Handy Dandy Thrift Store Tips

Handy Dandy Thrift Store Tips

October 15th, 2009 @ 4:56 pm by Miss Lamb

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”

Hostess

Jessie516 (message) 4,073 posts, Honey bee

What a great collection AND great price!

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

Bee

Miss Moonbeam (message) 1,336 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) 317 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) 1,028 posts, Bumble 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) 496 posts, Helper 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) 67 posts, Worker 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) 1,368 posts, Bumble 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) 3,378 posts, Sugar bee

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) 234 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.

Member

ColorCoated (message) 951 posts, Busy bee

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

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

12.

Member

KMSull (message) 3,027 posts, Sugar bee

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

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

13.

Member

alishaneva (message) 1,532 posts, Bumble 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.

Member

bexyk1010 (message) 73 posts, Worker 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) 3,020 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) 2,681 posts, Sugar bee

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) 705 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) 1,295 posts, Bumble 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) 328 posts, Helper 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)

21.

Member

The.mrs.2010 (message) 67 posts, Worker bee

The pieces look great. How did you find so many matching pieces. The throft stores I frequent always have mixed matched items

10/16/09 @ 10:17 am (reply)

22.

Guest

Boudoir Photographer

Obsessed with that tablecloth! Thanks for sharing!

10/16/09 @ 11:01 am (reply)

23.

Member

fiftyfootbride (message) 3,819 posts, Honey bee

Thanks for the tips! I’ve never actually been thrift-store shopping. I have always wanted to go. I’ve only been on the donating-end of it. (Like, me donating stuff).

10/16/09 @ 11:21 am (reply)

24.

Bee

Mrs. Champagne (message) 1,068 posts, Bumble bee

I totally need to tap into this resource. Thanks for the inspiration!

10/16/09 @ 11:32 am (reply)

25.

Bee

Miss Lamb (message) 488 posts, Helper bee

@vintage2010: The saucers are actually for another project! We’re renting our china
@Gator: Church Yard Sales are a great resource for fun finds too! I got a lot of fabric for my pomanders!
@alishaneva: great tip!@bexyk1010: Fun! Good luck!

10/16/09 @ 11:37 am (reply)

26.