| Brides on a budget do not necessarily want to go | | | | and ends that can really save up. |
| for the "Cheap Look." Instead of being cheap, | | | | 10. Be creative. Even if you think you don't have |
| think of yourself as conservative. Elegance can | | | | a creative bone in your body, you really do or |
| come from the simplest of things. The following | | | | you know someone who is. People LOVE to be |
| are some tips to help you keep within your | | | | asked to help with your wedding!!! |
| wedding budget. | | | | 11. If you haven't heard it before, you're going to |
| 1. Start planning WAY in advance. The more time | | | | hear it now.... stay away from everything marked |
| you have to plan, the more bargains you can find. | | | | "Bridal" or "Wedding." It's time to think outside of |
| 2. Decide what you absolutely need for your | | | | the box, as they say. I only had $5,500 to spend |
| wedding. I skipped (among other things) the | | | | on my wedding, some of us have less than that, |
| wedding favors, a slip, and the limo. They were | | | | so when you're looking to save money, start by |
| not missed at all. | | | | looking in what the bridal industry would call all the |
| 3. Don't impulse buy unless you will absolutely die | | | | WRONG places... |
| without it. You can usually find it elsewhere for | | | | 12. Instead of buying my wedding cake topper at |
| less if you keep looking. | | | | a bridal shop, I bought it at It cost me $20. And |
| 4. If you impulse buy, keep the receipt in case | | | | now that my wedding is over, it makes a nice |
| you change your mind. | | | | knicknack for my dresser in my bedroom. |
| 5. Brides ALWAYS change their minds (it's a | | | | 13. Buy silk flowers and do your own. Flowers |
| bride's prerogative.) | | | | cost a fortune, and they last one day. This |
| 6. Use wedding internet message boards either | | | | worked out great for me because I have allergies |
| locally or globally to find that perfect something | | | | and didn't want real anyways. I got my silk |
| (example, asking where to find inexpensive | | | | flowers at And I was able to buy them in the |
| candles will usually prompt about 20 brides to tell | | | | color I wanted since they are fake! Or if you |
| you their favorite internet sites and how they got | | | | want to go simple, just do a single rose for each |
| the bargain.) | | | | of your bridesmaids and just do a few for |
| 7. Borrow things from friends or family who | | | | yourself. No need to get fancy here. Simple can |
| recently had a wedding. | | | | be very elegant. |
| 8. Shop after-Christmas, after-New Years or | | | | 14. If you're going to buy a wedding related book, |
| after-Easter sales. You can find great bargains on | | | | buy this one (and no, I'm not a paid endorsement, |
| jewelry, shoes, flower girl dresses, bridesmaids | | | | just a satisfied bride) Bridal Bargains. This book is |
| dresses, flowers and decorations. | | | | indispensable. Don't even bother getting anything |
| 9. Don't be afraid of Ebay. It can be your friend. I | | | | else. Trust me, I've tried the rest and this one's |
| found my tiara on e-bay for $12, my veil for $40 | | | | the best. And they offer a money back |
| (I could have gone for less but didn't want to), | | | | guarantee - not many wedding related items |
| my shoes for $19, my wedding flowers and | | | | offer that! |
| petals, my garter, my purse, and various odds | | | | |