Sunday, April 21, 2013

Have a Fabulously Frugal Wedding

Well fashionistas, it is officially that romantic time of year when weddings and proposals are coming into full swing.  For those of us planning a wedding, it can be very difficult to organize one without spending an entire down payment on a house, but this is still going to be one of the most special days of your life.  I recently checked out the annual wedding sale on Gilt Groupe, and I was appalled at how expensive everything was, even at a sharp discount.  If you really want to have a frugal wedding, I suggest going to Etsy to find gorgeous wedding things. Check out some of my favorite finds below :)

The Veil:


If you have gone veil shopping, you know that it can be a scam - big bridal houses see an excited new bride, and decide they can get away with charging $300.00 for a $1.00 piece of tulle.  I reject this mindset, and I found several beautiful veils on Etsy for less than $100.00.  My favorite is a Sweetheart Polka Dotted veil from Lovelyeverafter for only $55.00.  It is adorable, intricate, and sweet; in short, it is the perfect veil for a country chic bride, and at $55.00 it can fit into just about any bride's budget.  Check it out athttp://www.etsy.com/listing/122609713/sweetheart-polka-dotted-mid-length?ref=shop_home_active

The Gloves:

 
Lace wedding gloves are a fantastic way to class up your bridal outfit.  If you choose the right pair, they provide elegance and ornament for a low price relative to your dress.  If for some reason you cannot afford your dream dress, the right pair of gloves can be a wonderful consolation prize - just imagine all of the photo shoot potential here :) I personally love these wedding gloves by Glove Shop on Etsy; they are fingerless so you don't have to awkwardly take them off for the exchanging of the rings, and they are absolutely gorgeous.  At only $30.00, they are also less expensive than most bracelets, and they are miles better than a bare wrist on your wedding day.  Check them out at Glove Shop's page on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/listing/129083732/soft-peach-pink-wedding-gloves-bridal?ref=shop_home_active

The Slippers:


Okay, so a pair of slippers just for dancing might sound like an extravagant expense, after all, you are already springing for a pair of heels for the ceremony, right?  But especially for brides on a budget who may be getting inexpensive (read uncomfortable) heels, you are going to want something more comfortable for the reception, or else you're going to be sitting on the sidelines at your own wedding.  Plus, think of your honeymoon - do you really want to be held back by blisters? I have seen brides at various weddings try different approaches to combat this problem, from dancing barefoot to white "bridal" flip flops, but I think these adorable bridal slippers by Yagmurshop are by far the best solution.  Plus, they happen to be discounted to $25.00, so your feet can be pampered on a budget.  http://www.etsy.com/listing/89919534/discount-bridal-wedding-dance-shoes?ref=shop_home_active

The Dress:


When my sister mentioned that one day she wanted to get her wedding dress from Etsy, I told her she was flat out being naive.  I told her that Etsy would be great for accessories, but she should never ever trust Etsy with her dress.  That was a few years ago, and I regret it now, because Etsy has a wealth of beautiful, affordable dresses for brides who want something unique without paying a small fortune.  The main drawback of Etsy is that you cannot try the dress on to see how it looks, and because you have to take your own measurements and trust that they are accurate when you send to the dress designer.  However, the fact that each dress is custom made to your measurements should be something of a comfort; it will be a better fit than a dress off the rack somewhere.  Wedding dress shopping is a matter of personal taste, so I am simply sharing a dress that I happen to love from Alex Bridal.  I happen to be a sucker for a tea length wedding dress with an open back, so this $299.99  ivory dress with alencon lace is perfect for me.  Also, make sure your designer has plenty of positive feedback - this is the most important day of your life, after all.  Like this dress? check it out at http://www.etsy.com/listing/101331252/ivory-sleeveless-lace-wedding-dress?ref=shop_home_active  
After all, where else are you going to find a quality wedding dress for under $500?

Happy Weddings, Fashionistas :)


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