Wedding Gowns & Bridal Fashion

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