Saving on your wedding dress

There's not too many of us who aren't on a budget these days.  And I think it's safe to say that most of us don't have a $5,000 budget to spend on the wedding dress like the girls on Say Yes To The Dress do.  So here are some tips on how to spend less on your wedding dress and still look absolutely fab.

Buying off the rack: I used to work at a bridal store and one of the best ways to bargain a great price is to buy off the rack (You should know that if you special order your dress it is nearly impossible to get a discount).  If you find a dress you love and it is close to fitting you, always find out what kind of discount you can get for buying off the rack.  MOST dresses can be altered down two sizes, depending on the beading and/or lace.  If the dress is too small on you, then you are probably out of luck depending on how small.  Typically, a dress has a 1/2 inch extra fabric on the side seams (1 inch total) that you might be able to let out, but be careful!  If the store has a seamstress on staff have them come out and take a look. You should also inspect the dress carefully for flaws before you buy it because most of the time these sales will be final.  Also, some lace dresses cannot be hemmed and need to be ordered hollow to hem, just be sure to ask your consultant!  One last thing you should know about buying a dress off the rack is that if it is a brand new dress, the store still may not give you any discount...look for last season's dresses.

Accessorizing:  Something else you can do is buy a plain dress that is less expensive and dress it up with accessories.  I was browsing my favorite site (http://www.etsy.com/) and came across some super cute options.  Take a look!


Sashes:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39545155&ref=cat2_gallery_3
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39576287&ref=cat2_gallery_21
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35557272&ref=cat2_gallery_19



Hairpieces:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39579960&ref=cat3_gallery_2
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39579579&ref=cat3_gallery_5
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39571952&ref=cat3_gallery_7


Jewelry and Handbags:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37313754&ref=cat2_gallery_14
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39575500&ref=cat2_gallery_17
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37745983&ref=cat2_gallery_12

Fun alternatives to fresh flowers

Besides saving some major $$, finding alternatives to fresh flowers can be fun and make your wedding even more unique.  Everything from buttons to feathers, check out the links below for some inspiration!

Button bouquet

Silk Flowers

Felt bouquet

Feather bouquet

Feather boutonniere

Paper bouquet

Finding the perfect vendor

Picking the right vendors is one of the most important steps you can take towards your dream wedding.  I cannot stress enough that you should always do your research!  If you have a great team behind you, your wedding day is ALMOST guaranteed to be seamless.  The great thing about the internet is that there are readily available reviews on websites such as Yelp.  You can always use friends who are married as resources too.  Ask them what they liked or didn't like about a certain vendor.  Even if you aren't going to use the same vendors as them, just by knowing the kinds of problems they had helps you to know what to look for or to stay away from.  I am going to leave you with some favorite vendors of mine to help you get started on your way to finding your perfect fit!

Two Birds Photography

Flaneur Videography

Senica's Oak Ridge