Small Weddings are In – or How to Decorate a Red Wagon for a Wedding

Iheard it on an early morning show (too early to remember which one) – that the NEW TREND in weddings is SMALL!  And I say, Amen to that. You know it’s true; just look at how many “how-tos” are showing up on the web for How to Decorate a Red Wagon for a Wedding.  I know . . . you can certainly decorate a red wagon for any size wedding, but the concept shows how a little imagination and creativity can go a long way to adding zest and fun to even the smallest of weddings! If you want to actually check out our “red wagon” ideas, just click on: How to Decorate a Red Wagon for a Wedding.

Otherwise, let’s look at the reasons why I love a wedding that is Small, Intimate and Personal, and you will too!

• You can save money!  (This is YourWeddingDollars.com here, and that is our goal!).  You could potentially save thousands of dollars by having an intimate wedding as the guest count makes a difference on so many things in a wedding from food to favors!
• You could splurge (no I’m not contradicting the “YourWeddingDollars.com” motto here).  I mean splurge with the budget you have.  If, for example, you have a $10,000 budget, think of the “niceties” you could add to your wedding ceremony or reception if you only needed a place for 60 instead of 160, if you only needed to feed 60 instead of 160, etc.  $10,000 divided by 160 guests is an average of $62.50 per guest or for only 60 guests it is $166.67 per guest.  What do you think you could do for the “style” of your wedding with an additional $104.17 per guest?  You get the picture!
• You can be more imaginative with your wedding venue choice.  When you don’t need a “banquet room” type set up to accommodate 160 people, many doors open to you.  Read our article titled Save Money with a Boutique Wedding Reception Venue or look for places similar to Gatherings (our intimate wedding venue in Monterey) in the area you want to get married in.
• You get to celebrate one of the biggest days of your life surrounded by people who love you (not ALL acquaintances, friends of parents, and co-workers, etc.), and subsequently you will be more relaxed because you will be surrounded by friends and family.  Wouldn’t it be great to go around the room chatting with everyone and not have to be introduced to someone you really don’t know or remember?!
• A small wedding gives you the opportunity to let your creative juices flow and make your wedding a unique reflection of the two of you – like the “how to decorate a red wagon for a wedding” idea!
• Your guests will love this style wedding because you will be able to spend more time with them which will make them feel welcome, and they will have a better chance to mingle with all your other family and friends getting to know “all” about you!
• Lastly, people will remember a Small, Intimate and Personal wedding because your wedding won’t be typical – the kind your guests have been to over and over again!

You’ll notice I went a bit overboard with all the exclamation points, but I really do love a wedding that is small, intimate and personal for all the reasons above!!  And I’m sure you will too!

By Cheryl Cox, Editor of YourWeddingDollars.com. See “Note from the Editor” for more information on Cheryl and her credentials.

“Create Your Own Wedding — Own Your Style, Not Someone Else’s — and do it all while keeping money in your pocket!”

How to Get More Bang for Your Wedding Buck

I may be a photographer, but I have money saving ideas for you to consider for every aspect involved with your wedding. Read on…

Let’s start with the venue.  Is your wedding in a Church or Temple?  Do you want your wedding and reception in the same place? If you can pick a day or evening other than Saturday, your venue is much more likely to be available, and much more likely to offer you a lower price. Even if it needs to be a weekend because so many of your guests work, you can book a Friday night, or Sunday lunch, and hopefully it will still work for most of your guests and you could save a couple of thousand dollars.

Now that you’ve settled on a venue that fits your budget, you have to pick a meal that won’t be too expensive. Steak and lobster is definitely out, and chicken is boring. How about Mexican food, served by a real Mexican Restaurant, who might be able to put on a show by making tortillas right there on the spot. Ask your venue what their specialty is. They might offer you a lower priced meal that you didn’t think of. And don’t forget the champagne toast. Will your venue allow you to buy your own Champagne? – even if they charge you $1 or $2 per person to serve your beverages, you can save another bundle.

Wedding Cake – Tell your venue you want to supply it, and you’ll pay them to cut and serve it. Go to a store, get a small to medium sized wedding cake that you love, and get 2 or 3 sheet cakes from Costco to serve to everyone.  You cut the prize cake, and the sheet cakes are for the guest. Again a savings of hundreds of dollars.

Cameras on the table – Not any more – everyone has their own digital camera, and those that don’t, aren’t taking photos anyway.

Centerpieces can be a glass bowl with a fancy fish and colored marbles – sitting on top of a mirror. Total price per table – probably $10 or $15 at the most. A florist will charge you hundreds for table décor. Save it for your fancy bridal bouquet design.

