Wedding Gowns & Bridal Fashion

The organization and planning of the whole wedding ceremony is an exhausting task for any bride. Have all right to have the regalia ready for hunting and affordable wedding gowns, shoes and accessories matching the reserve venue and completion of the menu is enough to leave anyone out of breath fairly. In addition, all these things cost a lot of money and if they are not careful about their spending, which can go haywire and even land in debt. But it is not absolutely necessary that you have to spend a bomb to make your wedding beautiful and elegant. After all, a wedding is the union of two souls and that has to do with emotion and very little about money. If you keep within a budget and spend wisely, you can still have a wonderful wedding their expenses without going through the roof. Here are tips on how you can make your wedding an unforgettable affair in a small budget: Set your budget first, plan your budget and stay within it. Small changes in the budget are acceptable but don? T make too many dramatic changes. Start planning your spending enough time at hand so you can choose their purchases carefully to keep within budget. Start early Start shopping early to take advantage of various offers, settlement offers and discounts are often available in the off season. But make sure you buy good quality but affordable to the themes of his regalia, as her wedding dress, matching shoes, accessories, etc. and not just buy cheap. There is no need to hire wedding planners You don? T need to hire any plan or wedding coordinator. Instead of involving his family and friends at their wedding arrangements. They would be more than happy to assist in the preparations. You will be surprised to see how his young cousins come with creative ideas to make your wedding wonderful. Cree their invitation cards to spend a bomb on an invitation card is useless because nobody cares to maintain or preserve at the end of the day. Therefore, make their own invitations and not having to make some professionals. Take a look at the network in some elegant designs, take your printing and bravo to be ready with their invitation cards. I like balloons more flowers bouquets of flowers are expensive, especially during the wedding season. Instead use balloon bouquets that are less costly and make the venue as decorative and attractive as the flowers. Decorate the place with colorful balloons and see how the whole atmosphere becomes festive. Use candles as a centerpiece Instead of putting an elaborate bouquets of flowers in table centerpiece, place candles especially if you’re having the wedding ceremony in the evening. Not only candles illuminate the entire place in a beautiful soft glow, but also make the place seem inviting. You can choose long candles or floating candles. Get disposable cameras rather than hire a professional photographer, buy disposable cameras and put them on the tables. Get some responsible friend or relative to take snaps of their wedding. Let the smallest clicking some too. Children can also reach great looking images. Choose style buffet five course seated dinner is expensive. So we decided to have a buffet. It doesn? T matter much if the waiter was serving food to customers or clients are serving themselves. At the end of the day what matters is that food should be delicious. Food is served in buffet appetizing and costs less. Keep it simple cocktails as well. Order the local bakery cake Order the wedding cake from a local bakery. There is no need to address some very expensive baker to create an attractive cake for you. Shops local bakery can do a wonderful job of making beautiful cakes and charge reasonable prices. Shop online wedding dresses To find a wedding dress of your dreams, check the online stores. Shopping online stock an amazing collection of wedding dresses at affordable prices ranging from tea-length, empire style, prices of clothing and style more. There is no shortage of variety on the Internet. All you have to do is spend some time in investigating the network and control of affordable, yet elegant wedding dresses online. Shop online accessories Like wedding dress, it’s best to go shopping for accessories such as unity candle, ring bearer’s pillow, toasting glasses, and girls basket of flowers on the Internet. The benefit of buying online is that you can compare the different issues in different website sitting comfortably at home. Create your veils and headpiece Use your creativity to make their own veils and headpiece. Headpieces veils and are very easy to do. Just pick up some boats bridal book and put your creativity to good use. This way you can save a little. Giving favors losing a boyfriend and girlfriend generally favors giving all guests for gracing the occasion with his presence. But if you want to save costs, then there is no harm in jumping favors. Your guests won? T mind not obtain favors. After all, family and friends are there simply to enjoy the occasion.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fashion-articles/how-to-have-a-wonderful-wedding-on-an-affordable-budget-508319.html

Options like charity stores, websites and sample dresses mean style does not have to be compromised on the big day. You may only wear it once but for some women their wedding dress will be the dearest item of clothing they ever buy. Trying to establish the cost of a wedding dress is like measuring the proverbial piece of string.

