Cheap Bridesmaid Dresses

If you are like me, you want your bridesmaids to be in a dress that is comfortable and won't "break the bank." Today, bridesmaids dresses can cost up to $300 or more. Many dresses also don't look great on every body type. It's hard to find the perfect dress.

Here's my advice: First, check out some dress shops and see what styles you like. If you are having a strapless dress, for instance, you might want your bridesmaids to also wear a strapless gown. You can do almost any type of bridesmaid dress with your wedding dress - but it is key to be happy with the style and material. I was very happy with the bridesmaid dresses at David's Bridal.

If you are having bridesmaids who are different sizes, you will want a dress that compliments all body types. These are hard to come by, but aren't impossible to find. The dress that I decided to go with was a strapless pool blue dress with a rhinestone broach: http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridesmaids_bycolor_detail.jsp?stid=1552&sid=8351&cfid=34.

The way that the dress gathered on one side was very flattering on all of my ladies. I actually tried on the dress myself to make sure that it was "the one."

Another way to make sure that the dress will be comfortable on each of your ladies is to pick a color and a brand, and let each of your bridesmaids pick their own dresses. That way they will be able to pick out something that they like (and might wear again).

There are a couple ways to offset the cost of bridesmaid gowns. First, check out some websites that offer cheap bridesmaid dresses, such as http://www.houseofbrides.com/.

Chadwicks also offers some pretty dresses for special occasions: http://www.chadwicks.com/. They have a nice clearance website as well: http://www.coboutlet.com/.

It's also possible to find a nice dress for all of your bridesmaids at Sears, JC Penney, or Dress Barn. Keep an eye out for sales.

I decided to go with that particular bridesmaid dress because no only was it flattering, but many were offered on ebay for half the price. Two of my bridesmaids actually bought their dresses that way and saved $50 on them. A lot of people also offer their gently used bridesmaid dresses on http://www.craigslist.com/. We found a couple people selling their pool blue dresses there. Sometimes you can be lucky enough to find someone selling a lot of bridesmaid dresses.

Good luck bridesmaid dress shopping!

How To Set Up a Wedding Budget

When it comes to wedding planning - keep your budget in front of you at all times. One reader has asked what I would suggest when it comes to a budget. Patrick and I set a budget at the very beginning of our wedding planning and stuck to it. We ended up saving over $2,000 in the end, primarily by thinking about how much we could spend on certain things and trying to find cheaper services.

Here are the things to include in your budget:

CEREMONY

Aisle runner, Flowers: bouquets, boutonnieres, altar flowers, pew bows/flowers, tossing bouquet, Church fee, Flower baskets for flower girls, Programs, Officiant fee, Organist/sound technician/string quartet, Ring pillow, Unity Candle, Other decorations - candles, petals, Bubbles/petals/etc. to throw

CLOTHING

Alterations, Attendants attire - dresses, gloves, hats, jewelry, shoes, Flower girl's ensemble, Ring bearers' outfit, Groom's tuxedo/suit, cuff links, shoes, tie, hair, Brides ensemble - dress, hair, headpiece and veil, jewelry, makeup, nails, shoes, undergarments

GIFTS

Attendants gifts, Bride and Groom (to each other), Parents, Party favors, Welcome bags for out-of-town guests

RECEPTION

Beverages - bar set up, alcohol, soda, bartenders, Cake - cutting fee, groom's cake, Food - appetizers, salad, meal, etc., Additional meals - for band, photographer, videographer, etc., Centerpieces, Dance Floor, Linens, Restroom toiletries, Space rental, Cake cutting utensils, Champagne flutes, Chairs, Candles, China, Glassware, Serving staff, Silverware, Tables, Tent, Room treatments, Table numbers, DJ

PHOTOGRAPHY

Engagement photos, Photographer's fee, Videographer

STATIONERY

Calligraphy, Escort cards, Thank You Notes, Invitations - inner and outer envelopes - reception cards - reply cards, Map/direction cards, Save-the-dates, Place cards, Postage

TRANSPORTATION & LODGING

Bride and Groom, Guests, Parents, Wedding Party

WEDDING CONSULTANT

Additional staff, Expenses, Fee

RINGS

Engagement, Wedding

OTHER

Wedding gown preservation, Marriage License, Gratuities

Now, you may have noticed that certain things aren't here that you've been thinking about (for instance, the Honeymoon!!). Feel free to use this as a guide and add/subtract as needed.

Question in Bridal Guide about Alcohol

While cleaning out my wedding supplies, I came across a question posed in one edition of Bridal Guide that I think is very relevant to my last post.

"My fiance's family does not want any alcohol served at our wedding. My father, who is paying for the reception, and my fiance and I disagree, but we don't want to upset them. What do you think?"