DJ – I’m not for skimping on the music, especially if you have a dancing crowd, but if it’s not a Saturday, you’ll save hundreds on a wonderful DJ – who might not even be available if you wanted him for a Saturday.

Back to liquor. If you’re keen on paying for everyone, be aware that it’s very common these days for the host to pay for the first hour, and then it’s a no-host bar. For those weekend cowboys who don’t know when to stop, paying for it themselves will slow them down, and that’s good for you too. We certainly don’t want to turn your celebration day into a tragedy.

Gifts for your guests and bridal party.  Years ago you could give a pack of matches with the bride and groom’s name and date, and that was OK – Now it’s politically not correct, and so maybe a little sweet, engraved, or a little frame, and you can put a cute little saying in there, or a bride and groom photo (from your engagement shoot). For the bridal party, I think you need to spend a little more than you would for guest favors, but again, a nice silver-plated frame – maybe a higher end frame with a photo of you and them, which you will take when the photographer does your family and group photos.

Lastly, the transportation. Limos are fun – but expensive – especially on Saturdays. You can wheel and deal with them very effectively if it’s not a Saturday.

For enlargements of your photos, especially quantities more than 2 or 3 of the same photo, talk to your photographer. We do earn money by photo-shopping the photos, but when we make multiple copies of the same photo, we happily offer discounts.

As a husband-wife team, Bette & George have been capturing moments for couples for 25 years and were selected as one of the 10 Best Wedding Photographers in San Diego. They pride themselves on their sytle, professionalism and quality, and they work hard to satisfy every bride and groom — treating you like family. For Wedding Photography in San Diego, please visit George & Bette at www.photographybygeorge.com where you will find photos and packages for virtually every budget.

Wedding Ideas on a Budget that Still Create a Stylish Wedding

Couples often fear that a “low-cost wedding” is a “sad-looking wedding”. Well, it is not! You can achieve a stylish look without borrowing money from friends, family, and your bank, so you don’t start your marriage in debt. So let’s put wedding ideas on a budget in perspective.

More often, couples forget their wedding is, in reality, a celebration of their union. Today, most of the weddings we witness are full event productions, with extravagant décor, special effects, and impressive entertainment. But what about celebrating your love with just a few classic and stylish touches? We at La Dolce Idea always try to enhance each celebration with the couple’s personality: their heritage (Asian favors, for instance), their personal taste (a delicious papaya and mango cake), their favorite destinations (a European theme with signature monuments as centerpieces), and other elements about them. I assure you your guests will remember your wedding more than an aerial performance by acrobats dressed in royal blue, your “wedding color”.

For Wedding Ideas on a Budget, here are some general tips for saving money and having a wonderful celebration. More articles will follow, focusing on flowers and décor, and on the catering aspect of your special day.