While every bride-to-be wants to look her best, style does not have to cost the earth and a number of options are available to brides looking to buy a more reasonably priced dress.

A number of charities run wedding shops, but don’t be put off by memories of shabby charity shops from days gone by. As part of a wider shift towards mainstream retailing, charities offer a competitive alternative to high-street wedding boutiques and also donating a little money to a good cause can serve as a nice antidote to wedding excesses.

Barnardos Brand New Bridal offers brides-to-be new and designer wedding dresses at a fraction of the original cost. The gowns are donated by retailers, with a full range of sizes and styles available.

The bridal store, which launched three years ago, is located upstairs at the Barnardos shop in Dun Laoghaire.

Prices at the Barnados bridal store range from €150 to about €900, with most dresses retailing for about one third of their standard price. The store also stocks veils, bridal shoes and dresses for bridesmaids, with these less ornate dresses costing about €150 on average. Due to the popularity of Barnados Dublin bridal shop, the charity is opening a new bridal outlet in Carlow later this month.

At the end of June, Oxfam launched its new bridal website to raise awareness of its dedicated bridal boutique, which is on the second floor of the charity’s George’s Street shop in Dublin.

A large chunk of the wedding dresses sold in the shop are new, donated by wedding retailers and designers. According to figures from Oxfam up to 95 per cent of the stock is new, while the remainder is donated by brides after their wedding day. The average price of a dress in Oxfam’s bridal store is between €200 and €400, but dresses on its discount rail can sell for as little as €70.

Both Oxfam and Barnados require bargain hunters to make an appointment to view their bridal range.

Another option for brides on a budget is to purchase their dress online. One Dublin bride ordered a dress by popular Spanish designer Pronovias from an American bridal website for €750, which includes the cost of postage and packaging.

Prior to ordering the dress, she tried it on in an Irish bridal shop, where the exact same dress retailed for €1,850. If you opt for a high-street bridal boutique, you can expect to pay more for your dress.

Irish bridal designer Kathy de Stafford runs three stores nationwide, one in Dublin city centre, one in Nenagh in Tipperary and a couture store in Howth in Dublin. In the city centre store and the Nenagh outlet, sample dresses - ones that have been on the rail in the shop for potential buyers to try on - retail for about €700.

The cost of a standard dress starts from about €1,400, with some brides paying up to €5,200 for one of De Stafford’s own designs.

Prices start from €299 at Marian Gale’s bridal boutique in Donnybrook, Dublin. Dresses in this price range are ‘off the peg’ options and prices increase up to €2,900 for more elaborate and bespoke pieces.

One of the newer additions to the Irish bridal scene, Amore Bridalwear in Youghal in Cork, opened its doors earlier this year. Its dresses range in price from €1,100 up to €2,700, with the average spend by a bride typically being about €1,600.

De Stafford’s couture option in Howth stocks high-end fashion brands, such as Valentino, with pr ices ranging from €2,000 for lesser-known designers up to €11,000 or so for dresses by well-known designer labels.

And it’s not just the dresses that make a dent in your bank account. The groom’s suit, although less discussed, can also be a rather costly purchase. Another option for the groom is to rent a suit or tuxedo for the day.

Menswear store Black Tie offers both rental and retail options. A three-piece suit costs between €105 and €125 to rent, depending on the style of jacket chosen. If you opt for a tuxedo on your wedding day, you will pay between €97.40 and €117.40 to rent one, while purchasing a new tuxedo from Black Tie costs between €295 and €495.

The store also sells on its rental suits, which retail for between €300 and €450.

Case study 1: ‘Overseas wedding still pricey’

1. When did you get engaged?
At the end of April in New York

2. When are you getting married?
Late September next year.

3. Have you picked a venue yet?
Yes, but it is not confirmed yet. It is overseas, so we are meeting them next weekend.

4. How many guests do you intend to have at your wedding?
About 150.

5. Are wedding venues cheaper, dearer or as you expected in terms of cost?
There is no charge for our venue, but the meal is expensive. As it is overseas, some aspects are more expensive than here, while others are cheaper. It all seems to balance out in the end, though.

