Since keeping the reception simple and casual is the wedding trend for this year, the same idea can go to your wedding gown.   As you can imagine a formal cathedral train gown with luxurious beading probably doesn’t fit too well with a cozy backyard affair, this is the perfect time to find a less formal gown and save yourself thousand of dollars!

You don’t necessarily have to go to bridal shops to buy those three thousand dollars gown.  Many high end department stores or evening gown boutiques offer a wide selection of gowns.  Given that the less formal gowns usually don’t have as much fabric, embroidery and beading; therefore, the prices are truly attractive!

Jessica McClintock — $171.60

Jessica McClintock — $283.50

BCBG — $298.00

BCBG — $348.00

BCBG — $378.00

See?  Not only they are designer brand gowns, they are all under $400!  Because they look less formal, you will have opportunity to wear it again for some other special occasions.  If you don’t want to stick with a white gown after the wedding, simply dye it in your favorite color and turn it into another gorgeous evening gown!

If you, on the other hand, have been dreaming about the more traditional and formal wedding gown ever since you’re 3, why not checking out some pre-loved gowns around your neighborhood or visit an awesome website like http://www.preownedweddingdresses.com/.

What does your gown look like, and how much did you save on your dress?   Take a picture of yourself in a gown and share with us!

As global warming and pollution seems to be getting more severe year after year, words like “sustainability management” and “eco-friendly” shouldn’t be unfamiliar to you anymore.  In your daily lives, I’m sure you know there are lots of things you can do to reduce the carbon footprint.  However, if you’re throwing a once in a lifetime wedding celebration, have you thought of what you can do to save the environment?

Being green does not mean your wedding has to be a tree-hugging festival, and it certainly does not mean you have to compromise the quality.  Better yet, if you go for the locally sourced flowers and food, guess what? It’s going to be cheaper as well.  Here are a few green and oh-so-chic items I’d like to share with you all:

Let’s start off with engagement ring, shall we…?

• Buy recycled gold and/or conflict free diamonds.  If you want it extra special, you may want to consider collecting the old rings from your family and friends, then melt it into one meaningful piece of jewelry.

Before you send your invitation to the print shop, have you considered using…?

• 100% recycled cotton (tree-free) paper or bamboo paper
• soy based inks

For floral and decorations, how about some…?

• Locally sourced flowers instead of imported ones
• Backyard grown plants and fruits
• Potted herbs
• edible centerpiece

Venue location: how are your guests traveling to the venue?

• I know destination wedding is ultra romantic, but please be considerate and try to bring the wedding to your family and friends dearest.  Choosing a venue in the city which is easily accessible helps our Mother Earth a lot!

Wine: it’ll be a great help to the environment if you choose an…?

• Eco-friendly winery where they use integrated vineyard management which eliminates the use of pesticides in the vineyard.

Your princess dress: have you thought of purchasing an…?

• Eco-friendly wedding gown which uses local production and fair trade wages
• Chemical-free fabrics, such as organic silk and hemp that blends colors with vegetable dyes

  http://www.adelewechsler.com/collections/ecocouture/rosebud/

How about wrap it up with a fantastic eco-friendly honeymoon?

• Sounds kind of new to you?  This is a wonderful opportunity to partake in some reconstruction efforts in natural disaster areas or help in endangered natural areas with protection efforts.
  http://www.sendusoff.com/ecofriendly.htm

Don’t you think it’s a great idea to host a green wedding?  While you’re celebrating the best time of your life, you are also saving Mother Earth and promoting sustainability to your guests.  If you had thrown or attended a green wedding, or planning to do so, drop me a line and share your innovative ideas with us!

The dress, oh… the dress! How can girls ever stop talking about it?  As much as we love Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, and all the other fascinating designer name gowns, there is a point we have to wake up and do a reality check.  Unless you are all about the dress and have the money to splurge, or else not everyone has a $5000+ budget to put on a dress that is only going to wear once in your lifetime.

So how can you get the dress of your dream in an affordable price?  Here are a few tips that can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars!

1. Be a brilliant bride by shopping for big discounts!  Go to stores that are doing clearance sales or straight to manufacturer factory sales.
2. If you don’t mind second hand, go to a consignment store or 2nd hand online website, such as: weddingdressmarket.com and encorebridal.com
3. Who says only bridal dress boutique carry wedding gowns?  Try some high end department stores and shops that carry prom dresses and evening gowns.  Ask if they can order the color you wanted for you.
4. Shop online! You can get lots of ready made dresses from ebay.com, bluefly.com, etc…
5. Buy a rather plain wedding dress and decorate the way you like it.  Try adding a sash, tulle ribbon, floral applique pin, crystal belt, antique brooch, or faux fur to give your dress a unique twist.
6. Custom made your dress either online or in another country which charge very cheap for labor.
7. Purchase from non-profit charities  such as bridalgarden.org, bridesagainstbreastcancer.org, etc…
8. Borrow your grandma’s dress, modernize it by making minor alterations and turn it into a vintage style dress.
9. Gather your ideas, pictures, and fabric swatches.  Make the gown of your dream through a local seamster.
10. Go to fashion design institutes’ year-end fashion shows.  Hire fresh grad or one of their top students to make the dress for you.

Previously, I talked about knowing your figure and what’s best for your body to wear.  Today, I’ve shared 10 great money saving tips with you gorgeous brides out there.  Here is your chance to go out and shop!  Send me a picture of your dress later on and share all the little details with us.  Now go make us all proud!