• Always set a budget. You may have flowers as a priority, but you should first determine how much you can spend on the entire occasion, including engagement ring, wedding accessories, cake, honeymoon, etc. Avoid the little details that will be easily forgotten (those tossing petals might be cute but not necessary). Pay wedding costs with a credit card to earn frequent-flyer miles toward your honeymoon, but make sure you pay the balance in full each month in order to avoid incurring interest charges
• Negotiate - It never hurts to ask. People in the wedding industry are usually quite familiar with budgets and are willing to work with you. Explain your situation and maybe your florist will throw in a flower girl basket and lend you some accessories, but always be very respectful for the quality of products your vendors are providing
• Besides trying to keep your guest list to a reasonable number, try to keep the number of attendants as small as possible: the larger the bridal party, the more you will spend for gifts and flowers
• Instead of spending a lot of money on the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, be creative: an intimate BBQ at a relative’s house could be the perfect solution. Having a good time with some good company is the main goal, and your wedding party will definitely not remember the food they ate or the restaurant they went to for the rehearsal dinner
• Great wedding ideas on a budget would include not just look at wedding “venues” when you look for your wedding or reception location, but also contact local parks that have beautiful gardens or gazebos, historical sites, or museums. Sometimes places like that allow weddings for donations instead of expensive fees, and their natural landscape won’t need elaborate decorations or additional floral arrangements. Just make sure you always ask about the total capacity, restrictions about alcoholic beverages, whether rentals are included, and if they have a preferred vendor list. Also, choose a site that offers everything. You may think a raw space (such as your own backyard) will save you money, but the cost of all the rentals (tables, chairs, linens, china, a tent depending on weather conditions, etc) will set you behind… and you will be more stressed!
• When selecting your wedding invitation, choose one that will only require one stamp (no square invites, for instance), and purchase a package. A coordinated set of stationery has an elegant appearance, especially if the designs on each item are similar, not identical. If you can, try to have your reception information added on the ceremony invitation to eliminate the expense of the reception card. Instead of expensive letterpress printing method, opt for thermography or offset printing in one color (two shades of ink might match your wedding scheme but add printing costs). You can even print your own invitations: many stationery stores today provide beautiful sets of wedding invitations, including the invite, envelopes, RSVP cards and RSVP envelopes. Hiring a friend with a knack for graphic design to help can also save you money. Just remember to follow proper wedding invitation etiquette before printing your invitations
• Look for a dress at sample sales, trunk shows, and outlets; you can sign up for some designers’ sample-sale listings online and at all of your local bridal shops and salons. This will get you a discount on the dress, and you may even score some freebies like a veil or alterations, which can add up to hundreds of dollars in the long run. As an alternative, follow the Brides Against Breast Cancer Tour: you can find gorgeous wedding gowns at discounted price and benefit the Making Memories Foundation, dedicated to cancer patients. For your bridesmaids, you can try regular women’s clothing stores, including department stores. For a spring or summer wedding, use sundresses in your scheme colors and your bridesmaids’ sizes: they will thank you because they will have a dress they can actually wear again. You can also give bridesmaids a color and have them choose the dress in similar shades. You can follow the same advice for flower-girls: frilly spring and Easter dresses often work very well for them. Shoes can be found just about anywhere, not just at bridal stores.
• Be creative to come up with wedding ideas on a budget. For example, talk with your other engaged friends to see if there are any small wedding items that you can all choose together, buy together, and use at your own weddings, such as ring pillows and aisle runners. Some brides even share veils, and pair them with different headpieces, tiaras, or fresh blooms that match their bridal bouquet design.
• To make your ceremony extra-personal, ask a close friend or family member to officiate
• Choose inexpensive entrée items such as chicken and pasta for your reception meal, and then ask your chef or caterer to create gourmet sauces to make those meals extra-special (think about a pasta dish with a fabulous lobster-garnished sauce)
• Ask talented friends or relatives to help with your wedding. Your skilled friends could make cookie favors, make your bridesmaids’ wedding-day necklaces or bake a dessert for the rehearsal dinner as their wedding gift to you. It’s a win-win!
• Instead of hiring two bands and paying two separate fees, ask if a few pieces of the band that will be playing at the reception can entertain your guests during the ceremony and cocktail hour
• Hire a videographer to work just from the ceremony through the first dance rather than for the entire wedding
• Limo rental is another expense you can cut unless you get a really good deal. Borrow or rent a car, or check and see if someone has a classic car that you could borrow or that they would drive you around in
• Find well-priced favors on the Internet. There are tons of sites that offer anything you desire, from beach, to Asian, black-and-white, and vintage. Another great idea is to make a charitable donation in honor of your guests: they will definitely appreciate it
• After the event, donate your flowers to a hospital or nursing home; it’s a thoughtful thing to do and also a tax deduction
• Take a mini-honeymoon instead of the two-week Caribbean getaway. If your romantic plans far exceed your travel budget, consider setting up a honeymoon registry. These services eliminate the financial burden by allowing wedding guests contribute to your honeymoon budget online.  If you decide to pay for your own, choose a destination close to home for your first vacation as husband and wife, and you can plan the more exotic vacation later on. Many four- and five-star resorts throughout the country offer lavish honeymoon suites and packages that can easily compete with those in the Caribbean and other popular honeymoon destinations. Besides, you’ll save on airfare, especially if you book in advance. Cities like Chicago, Austin, Miami, and New Orleans are loaded with personality, charm, and endless possibilities for honeymooners who want to save money and stay close to home

As you can see there are many ways to look at things for Wedding Ideas on a Budget and still create a stylish wedding.  Check back for Part II, or better yet subscribe to YourWeddingDollars.com so you will be notified when Part II is published.

Weddings that tell a beautiful story: Yours. This is what Sabrina Cadini, Professional Bridal Consultant^TM, and owner of La Dolce Idea in San Diego, California, is passionate about. Each wedding should reflect the couple’s personality, and Sabrina adds that magic touch to make it an event that couples and their guests will always remember. By offering truly personalized service and money-saving solutions for every budget, she fuses creativity, Italian-style (where she’s from) and professionalism into impeccably planned celebrations. Find out more about Sabrina at www.ladolceidea.us

How to Save Money Planning Your Wedding

Beautiful weddings don’t have to be costly. How much fun can it be to have a fabulous wedding and then worry how to pay off the debt? Anyone can have a lovely wedding within their means by setting aside some money, planning ahead and prioritizing their choices. With some simple wedding planning, these money-saving tips can also help you stretch your dollar, without sacrificing quality.