6. What’s your budget for your wedding dress?
About €5,000.

7. What will be the biggest expense of your wedding?
Rooms and flights for our families.

8. Are there any costs that you are prepared to cut?
We are willing to have a lower-key honeymoon to facilitate a good weekend for our wedding.
We won’t bother with elaborate cars and might see about making the favours. Also, we will try and use contacts to get a good deal on stationery and things like that.

9. What tips would you offer to other couples looking to shave a little off the cost of their wedding?
Invite fewer guests!

10. What’s the total budget for your wedding?
About €75,000.

Case study 2: ‘Don’t be afraid to bargain’

1. When did you get engaged?
March of this year.

2. When are you getting married?
August 2010.

3. Have you picked a venue yet? If so, where?
Barberstown Castle, Straffan, Co. Kildare.

4. How many guests do you intend to have at your wedding?
About 120.

5. Are wedding venues cheaper, dearer or as you expected in terms of cost?
Some venues charge for room hire which I think is a bit much given how much you will pay for food and drinks on the day. Our venue charges just for the food and drinks. Of course the room cost is obviously built into the price but compared to other venues that did charge for hire, our venue’s prices are the same and in some cases cheaper.

6. What’s your budget for your wedding dress?
I haven’t started to look at wedding dresses properly at this stage. For now I am mentally budgeting between €2,500 and €5,000.

7. What will be the biggest expense of your wedding?
The biggest expense by far will be the venue in terms of food and drink. It will be worth every penny, though, as we love our venue.

8. Are there any costs that you are prepared to cut?
Not really. We are having what we consider to be a fairly straightforward wedding with minimal fuss.

9. What tips would you offer to other couples looking to shave a little off the cost of their wedding?
The biggest lesson I have learned so far is: don’t be afraid to ask! As we are getting married in two years’ time, any of the suppliers we have spoken to that we are interested in working with have agreed to give us the current prices. If a supplier isn’t able to do this but we really want to use them then we ask for more value for our money.
Make invitations yourself or buy online, make mass booklets yourself or do a flower arrangement course and buy flowers from the flower market and make arrangements yourself. If someone in the family or a friend is a dab-hand with flowers, you could ask them to help with the flowers or suggest it as a wedding gift.

10. What’s the total budget for your wedding?
Hoping to get the whole thing done for about €25,000 but I think it may end up closer to €30,000.The honeymoon will be separate!

Case study 3: ‘Make your own invitations’

1. When did you get engaged?
Christmas 2007 – a very happy day!

2. When are you getting married?
Summer 2009.

3. Have you picked a venue yet? If so, where?
Yes. Carton House in Maynooth.

4. How many guests do you intend to have at your wedding?
160.

5. Are wedding venues cheaper, dearer or as you expected in terms of cost?
Far more expensive, with minimum numbers that make it very expensive. We have to pay for 160,whether the numbers actually show or not.

6. What is your budget for your wedding dress?
€4,000

7. What will be the biggest expense of your wedding?
The venue and the wedding dress and suit.

8. Are there any costs that you are prepared to cut?
Yes. We want simple invitations and no little tokens on the tables.

9. What tips would you offer to other couples looking to shave a little off the cost of their wedding?
Make your own invitations, have only one witness each, get a skilled friend to do your make-up and shop around for a band. There are too many sub-standard, over-priced chancers out there. There is no reason to pay more than €2,000 for a band.

10. What’s the total budget for your wedding?
I suppose about €35,000.

The first of its kind in Los Angeles, Encore Bridal LLC is giving brides options when searching for the dress of their dreams. Savvy brides can now find the most elegant wedding dresses and bridal accessories within their reach at Encore Bridal’s upscale resale and consignment bridal e-Boutique, www.encorebridal.com. New, Sample, and Nearly-New couture wedding dresses from today’s most sought-after designers — such as Monique Lhuillier, Vera Wang, Anne Barge, and Rivini — are all discounted at 30-60% off retail price. To ensure “walk-down-the-aisle” condition, each gown is professionally cleaned and thoroughly inspected before being showcased in Encore Bridal’s online boutique.

