Here are some beautiful ideas to get your started:

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As a result, some brides choose to order silk flowers instead of changing their flower choice or downgrading the size of their bouquet. Not only will they often save money with this option, they can also keep the bouquet long after the ceremony is over. Many silk or velvet bouquets even look quite realistic.

But, then again, they aren’t fresh flowers and they certainly aren’t traditional. What do you think? Do silk wedding flowers make you want to rant or rave?

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Images from Save on Crafts

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But if eagerly devouring wedding blogs has taught us anything, it’s that you can cut a few corners and still pull off the posh ceremony of your dreams. If you are looking to trim your reception costs, start by checking out some of these great resources for reviews of the best cheap wines on the market:

• With a chardonnay for $8 and a pinot noir for $7, Cheap Wine Finder might just be your new best friend! Visit the site to read reviews, see how pretty the labels are and more.
• Delish offers a charming slideshow of great wines under $15. You’ll feel like you’re being whisked around the globe, too, with wines from France, Italy, Australia, Spain, Argentina, Chile and beyond.
• For a little bit of sass with your shiraz, check out the series of reviews from SFoodie titled “Cheap Wines That Don’t Suck.”
• New York Magazine also has some fabulous suggestions for special occasion wines that won’t bust your budget.

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With all the charm and whimsy of a summer fair, it’s no wonder the idea has become a popular wedding theme. If you are considering a fun fair wedding, gather some inspiration from a few of these adorable celebrations from Southern Weddings, Amorology and Under a Paper Moon.

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One tip that we’ve seen is to rent your wedding accessories instead of buying them.  I personally love this idea; Although having a special necklace or bracelet on your wedding day can serve as an excellent keepsake, you might not want to shell out for every piece of jewelry that you’ll be wearing.  From dresses to handbags, jewelry to hairpieces, rentals are available across the country.  Check out some of our favorites:

• Avelle (formerly known as Bag, Borrow or Steal) has a special section of their website dedicated specifically to wedding rentals.  From handbags to extravagant jewelry, they have everything you’ll need to make you feel like a princess on your big day.

• Adorn Brides offers rental jewelry in all shapes and sizes.  They even have matching sets for both brides and bridesmaids!

• Many brides opt to Rent their Bridal Gown.  Often, this will include shoes and a headpiece/veil.  Most of these stores are local, so I suggest doing a search in your local area for a bridal gown rental store.  One example is Fairy Godmother Gown Rentals, located in the San Francisco Bay Area.  They’ll even deliver your dress directly to your door!

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We love the idea that you can host a fun ceremony that’s within your budget, AND still have an excuse to eat french fries and milkshakes at your ceremony. What could be better than that?

These sweet Wedding Paper Divas wedding invitations would make the perfect finishing touch!

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This new craze means that there’s a plethora of used wedding gowns out there to choose from, including dresses from top-end designers like Vera Wang, Melissa Sweet and Nicole Miller—all for a price that’s almost too good to be true. You could snag this stunning Melissa Sweet dress for a mere $900 on OnceWed!

Would you consider buying a preowned dress to free up some wiggle room in your budget? Are you planning to sell your dress after your big day? What do you think about the used wedding dress craze?

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A friend of mine from college recently got engaged.  I was invited to her wedding, but because I live out of state, I’m unable to attend.  I still want to send her a gift, however, we haven’t been close for a while.  What is the appropriate amount to spend if I’m not attending the wedding and haven’t maintained a close relationships with this girl?  On the same note, what is the appropriate amount to spend if I AM attending a wedding (with a date) of a close friend?  Help!

Gift Gal

Dear Gift Gal,

What a great question!  I think this is something that almost every person has to deal with at one time or another.  Especially in these tough times, digging deep in the pockets for a wedding gift can be rough.  Therefore, it helps to know what proper etiquette states is the correct amount to spend.

Happily, the truth is that you should spend what you can afford.  There is no sense in breaking the bank if you truly can’t afford it . A gift is just that–a gift–and the bride and groom will appreciate anything you can afford to give them.  If you do want some sort of gauge, though, the rule of thumb is to try to spend as much as you think your meal would cost.  If it’s a buffet, a safe guess is around $40-$50 a person.  If it’s a served meal, I’d guess closer to $75-$100 a person.  Again, it’s okay to adjust these numbers to fit YOUR budget!

If you’re not attending the wedding but want to send a gift anyway, any amount really works.  A small token of your congratulations is welcome at any amount.  I tend to spend around $50, however, if they’re close friends I’ll spend more, if they’re more distant, I might even spend less.  You’ll be appreciated for being a thoughtful person in spite of your inability to attend the wedding.

Happy gifting!

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But brides don’t have to be completely out of control in order to torture their friends—simple budget demands will do the trick. In this all-too-common story from Smart Spending, a bridesmaid laments over being asked to pay $275 for a dress she hates, on top of chipping in for a bachelorette party and four separate showers!

Do you think that’s fair? How much do you expect the bridesmaids at your wedding to spend? Have you ever had to deal with insane bridesmaid costs? How did you handle it? Do pricey bridesmaid expenses make you want to rant or rave?

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