Professional Help: If for no other reason than the money-saving opportunities, consider hiring a wedding planner and coordinator to expertly plan and orchestrate your wedding from beginning to end. The planner will help you develop a realistic budget. This expert has already sourced the vendors and knows the best values in the market. They can uncover hidden costs and surprises in contracts. Discounts that would not otherwise be available to the bride and groom can be passed on to the couple through the planner. Then, while you enjoy a special day, the coordinator will make sure your wedding day runs smoothly and without overtime charges.

“Understand what’s included in the price and be wary of hidden costs.”

Wedding Sites: Book your site at least 18 months in advance to secure the better-valued locations and vendors and to avoid “panic buying”. Look for off-season, Friday or Sunday discounts. Save thousands in decorations by choosing a site with existing style and decor. Understand what’s included in the price and be wary of hidden costs. Most country clubs and hotels offer package deals that include table and chair rentals, making them an excellent deal.

Guest count: The cost of invitees accounts for approximately 40-50% of the wedding budget, depending on the location and site. For substantial savings, cut back the number of guests.

Wedding Caterers: In some cases, buffets are usually the better value with the most variety. Double-check with caterers to see what is included with the price you are quoted. What sounds like an inexpensive price quote up-front, may not include items such as staff, china, linens or silverware.

Wedding Photographers: Choose discounted package deals. Items such as parent albums are almost always extra.

Wedding Videographers: Again, stick with package deals. Couples who cannot afford a “storybook style” video can consider having only the ceremony videotaped for a lot less money.

Wedding Florists: Ask the florist to focus on seasonal flowers to avoid the costly imports. If you love Calla lilies, consider using one lily as the focal point and surrounding it with inexpensive filler flowers or greenery.

Wedding Gowns: Utilize a full service bridal salon. End-of-season discounts usually run from October through January. For bridesmaid dresses, you can check local stores for end-of-season discounts.

Wedding Cakes: The towering, exquisite cakes in the magazines are beautiful and costly. Have your cake and eat it, too. For weddings of 100-150 guests, consider displaying a smaller decorated cake for 75 on a cake table, and back it up with a sheet cake for 75 in the kitchen. Note that some bakeries will not charge less for sheet cakes, so get quotes.  Also, opt for buttercream icing instead of the higher priced fondant.

Honeymoon: Check with your agent for off-season honeymoon locations, which can save you anywhere from 20-50%.  Keep in mind that off-season usually means fall and winter weather.

Always read the entire contract, including the fine print. Look for any extras that weren’t included in the initial quoted price. Make sure everything is covered to your satisfaction in writing.

Though you are on a budget, the old saying “You get what you pay for” certainly applies to weddings. Using family and friends can create tensions and wedding day problems. Start planning early so your budget will allow you to hire quality professionals. In the long run, doing so will save you time, money, and stress.

“Stress Free, Leave the Details to Me,” is the tried & true philosophy of Robbin Montero, California Wine Country wedding planning expert and owner of A Dream Wedding. Robbin is the premier wedding planner in the Northern California Wine Country, transforming any vision into a perfectly designed wedding creation. Robbin and her weddings have been featured in The Knot, Brides, Elite Magazine, Your Wedding Day, Vine Napa/Sonoma magazines and ImportantOccasions.com. Travel & Leisure magazine calls Robbin, “The expert wedding planner in the California Wine Country.” www.a-dreamwedding.com

This article cannot be reprinted without Robbin Montero’s expressed written permission.

Why Weddings Cost So Much

One of the biggest hurdles for parents planning a wedding is that thirty years may have passed since they last planned a wedding. To say things have changed in that time is an understatement. Back then, brides were often unaware of the costs and the mother of the bride often made all the plans.

To give perspective, I often tell couples and their parents to consider the cost of medium-priced cars then and now. Then, a car cost about $3,500, the same as the cost of a wedding. Today, a wedding with all the trimmings still costs the same as a mid-priced new car, which can be around $25,000 to 50,000, depending on the locale.

Calculating the scope of expenses

Before you argue that sounds like too much money, remember the cost of the wedding is much more than the ceremony location and food and beverage expenses. Couples frequently underestimate their wedding expenses by calculating only the cost of the reception. The cost of an officiant to marry them, the ceremony music, reception music, flowers for the ceremony and reception, invitations, and announcements are significant expenses that cannot be overlooked. There’s also transportation, a wedding dress, tuxedos, a wedding cake, a photographer, a videographer, party favors, and the rehearsal dinner. Regardless who will bear these costs, they are all factored into the total cost of a wedding.