“I didn’t want brides to have to sacrifice design, quality, and service for price,” says owner Julie Jones, “and I felt brides should have socially conscious options when planning for their wedding day.” Recycled wedding gowns, veils and headpieces are changing the color of weddings from white to green. Encore Bridal is a haven for women who care about the environment and women’s issues. In addition to being a sustainable business, a portion of the profit from every sale is donated to non-profit organizations supporting cervical cancer research and education. This is something that is very personal for Miss Jones, who was recently affected by cervical cancer.

With Encore Bridal, brides-to-be can save time, sanity, and gas by purchasing their wedding gown in the comfort of their own home. A generous 7-day return policy eliminates stress if the dream dress turns out not to be so dreamy once tried on. Brides living in Southern California also have the option of viewing Encore Bridal’s off-the-rack wedding gowns at bimonthly trunk shows or during private styling appointments.

Newlyweds from all over the country are invited to continue the tradition of giving by consigning their couture gowns and bridal accessories with Encore Bridal. When the wedding ends the magic doesn’t have to. Recent Brides receive top dollar for their gowns if they are no more than 3 years old (there are exceptions for classic styles), originally retailed for over $1800, and are in pristine condition. Women are passing on the love and in exchange are purchasing their favorite handbag or diamond earrings as a daily reminder of their wedding day.

For more information: Log onto www.encorebridal.com

Are you getting married and you do not have a wedding dress? Maybe you do not have the money to afford buying a new expensive dress that you have dreamed about all your life. But you know you in the back of your mind you should look for a cheaper inexpensive dress to fit your budget, but this does not seem to appealing to you. There are many ways to find a dress to fit your needs of being a beautiful bride.

A cheap wedding dress may not be romantic but a thrifty bride can really harvest the benefits of smart bridal dress shopping. There are many affordable options for bridal dresses that a little searching can uncover. Some of the options are very obvious; wear an ancestor’s bridal gown, or a hand me down dress this would save money.

The quality older dresses can be cleaned and restored with little money. The white simpler gowns are of timeless appeal, and fashion. If there are no dresses available in you family, you can still purchase a wedding dress from a consignment shop. With a few little stitches you can have a bridal gown for a lower investment.

The idea of wearing an used gown is not appealing too many new brides. You can find cheap wedding dresses in the newspaper and thrifty newspapers, you can also shop online. Cheap wedding dresses do not have to look inexpensive at all. In fact, you can find designer bridal dresses for a fraction of the retail price if you do a little homework.

Brian Ward author of information articles on wedding topics, and helpful articles for all people. Visit his website http://www.weddingdressmart.com

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Ward

Maybe you can’t afford a castle extravaganza, like Eva Longoria’s wedding. But you can look like a princess without blowing your bridal budget on a gown — after all, you only wear your dress once. “We’re seeing very nice quality dresses at very affordable prices,” says Millie Martini Bratten, the editor in chief of Brides magazine.

Saying “I do” to cheap chic is easier since Isaac Mizrahi introduced eight gowns at Target.com in May, including an homage to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s cowl-neck silk charmeuse column ($129.99), as well as a silk faille trapunto gown ($159.99). Other bridal bargains are JCPenney’s triple-bustle strapless gown ($200), J.Crew’s halter-neck Caroline dress in ivory silk tricotine ($295) and Ann Taylor’s Elizabeth strapless silk duchesse satin gown with 36 back buttons ($600).

Admittedly, you forsake handmade lace, imported Italian faille and custom beading — sometimes for polyester. But these frugal yet fabulous dress options are even more valued now that today’s average wedding costs $27,852, and the average honeymoon is $5,111, according to Conde Nast Bridal Group.

