I bought my dress on sale. I found that I could love an inexpensive dress just as much as the luxe ones without the HUGE guilt that came with the price tag. Nobody’s going to know you aren’t wearing a designer, just that you look incredible. Plus, nowadays it’s pretty affordable to hit Ebay up for a woman who’ll make it for you. My experience is that they’re much more likely to oblige to your demands than a snooty bridal salon.
Cake is another one. We’re serving sheet cake too. Everyone I talk to says wedding cake doesn’t taste good, anyways, and that Costco has yummy cakes. Nobody will notice that we don’t have some beastly thing to cut. I have yet to have a delish wedding cake.
Booze–we’re serving beer and wine, that’s it. People like that, and they won’t miss the jack and cokes. And we don’t have to worry baout people drinking. We’re cutting them off an hour before the reception ends, too.
bridesmaid dresses: be flexible. Don’t make your girls spend an absurd amount of money. Ask yourslef if YOU want to spend that in someone else’s wedding, but consider their income and if they’re fresh out of college, etc. For half my girls, $150 was ok. For the other half, $150 was WAY too much.
I also made my own flowers, my own headpiece, my own garter, bought my "shoes (aka sandals) from Neiman Marcus on sale so I can totally wear them again (anything re-usable is justifiable in my book), went with candle centerpieces made from walmart glassware and candles from Sam’s Club, made bracelets for the BM’s, having the ceremony and reception at the same place (maybe not applicable to you) and cutting out limos, transportation, etc. I’m totally OK with my parents dropping my Fiance and off at our hotel in their mercedes. I don’t care!
Not gonna lie, at this point, I am NOT worried about my wedding looking chintzy. Are you crafty enough to do a lot of stuff yourself? And have the TIME?! That’s the big thing for me. I only work 40 hours a week, my Fiance is in Georgia, and I have time on my side. I have friends who do not, so they have to buy a lot of stuff. See if you can borrow! I offer stuff to my friends all the time, but nobody seems to be biting, lol.