“Many of the costs of a wedding are the same whether you will have 50 or 500 guests.”

Though often not figured directly into wedding expenses, I’m sure the bride does not consider the costs of hair styling, make-up, manicures and other personal services in preparation for her to look her best to be minor incidentals. They are also real expenses unique to the wedding party, which will have many such extras.

Couples are also prone to miscalculating the number of guests. Some costs (wedding dress, ceremony, reception music, photography, flowers, for example) remain the same regardless how many guests attend. Many of the costs of a wedding are the same whether you will have 50 or 500 guests. Known as “hard costs”, they will be spread over the number of guests. Food, beverages, cake, rental equipment, and favors are among the costs that vary with the number of guests.

Choices that can cost or save

Most weddings take place between April and October, with the majority being scheduled for summer. Couples may pay a premium for popular sites and services during busy wedding season. Since most weddings take place on weekends, they may also bear extra labor expenses.

Many vendors only get to book weddings on weekends and, often, only one wedding per day. Vendors have a limited time to make their money. They don’t work weddings seven days a week. High-demand photographers, bakers and florists are able to charge premium rates that can inflate your expenses.  Any bride who can consider booking her wedding on “off” days -Fridays, Sundays or mid-week- can explore favorable pricing opportunities.

Naturally, the cost of doing business varies by location and region. Metropolitan areas, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York City, are much more expensive places to marry than Kansas City, Missouri. California and New York also have a relatively high cost of doing business, as do popular destination cities commonly selected for weddings.

If you stop to think about all that goes into planning a beautiful wedding, and the number of vendors who will contribute to the day, it is easy to see why weddings cost so much. This is not like any other party you’ve hosted. However, if you decide what is most important to you before you commit to purchases, you can make choices that will help keep the cost of your dream wedding in line.

“Stress Free, Leave the Details to Me,” is the tried & true philosophy of Robbin Montero, California Wine Country wedding planning expert and owner of A Dream Wedding. Robbin is the premier wedding planner in the Northern California Wine Country, transforming any vision into a perfectly designed wedding creation. Robbin and her weddings have been featured in The Knot, Brides, Elite Magazine, Your Wedding Day, Vine Napa/Sonoma magazines and ImportantOccasions.com. Travel & Leisure magazine calls Robbin, “The expert wedding planner in the California Wine Country.” www.a-dreamwedding.com

This article cannot be reprinted without Robbin Montero’s expressed written permission.

Homemade Wedding Centerpieces Ideas To Save You Time & Money

In these tough economic times, you are probably keeping a close eye on where every penny goes, even when it comes to that most cherished of events, your wedding day. You want nothing but the best for the occasion, but at the same time, you have a budget that you need to stick to like a bumblebee on a wedding flower. That’s why exploring homemade wedding centerpieces ideas will not only save you money but you can also create a memorable decoration that will remind you of that special day for years to come.

Homemade wedding centerpieces ideas will allow you to put a personal touch on your wedding that a professional decorator may not be able to duplicate. You are limited only by your imagination, and your own flair for decorating. And even if you have never made or designed a centerpiece before, or you don’t feel you have the ability, the good news is that you don’t have to be an expert to come up with one that will create a buzz among your wedding guests. All it takes is a little time and a few basic supplies to make it happen.

“Exploring homemade wedding centerpiece ideas will not only save you money but you can also create a memorable decoration that will remind you of that special day for years to come.”

One example of inexpensive homemade wedding centerpiece ideas that add a personal touch includes creating a monogrammed container, such as a white wooden or plastic pail. Just paint your monogram on the pail and fill it with a bunch of flowers such as daisies, and surround it with candles. In little time, and better yet, at little cost, you have created a work of art. To personalize your centerpiece even more, place bride and groom photos on a stick inside the pail. The more of your own personality you put into your centerpiece, the more unique and memorable it will be.

Floating candles also make for great homemade wedding centerpiece ideas. Just fill bowls or vases with water and place the candles inside. To make it more decorative, you can add food coloring to the water, and/or flower petals. And if time is an issue, or you don’t want to put a lot of effort into the project, baskets or bowls of fresh fruit can make a beautiful centerpiece, and you can even purchase them already packaged if you don’t want to do it yourself. Don’t let the expense keep you from having a wedding that your guests will envy. A little imagination can go a long way.

By Cheryl Cox, Editor of YourWeddingDollars.com, See “Note from the Editor” for more information on Cheryl and her credentials.