“As long as it looks good and fits well, why not pay less?” says John Mincarelli, a fashion merchandising professor at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. “You can spend the money on your honeymoon.” After all, happily ever after can’t be built on tulle — or debt.

Source: USAweekend.com

If you are a bride who is looking for the finest in couture wedding gowns, possibly one of the easiest methods of search would be to look online. Many of the discount bridal centers may not carry this gown with fine needlework, and flare that you so desire. This is not to say however, that you cannot find a high end, or gown of couture like design in the clearance stores it just means that the gowns may only be up for sale in off seasons.

If you are a bride who just happens to be getting married in the winter months, this could pan out as you could easily find a couture gown on clearance in the spring. Planning ahead for your wedding allows you the opportunity to shop for such a lavish and detailed gown, many times with lower cost to you. When you are shopping online for gowns, it pays to start relatively early as you may have the opportunity to find a wedding dress of your dreams and at a great price. This can happen often as designers and sales reps place the older gowns out in clearance to make way for the new stock coming in.

High-end gowns with fine needlework are not an everyday dress; these lovely high-class wedding gowns are for the bride that wants to show she is worth it. Looking online gives you the option to see many different designers, and what they have to offer in the way of classy handmade wedding gowns. Brides are the center of attention, for this very reason they seek a gown that will give them every opportunity to be just that. If you are looking for a wedding dress that is hand made and makes you feel like a million dollars, look no further than the elegant style and flare of a fine gown of couture design.

Source: Wedding Guide

Finding a beautiful yet affordable wedding dress can take time and effort. Many wedding gowns are too expensive for the average bride’s wedding budget. Here’s some tips to help you save money on your wedding dress.

Don’t buy from the bridal department. There is usually a surcharge for dresses in the bridal section of a store. Instead, go to the formal evening wear section or even the prom dress section. If you’ve got a lot of time before the wedding, look for sales at wedding salons. After the month of June, many bridal gowns go on sale. Also, check out sample or floor model gowns. Many of them still look fantastic. Some discontinued bridal dress models are very inexpensive compared to most other bridal gowns. And sadly some bridal gowns are paid for but not picked up. These can be bought at a low price.

Don’t forget that wedding veils are cheaper than wedding gowns. Spend more on a great veil while saving money on the gown. Ebay and the local newspaper are good places to find inexpensive gowns. Also, use Google search by searching these terms: “wedding dress +discount”, “wedding dress +cheap”, and “wedding dress +bargain”.

As you’re on the internet, search for wedding outlet stores. You may find a great deal at these internet bridal stores. Make sure to find out the manufacturer and style of the dress you�re interested in. Bridal outlet stores will ask for this information. Also, give them your measurements to see if they have a dress that will fit you. If you do buy a dress from a wedding outlet store, the dress will be sent in a box. However, a trip to the dry cleaners will make the dress look great.

Think about renting your wedding dress. The guys get to rent tuxedos, so why can’t you rent your bridal clothes? Renting will save you much money. You can expect a 90% discount on your bridal gown. This means you can wear a $1000 gown for $100!

Scout out the dresses at consignment shops or high fashion/couture wear second hand shops. You can find these shops at every major city. Ask your relatives and friends. They may have a dress you can borrow.Think about having your dress made. This is a great alternative if you want the elegant, sleek dress. Plus, designer dresses use the same silk found in fabric stores.

Finally, you can use these tips to find affordable dresses for your bridesmaids. Did you know that the wedding industry is a big money making business? In fact, most wedding products and services are priced higher than similar products and services.

Many people when they are getting married and having to pay for everything themselves are constantly looking for ways to shave down the cost of their impending wedding. One way to save a little is to shop for discount bridal shoes instead of going to a fancy designer store where you may pay over $500 for a pair of shoes you may only wear once.

Some people get a negative connation in their heads about discount bridal shoes and think that it means your shoes are going to look like you bought them at a thrift store or something. The term “discount” simply means that you are buying them at a reduced price; it has nothing to do with the quality of the shoes.

