It’s no secret that brides-to-be are constantly scrambling to save money when it comes time to tie the knot: after all, the modern American wedding costs over $30,000 on average. The stress that comes along with planning a ceremony is bad enough; however, finding places to cut the cost of couture can be equally overwhelming.
How can you find the perfect balance between looking fabulous on your big day and keeping cash in your pocket?
Fear not. To battle the rising costs of ceremonies, brides have gotten craftier than ever when it comes to uncovering fashion hacks and keeping their budgets in check. Whether you’ve just gotten engaged or are thinking about tying the knot, keep the following fashion tips in mind to save money and look great on your wedding day.
Shop Around
Although shopping around may seem like a no-brainier, don’t neglect online options for purchasing your dress or wedding rings. Some brides-to-be may are naturally pensive about buying online; however, it’s completely reasonable to try on dresses or look at rings in-person before going digital. Doing so gives you peace of mind prior to your purchase.
By doing your homework and shopping smartly online, your savings may very well surprise you. For example, you can buy a pre-owned wedding stress at a fraction of the cost of a new one (a few hundred dollars versus a few thousand). Likewise, according to the experts at Diamonds.pro, many couples tend to overspend at brick-and-mortar retailers or are prone to getting ripped off if they don’t know exactly what sort of rock they’re looking for.
In short, don’t ignore online retailers if you’re truly looking to save money on your big day.
Small Details, Big Savings
Likewise, the smallest details of your wedding fashion can reveal the biggest savings. For example, consider the following:
- If your wedding dress isn’t the ideal length, swap out your shoes (flats versus heels) to accommodate the excess or missing length, saving you hundreds of dollars on hemming
- If you decide to rent your dress, use a sheet to cover the hem and train, keeping it from dragging on the ground prior to the wedding (saving on cleaning costs)
- For your ring, choose your diamond color carefully, as many lighter shades of diamonds look identical to the untrained eye but could be exponentially more expensive
Attention to detail can go a long way: stay savvy and keep an eye on anywhere you can potentially save.
Dress Disaster? No Problem
There’s perhaps nothing worse than a fashion disaster on the day of your wedding. For this very reason, many celebrity planners recommend having an emergency fashion kit on hand to fix up any potential fashion faux pas that may occur. For example, such a kit may include:
- Rubber bands
- Double-sided tape
- Stain-removal wipes
- Needle and thread
- White-out pens
These items could be the difference between a memorable ceremony and a meltdown, so consider keeping them on deck during your ceremony.
Planning a memorable wedding is stressful enough, so take some of the stress out of the process by shopping smart and spotting opportunities to save. By doing so, you can look fabulous on your special day without breaking the bank.