isn’t too personal or offensive…but the word is *anyway*. not anydandy, anyfodder, anyblankie, anychair, anyetc. for whatever reason, i can’t bring myself to read your posts because i know they will contain bits of this anybizniss that i, for the love of words, just can’t stomach. please keep writing any*way*.
yours,
summer

10/15/09 @ 9:08 pm (reply)

11.

Bee

Miss Giraffe (message) 4,216 posts, Honey bee

Lamb, you’re awesome
I need to start thrifting for sure!

10/15/09 @ 9:29 pm (reply)

12.

Member

KMSull (message) 6,442 posts, Bee Keeper

They look great! I’m so impressed; great thrift shopping.

10/15/09 @ 9:50 pm (reply)

13.

Member

alishaneva (message) 2,152 posts, Buzzing bee

See this girl? The one to the left of this comment? She freakin loves thrift stores and is TOTALLY planning on doing some thrift store wedding shopping. That said - you have some great tips … and I’d add - check and see if the thrift stores you like have any “special” days … the salvation army in Lancaster has daily specials - different colored tags are half off. And Wednesday - EVERYTHING but a certain colored tag are half off. Pretty sweet, right?

10/15/09 @ 10:16 pm (reply)

14.

Bee

Miss Thimble (message) 797 posts, Busy bee

My folks and I (well, just my folks because I live out of town) have been thrift shopping for different patterns of china for the reception place settings. They go to a few different stores in our home town every so often, and they’ve got the ladies at the shops so keen on the idea that they call us when they get a new set in stock! It’s taking a while to collect them, but it’ll be worth it, and we’ve got time (26 month long engagement).

10/15/09 @ 10:51 pm (reply)

15.

Bee

Miss Poodle (message) 3,387 posts, Sugar bee

Awesome finds!! I love thrift stores too, I was bummed I couldn’t buy anything “size & weight” friendly in Chile but Im looking forward to search around in CA

10/16/09 @ 1:03 am (reply)

16.

Member

tea (message) 7,263 posts, Bee Keeper

those are some great finds! i don’t always have the patience for digging through stuff so i miss out on some good deals.

10/16/09 @ 1:47 am (reply)

17.

Bee

Mrs. Green Tea (message) 764 posts, Busy bee

thrift stores are too chaotic for me, but i totally envy those who has the patience to dig for the gold coz not only do you find great deals but they also seem to have what you can’t find in stores! nice finds, wish you were in my area so i could tag along!

10/16/09 @ 3:34 am (reply)

18.

Guest

Lisa

All I wanted to thrift was a few picture frames for a family photo display. . . I was prepared to spray paint and everything. After hitting all the thrift stores in my area, I came up with NADA! So much for a great idea. . . I’ve already bought them all new and will hopefully be selling them in the classifieds soon!

10/16/09 @ 8:31 am (reply)

19.

Bee

Mrs. Star (message) 2,057 posts, Buzzing bee

I loved thrifting my candlesticks, too. Such an adventure. I’m glad you’re having fun doing the same thing! Anystar, at least I know someone else is as crazy with their wedding as I am!

10/16/09 @ 8:32 am (reply)

20.

Bee

Ms Potato Chips (message) 1,193 posts, Bumble bee

I’ve never been thrift-store shopping but I should try. I’m a bad shopper in general, not good with rummaging and finding gems among the rubble. It looks like you did very well for yourself (and I love your word play and anywhoosies, girl!).

10/16/09 @ 9:44 am (reply)

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