Many of the famous makers that you may be familiar with offer bridal shoes at a discount. Companies such as Macy’s, Nine West and Kate Spade are just a few of those that sell discounted wedding shoes. As mentioned above you need not feel as if you are wearing a pair of inferior shoes on you special day and shoes from these companies will be well above average quality while not making it look like you are trying to cut corners. Even some of the more popular designers such as Vera Wang and Jimmy Choo offer discount designer bridal shoes!

Each year most shoe designers introduce two lines of shoes for the seasons of Fall/Winter and then Spring/Summer. The reason they group their collections in this way is due to the fact that the shoes needed in the fall or very close to those of winter and similarly the same reason for the spring and summer combinations. With bridal shoes you can expect to see shoes that are more closed during the fall and winter so if your wedding is in the spring or summer and you want the shoes ahead of time you may have to buy the season before.

As far as the best places to shop, let’s look at the places not to shop instead. There are certain locales that are major wedding destinations and as such they are not apt to offer discounts but instead charge a surplus for their wedding related clothing and accessories. Places like Hawaii, The Bahamas, and Las Vegas are to be avoided when shopping so if you live in one of these areas do yourself a favor and buy from somewhere else. With the internet you can buy from anywhere in the world, just be sure they have a liberal and fair return policy incase your bridal shoes don’t fit properly and you need to return them.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about bridal shoes as well as women’s footwear at www.footwearforall.com

Source: Articlestoreprint.com

It’s shopping as a full-contact sport. And the women who take part in the “Running of the Brides” at Filene’s Basement in Chicago wouldn’t have it any other way.
The latest bargain stampede takes place Friday at the Filene’s Basement at One North State Street at 8 a.m. Many brides-to-be and their helpers literally pounce on dresses priced from $249-$699 that might otherwise cost as much as $9,000.

“We promise our vendors that we won’t reveal the labels, but I can say that these are well-known names featured regularly on the pages of popular brides’ magazines,” said Anna Podore, the Basement’s wedding gown buyer. Which is why, when the doors open, there is a mad dash to the racks — held up by store employees so they don’t topple — and those racks are usually stripped bare in under a minute. Then it’s time for the women to strip — down to leotards, sports bras or even underwear — to try on the gowns right on the sales floor.

If it doesn’t quite fit, a seamstress can do the trick, and the bride can still come out way ahead. But what happens if a petite bride found she pounced on a size 14 dress in pink chiffon instead of a size 4 in white satin? That’s when the real fun begins, as the women start bartering to find the right designer or size. It’s a ritual that turns Filene’s Basement into an old- fashioned bazaar.

Filene’s Basement will open early for the sale at 8:00am and close at 8:00pm. Checks, credit cards and cash are accepted. For more information go to http://www.filenesbasement.com.

Source: PRNewswire

National chains now offer budget bridal collections.

Here’s a surprise for you brides-to-be out there: Retailers such as Target, J. Crew and Lane Bryant are offering wedding lines.

We know what you’re thinking: “A bridal gown from Target? But what about my storybook wedding?!”

Catherine Lippincott, spokeswoman for Lane Bryant in New York City, says gowns offered at traditional stores can look just as stylish and chic as gowns from traditional bridal boutiques.
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And they’re often less expensive.

Worried about getting the right fit? Don’t, because chances are whether you order your dress from Target.com or a boutique, it will need alterations.

Weddings are a booming business in the United States. Last year about 2.5 million couples got married, with the average couple spending about $29,000. Of that, about 10 percent is usually spent on the bride’s gown, veil and accessories, a cost that trailed big-ticket items such as the reception, wedding consultant, rings and photography, according to the Association of Bridal Consultants.

The change also shows the shift in our culture. Today’s bride is hardly a traditional gal. She’s getting married later in life, sometimes twice. Often she’s paying for it with her fiance instead of her parents footing the bill. And more frequently, couples are planning destination weddings that call for more casual wedding apparel.

“Ever since we introduced the bridal collection, Lane Bryant receives rave reviews from customers about how much money they saved by finding a great dress,” Lippincott said. Lane Bryant offers bridal and mother-of-the-bride dresses, ranging in price from $149.50 to $350.50.