5-Minutes to Buying Affordable Wedding Dresses Online

When shopping for your wedding needs, whether it’s wedding dresses, wedding shoes, wedding veils, wedding favors, wedding invitations, etc., it’s hard to beat the Web as there are indeed great prices to be had!  But there is an abundance of online stores making the choices overwhelming and that means there are some”fly-by-nights” that we don’t want you to fall prey to, so we hope this 5 minute read (yes, we clocked it) of tips for shopping online will help prepare you for the challenge of finding your ultimate wedding dress for the best price. As is true with many things – no pain, no gain… It’s the same when searching for a deal online; they don’t just fall into your lap.  You have to look for it, but we’re certain these tips will help put you in the driver’s seat.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

• There are many wedding dress stores on line. There are a few that we personally recommend over others listed at the bottom of this article. Whatever store you are considering, check out their testimonials, but remember when you do that there are always going to be a few disgruntled shoppers because quite frankly there are people out there that just aren’t happy campers no matter what and bad luck seems to follow them, so when you look through the testimonials, don’t discount a wedding dress store because of a couple bad reviews compared to hundreds of good ones.
• Find out what their return policy is. Custom made items and down and dirty priced items will probably not be returnable, unless it is damaged. So that is something else for you to weigh – for the right price – if it’s not damaged and looks anything like you saw on their website – will you be able to be happy?
• Visit the Better Business Bureau to see if they are in good standing.
• Call the company – this is a big one… Do they answer the phone, is the person that answers the phone knowledgeable?
• You are probably all over the web looking at things for your wedding and with that you will see websites that advertise online wedding dress stores. Notice which ones you see most often because they will be the most reputable ones.
• When it comes to the concern about not being able to try the wedding gowns on ahead of time to make sure the style suits you. That’s what the bridal stores are for. Go try on sleeveless and long sleeve, straight and sleek or big and full, ivory and white, short, long, with trains and without. Then armed with your notes, go online and find the one you want. You can even go to designer stores and look at specific brands like Dessy, Alfred Angelo, Jessica McClintock and Vera Wang and then go to your online wedding dress store of choice (after doing all your homework from above on them) and find either the exact designer dresses or really good copycats by dozens of wonderful designers.

Buying online offers convenience and great pricing, but it also can have some risk.  You’re paying upfront without directly seeing or trying on merchandise and you could potentially be opening yourself up to identify theft, but here are some ways to reduce that risk:

SHOP SAFELY

• When looking for your wedding dress online, go with brands and websites you know.
• Shop online stores that have been recommended to you from friends, family, and websites you know and trust.
• Be sure you see https:// at the top of your screen where the Web address is displayed. The “s” after “http” indicates the site is secure.
• You may also want to call the company to ask about its privacy policy or look for their privacy policy on their website.
• Do not send money to a site that doesn’t have a physical address or a phone number for customer service.
• Pay for your wedding dress with a credit card. This is another biggy! If you are unsatisfied, quite often you can get your credit card company to reverse the charges, if your reasons are valid.
• Trust your instincts; if you don’t feel comfortable or if you feel pressured, don’t buy it.

OTHER NOTES TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN PURCHASING A WEDDING DRESS ONLINE:

• Obviously, the fit of your wedding dress is also a concern when buying online, but that shouldn’t be a big worry.  If it’s not a perfect fit (although it should be really close so long as you measure yourself accurately and use your website’s size charts), wedding dresses can usually be altered up to 2 sizes in either direction, and even with any added cost to alter the dress, you’re wedding dress is still sure to be priced well below retail!<br>
• Many of the wedding gowns can take some time to get, so ORDER EARLY.  Online Designer dresses at prices well below retail are not “off the rack” orders.  Be sure you call them to check stock information.  Do not just order online; talk to a live person.  It’s worth the extra couple of minutes to confirm your choice is available!

You may want to visit our two favorite online dress shops that we have researched and found to be very reputable companies: House of Brides and The Bridal Online Store

By Cheryl Cox, Editor of YourWeddingDollars.com, See “Note from the Editor” for more information on Cheryl and her credentials.

“Create Your Own Wedding — Own Your Style, Not Someone Else’s — and do it all while keeping money in your pocket!”

Don’t Pay Retail for Wedding Dresses

You do NOT have to pay retail for your perfect wedding dress — I don’t care what you budget is! Want to know how?  There are numerous options when it comes to shopping for your wedding dress.  But as the saying goes, “nothing ventured, noting gained,” and it’s the same when looking for affordable wedding dresses! It’s likely to take some time and effort, but that’s no problem — we’re on a mission; so, either lace up your comfortable shoes or, as I do, just leave your PJs on and do what many brides are doing today and that’s shop online.