Answer: "That familiar adage, "You can't please all of the people all of the time," is never more true than when it comes to wedding planning. It seems that there is always a relative or friend who believes that your wedding should only be planned his or her way. I honestly believe that as much as you want to avoid upsetting your fiance's family, they shouldn't dictate their preference to you. It is, after all, your day to shine and your party to plan - however you like. Now, I agree that it would pose more of a problem if his folks were paying for the reception, and therefore entitled to some say in how their money is being spent, but it is your dad who is footing the bill. You and your fiance should discuss the situation with his family and let them know that although you do plan on serving alcohol, it is not meant as a sign of disrespect but that it is what you both want and had planned for your wedding all along. If their request is for religious reasons, then they certainly don't have to imbibe. What is more, many of your other guests may not share their beliefs. If you think some sort of compromise will help ease the tension, and if you are comfortable with this option, offer to forgo hard liquor (you'll save money in the process) and provide beer, wine and soft drinks only."

--couldn't have said it better myself!

Alcohol: A Multi-Faceted Issue

Deciding what type of drinks to serve at a wedding is a sticky situation for many people, especially if your and your hubby-to-be's parents come from different backgrounds. If anyone in your families have particular religious convictions against alcohol, but you want to have alcoholic drinks at your reception, this topic can create drama very quickly.

From experience, I can tell you that deciding whether to have alcohol at your wedding, and then what types of drinks to serve, is no easy task. A bar can be the most expensive part of a wedding.

Here is one rule of thumb: it is your event! You and your hubby-to-be should sit down, determine what you really want on your wedding day, and do what you want.

If you decide to have alcohol, and you want to save a little on the bar tab without looking cheap, try cutting back on the options you offer at the bar. One new trend at weddings is serving a few speciality drinks - especially serving ones that match your wedding colors. For instance, if you are going with a blue color, check out http://absolutdrinks.com/drinks/blue-drinks.aspx. Decide on one type of red and white wine, and one or two types of beer. Having a limited bar will cut down on your final wedding expenses.

If you are able to bring in your own alcohol, buy wine when it is on sale. Buying direct from a winery can also save you some dough. Also, hiring your own bartenders can save you some cash if you go about it in the right way. I had a friend who recently got married and hired some people from her college who were taking bartending classes to serve drinks at her wedding. It was a very smart idea.

You can also always do a complete cash bar, but in my personal opinion, it is not very nice to expect your guests to pay for their own drinks, especially if they have driven a long way to get there.

Do not, and I repeat, DO NOT decide to only serve 1 or 2 drinks per person for a four hour reception. You want your guests to be comfortable and have a good time, and if they have nothing to drink at all, they will want to leave.

Good luck with your decisions.

Store Bargains

I've recently been in 4 Wal-Marts and there are a lot of wedding supplies on sale right now. I found unity candles on sale for $7 (originally $14), a unity candle holder for $9 (originally $20), and favor boxes 50% off. Good luck bargain shopping :-)

Wedding Planning Books

I just discovered that the best place to buy wedding planning books is www.half.com. There are many paperback books that you can purchase there for as little as $0.75. For instance, you can get the most up-to-date Bridal Bargains book (that I talked about in a previous post) for less than $5.

Step 2: Pick a Location

Now that you have set a date, the second step in planning your wedding is choosing your location. Here is about where 20% of your wedding budget comes in.

There are generally two locations that you need to think about - where to have the ceremony, and where to have the reception. Having your wedding at a church can be expensive, especially if you are not a member. Usually there are location/space fees and pastor fees, not to mention a fee for a sound technician. One way to save some cash is to have both your ceremony and reception at the same place.

When deciding on a location for your nuptials, take time to consider hidden costs: if you are getting married in your parents' garden (a nice way to save some dough), you'll need a tent, a dance floor, electrical wiring for the music, and access to bathrooms (which might mean that you'll need portable toilets). If you choose a space without glitz and glamour, you'll probably want flowers and other decorations to spice it up. Sometimes it can be cheaper to marry at a hotel or country club since they are equipped to accommodate weddings. The dance floor may be free (which is what happened with our wedding). You don't have to worry about bathrooms, and they have great ambiance.

Once you have an idea of what type of reception site you would like, make a draft guest list and decide how much you would like to spend. Get online and google wedding spaces where you would like to tie the knot.

Then call the manager of each site that fits your criteria. The number one question to ask is whether the space will be available on your date. Then the bigger question: what's the cost? What's included? Go see the space! Take a friend with you and check it out. Find out whether food can be catered by an outside vendor and whether you have to buy liquor from them (if you are having an open bar). How long can you have the space? Is gratuity included?

If the site is outside, ask about what happens in case of rain. Is it possible to put up a tent on the lawn?

Whenever you try to find a space, remember that no space is going to have everything that you want, and eventually you'll have to determine what is most important to you.

When you are ready to decide on a spot, make sure you get everything in writing.

Good luck!