The line at Lane Bryant caters to plus-size brides. Like many chain store lines, it’s only available online.

“A size-16 bride deserves all of the same excitement on her wedding day as any of her size-6 friends, and Lane Bryant is dedicated to making that happen at a price she can afford,” Lippincott said.

Lippincott suggests brides order their dresses 8 to 12 weeks in advance, although in-stock dresses can be rushed in a few days. And, yes, dresses can be returned, but not directly to the store. They must be shipped back.

J. Crew started its bridal line back in February 2004, and it includes dresses for the entire wedding party. Heather Lynch McAuliffe, director of public relations for J. Crew, said the company began carrying wedding attire because they were receiving letters from women who were already using J. Crew’s dresses for their special day.

“We created a small capsule collection of sophisticated styles which are designed for anyone walking down the aisle,” McAuliffe said. “We work with some of the most exclusive and famous mills in the world and use the most beautiful and luxurious fabrications, which all of the most high profile designers use.”

The dresses all have J. Crew’s signature clean, crisp lines without heavy embellishments, such as big bows on the derriere or heavy lace trim and beading. The most expensive is a simple raffia embroidered linen gown for $2,450. The cheapest, at $228, is an embossed cotton strapless gown that’s actually designed with a beach wedding in mind.

The bridal line offered at Target.com is by New York-based fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi. It launched on May 5, and items range in price from $9.99 to $159.99, with attire for the entire wedding party available.

The company describes the dresses as “affordable luxury, incorporating sophisticated elegance with just the right touch of glamour into classic silhouettes.”

“My bridal gowns are all reinventions of the classics, providing an affordable alternative for women everywhere,” Mizrahi said in a Target news release.

Imagine how much money could be saved spending just $100 on a wedding dress. That cash could go toward the DJ service, food, honeymoon and more.

It’s almost too good to be true.

And maybe it is. Chances are, brides who desire custom-made elegance won’t be satisfied with “off-the-rack” attire.

Bill Lett has owned and operated Lett’s Bridal Shop in Lansing for 56 years. Lett doesn’t feel the department store lines will be much competition, since his business focuses on catering to the bride in every way for her special day.

“As long as you give customers a good buy, take care of them and treat them well, you’re going to have a good business,” Lett said. “Customers want people who are friendly and honest helping them.”

Sarah Seidl, who got married in East Lansing earlier this month, purchased her dress at the Wedding Bell in Okemos. She said shopping at a boutique was part of the whole wedding experience.

“For a big deal like your wedding, it’s worth it to get the dress that you really want, and not settle for something else,” Seidl said.

Seidl also said she received great service by opting for a bridal boutique.

“Every time I had a question at the Wedding Bell, they answered it, and I never had a problem,” she said.

Katie Love, owner of the Wedding Bell, agrees that excellent service is the key to success.

“As a locally owned bridal shop, the Wedding Bell is committed to providing service that you just can’t get from ordering out of a catalog or in the aisle at Target,” Love said. “We see most of our brides a dozen times before the wedding, answering questions, helping them with accessories, alterations and steaming.

“Your wedding and the planning of it is one of the most important and exciting times in your life,” she added. “Brides shouldn’t cheat themselves out of the experience of shopping for a gown, being pampered and making memories that will last for a lifetime.”

Source: Lansing State Journal

With so many over-the-top weddings, is there room for the budget-conscious bride?
Yes, says Vows, a spectacular day certainly doesn’t have to infer that a fortune has been spent. Just like fashion, real style doesn’t come from simply throwing lots of money around.

Take advantage instead of what you see at those ‘wow’ events and dazzle your family and friends in your own way and lest you forget, the most important part of your day is something money can’t buy. Your guests are there to see both of you unite, so make the ceremony meaningful.the cost of that. Priceless.

But first things first.
What’s your budget?

Before you make a single appointment or clip any photos from Vows, draw up a budget. This will keep you in control during the whirlwind planning process. It’s important to factor in a little extra for even the most budget-conscious bride spends a little bit more. Go over the budget by about 15%.