Shopping for wedding dresses remain the most mind boggling job of the whole wedding planning process, and I believe that’s because it’s an emotional purchase!  We want to look and feel extraordinary for our self, our groom, and our relatives and friends… it’s just part of it.  However, in your heart you know that if you use some of the money for the down payment on your house or the tuition for your grad school, it will make you an unhappy camper in the end – so whether your search is for affordable wedding dresses on the glamorous side with lace and pearls and big bouffant skirts or you are looking for princess style informal wedding gowns – cheap, these tips will help you in that search!

1. Don’t go to the “bridal section” of a department store — much better deals are to be found looking for wedding dresses that pose as formal evening wear or even prom dresses.  Without the “tag” of wedding dress on them, you can save hundreds of dollars.
2. Consignment shops or high end second hand shops are another great option to look for wedding dresses.  Most of them won’t even accept merchandise unless it’s in absolutely pristine condition.  Go back often if you don’t find something the first time around as they get new items every day, and definitely meander a distance away if need be to drive to stores in areas of affluence.
3. Thrift stores are another option you would be surprised what you can find at.  Informal wedding gowns cheap, does not necessarily mean cheaply made at a thrift store; in many cases you will find a real gem.  Don’t shy away from a wedding gown that is perfect in every way, except being in need of some repair – these repairs, for a tailor, are most likely minor.  And like consignment stores, go back often and check locations that are in affluent areas.
4. If your timing is right, look for wedding dresses after the month of June because that’s when many wedding dresses go on sale.
5. Ask about the sample or floor model gowns.  Some discontinued wedding dresses are very inexpensive compared to most other bridal gowns.
6. EBay is another great venue for finding inexpensive gowns.  However, and there’s a big however here, you need to be careful because you are mostly dealing with individuals as opposed to companies and in an effort to create needed funds they “might” be a little less than honest.  I think this is a viable source but would only use it if the seller is local and you can look at the dress before buying.  Or, at a minimum it must have a photo of the dress from every angle.
7. For local advertising, try the Penny Saver, Craig’s List, and newspapers, these are all great sources and since it is local you are able to go look at it before buying – or if they say you cannot come to them to see it, don’t buy it!
8. What about renting your dress? Some clothing rental stores have wedding dresses in stock and you might even find a store near you that rents weeding dresses. Some shops may be willing to order a brand-new version of one of the used ones in the store – you’ll still be renting it, but you’ll be the first to wear it.  On the downside, you probably won’t find the selection you’d find at a bridal store, warehouse outlet or online, but you can expect a 90% discount on your bridal gown if you rent it – that’s a $1000 gown for $100
9. Borrow a dress – don’t cringe at this thought. Remember that you will be wearing the wedding gown for a single day, so what’s the harm in borrowing it? I know this isn’t always easy to do, but if you want to trim down expenses then borrowing can be a viable option. So, if you have a family member or friend who is close to your size and who flaunted an elegant and stylish gown on her wedding then you are lucky! Ask that concerned person if she is willing to share, and who wouldn’t want to bring their dress out again and see someone they care about get use from it.  Don’t worry if it’s not a perfect fit, wedding dresses usually can be altered up to 2 sizes in either direction.
10. If brand new is important to you, then I think the best way to find brand new yet inexpensive wedding dresses is to shop online.  You’ll find all styles of wedding dresses online from an elegant Scarlet O’Hara big-hooped skirt style to fashionable informal wedding gowns, and compared to retail, you’ll find them pretty cheap − I don’t mean cheaply made, better I should say reasonably priced! If you are unsure about purchasing wedding dresses online, then you might want to visit our article titled “5-Minute Guide to Buying Affordable Wedding Dresses Online.”

Wedding dresses that look great, at a price you can afford, are easier to find than you might think. The trick is not to allow your common sense to be overruled by your emotions when you go shopping, otherwise you might easily talk yourself into spending more than you can really afford. There is a ALWAYS an economical yet perfect choice when you take the time to research it!  Go get ‘em…

By Cheryl Cox, Editor of YourWeddingDollars.com, See “Note from the Editor” for more information on Cheryl and her credentials.

“Create Your Own Wedding — Own Your Style, Not Someone Else’s — and do it all while keeping money in your pocket!”

Country Themed Weddings are Easy on The Budget

Themed weddings are in! And wouldn’t it be great if the theme actually helped your budget?!

Well, if you and your fiance are a country couple at heart, or REAL horse-riding, cow-herding country folk, then you’re in luck!  An old fashioned BBQ wedding reception will help save on your menu price and be major fun, and who wouldn’t like a Cowboy Wedding Reception?  It’s a chance to get out those cowboy boots we all so love.

At the end of this article are a couple menu ideas that might help inspire your inner country soul to create a unique and fun experience for your guests – all without paying a fortune for your meal!  Often, the receptions that offer the “plated chicken dinner” lack style and leave guests feeling a bit bland about your reception food.  I encourage you to spice it up!  Add some color and unexpected “flavor” to your wedding day meal… make it memorable!

As for affordable country BBQ décor ideas – have fun!  Most brides tend to stick with the traditional white & ivory color schemes — don’t!  Get creative! Use bright linens like the colors in a beautiful country sunset, or earth tones of blue and green like the mountains and pastures, or traditional checkered tablecloths for a more casual daytime event.  Mason jars with wild flowers, fresh herbs or wheat would be great.  Put beer bottles and soda in galvanized tubs for a western feel at the bar or placed around an outdoor reception.  Hay bales, Cowbells and wagon wheels will add to the look as well.

Remember the more “formal” feeling the reception, the more it is likely to cost you.  Over-the-top buffets with expensive cuts of beef, seafood’s and elaborate floral arrangements are pricey, so think about a bit more casual feeling themed reception.  Casual style receptions end up being a unique way for couples to express themselves and their likes without breaking the bank and a BBQ Wedding Reception is a perfect example of this!  Here are a couple great menu ideas for a Country Barbecue Wedding Reception — and it’s not just chicken. Yum! Yum! Yum!

BBQ Wedding Reception Menu Idea #1

Barbecue Chicken * Country-style Pork Spareribs  * Sweet & Smokey Baked Beans * Corn on the Cob * Traditional Coleslaw * Watermelon, Honeydew & Cantaloupe Skewers * Cornbread with Honey-Butter

Barbecue Wedding Reception Menu Idea #2

Sliders! (Petite style Burgers) * Apricot-Honey Glazed Chicken * Red Skinned Potato Salad * Watermelon and Fresh Strawberry Display * Farmer’s Market Green Salad with homemade Dressings * Biscuits & Honey

And instead of traditional Wedding Cake, how about a display of glorious and delicious pies!

By Debbie Young, Owner & Event Coordinator, Classic Catering, Monterey, CA
If you are planning a wedding in Monterey County, California, Classic Catering will be happy to work with you to create a menu that appeals to your tastebuds AND your pocketbook.  You can find out more about our services at www.montereycatering.com.

5 Wedding Catering Budget-Busting Ideas

Negotiating on everything from the wedding cake to the bride’s attire doesn’t come naturally for most Americans. As Dorothy Maras-Ildiz wrote in a recent article for The Carmel Pine Cone, learning the fine art of negotiation can easily reduce wedding costs by 10-20%, and it helps to know a few insider tips on where, when and how you can negotiate.

Be Sure you are truly comparing apples to apples when you have multiple quotes for the catering of your wedding reception food!

The cost of the reception will usually eat up (pardon the pun) 50-60% of your overall costs. Dean and Debbie Young, owners of Classic Catering (www.montereycatering.com) share their best budget busting ideas:

1. Be flexible with reception dates and times. Saturday night is going to cost more than a Sunday Brunch or Friday evening cocktail party.
2. The notion that hors d’oeurves are less expensive than plated meals or buffets is just not true. Those tiny bite-sized goodies require two to three times the labor to create. Price wise, you’ll get the best bang for your buck with a buffet. The ‘small plates’ trend is also a great way to add flexibility to your menu. Serving numerous small plates throughout the reception frees up your guests to move about and mingle instead of being glued down to a table for hours on end.
3. When you are getting multiple quotes from caterers, be sure you are comparing apples to apples. This is crucial! One quote for $2000 and another for $2350 does not make the $2000 a better deal! They may be using pre-prepared food, chicken instead of beef, taking a chance on the quality of service by cutting their staff, etc. And sadly, some caterers don’t lay everything out in their first proposal in order to entice you. Ask questions and read the small print!
4. Price isn’t everything. If you have a good working relationship and feel comfortable with your caterer, you can negotiate the price. Don’t sacrifice your comfort level for a couple of dollars less per plate. More often than not they will find a way to meet your price.
5. At your initial meeting with your caterer at least have a ‘ballpark’ estimate of what the range of your budget is. This will give everyone a good idea of where to start.

Weddings can be very costly, but knowing the right questions to ask and finding a caterer that is understanding of your budget will be a big help to your honeymoon budget!

Dorothy Maras-Ildiz — AIWF Board of Directors, Monterey Bay Chapter;Les Dames de Escoffier, member; Pebble Beach Food & Wine, Chef Liaision/Coordinator; Culinary Journalist/ Columnist

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