Tabletop décor Who doesn’t want a fabulous table like the ones above created by Laurel de Mercado? Upgrading all the china and silver will wipe out the budget - stocking up a year ahead from stores like Megamart or Azmart will afford you gorgeous, inexpensive, coloured glasses. Upgrade one thing, eg swap the boring white hotel tablecloths for a bold colour. Smaller tables mean that once tableware is in place, there’s not much room left to decorate.

Say I do by day
Those of us who have had the experience of planning weddings know that as soon as the sun goes down the costs triple. Why? Brunch becomes dinner, morning cocktails become a full bar, then there’s the disco. Get the picture?

Avoid the popular months
Come to think of it, so much has changed these days but June, November and December are pretty popular wedding months.
Avoid Christmas.
Why? It’s difficult to keep visiting relatives and families away. Interpret this to mean they’ll gatecrash.

Saturdays too
Fact is, there are only so many Saturdays a year and naturally there’s more demand for everything.

Stationery & Paper
Choose A Colour
Decide on your wedding’s colours before you order your stationery. If you stick with this palette for all of your printed materials, your event will look more coordinated - and therefore more expensive.

Be a Printer
You’ll save a pretty bundle if you have or have access to a quality printer. Spend the money to have save-the-dates, invitations and RSVP cards printed professionally. Then do the maps, accommodation cards and programmes yourself.

Delivery costs
Mail has to be sent out. If there’s time stick a stamp on them if not register them.

Hire a coordinator
No we’re not being funny. Trust us when we tell you that a smart wedding planner can save you money in the long run by helping you decide what’s important.
If your budget simply won’t allow for a full-time helper, consider a part-time arrangement. Two weeks before the wedding works for a few people - the most important thing being that she’ll be there on the day to handle any last-minute crises.

Flowers can cost a small fortune, so blossom modestly
This is the reality if you’re on a budget you’ll just have to pick less expensive flowers and mass them together. Carnations, for example, tied in fours and fives can look like peonies. Daisies are also a great on-a-budget option or giant baskets of potted geraniums or azaleas on a table. These are as fabulous as roses.

Stay in Season. Anything that’s imported costs a fortune and naturally roses during Valentine’s week will triple in price. Check out the possibilities of renting plants.

A wedding reception
with no flowers?
Yes, try candles instead every five inches down the centre of the table. Or let the meal be the focal point of the table served family-style as centrepieces.

Borrow atmosphere
There’s nothing like a great location offered by a family member or friend.
Replace white bulbs with amber ones. Flatter guests’ complexions by using warm-tone gels on overhead lights.

Music
Live band music is fabulous but only if it’s affordable. So use a smaller ensemble, or a single artist such as a pianist or violinist to play for the ceremony and through cocktails and dinner. Switch to a disc jockey for the dancing later. You can also plug your MP3 player into good speakers, just be sure you have a second player as a backup.

Food & Beverage
This is where most of the money goes. So reduce costs by forgetting about an appetiser station, they’re true budget busters. Have waiters pass appetisers you’ll have better portion control. If you do have your heart set on stations, be creative with dips and breads.

Narrow the options by serving one meat (don’t forget the vegetarians).
Skip the toast or serve a sparkling bubbly like prosecco which mimics at a fraction of the price.
Stock the bar with well chosen as opposed to a full international one. Bring the wines in and pay corkage.

Wedding Cake
Think small. Yes, we all love the notion of a traditional tiered wedding cake but gorgeous iced cupcakes on pretty cake stands stacked one on top of each other will create quite a frisson. Cake stands filled with cupcakes can also be your table centrepieces, eliminating the cost of pricier floral arrangements.

Glam up a Plain Cake
Mariska Hargitay’s wedding cake created by Luke and Tammy Massman-Johnson of Very Different Cakes in LA was decked out in custom Swarovski crystal butterfly and flowers. Theirs cost thousands but you can create yours for less by choosing a plain cake from a bakery and decorating it with Swarovski “cake jewellery” available at differentcakes.com.
Acknowledgement: Instyle Weddings Spring 2006