Brides USA

16 “Ask your florist to use plastic containers instead of glass.

They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors—even metal-

lics—and guests won’t know the difference.” —jacqueline elfe

17 “Florists can get discounts by ordering just three to five

types of flowers in bulk. Create a chic, uniform centerpiece

by grouping together monochromatic blooms in individual

vases—for example, one of white hydrangeas, another of white

tulips, and another of white calla lilies.” —kelly revels, the vine

garden market, saint simons island, ga.

18 “Pick affordable, at y pical varietals like spider mums, fennel

flowers, or hosta flowers. Display in large groups for high impact.”

—cristina lozito, cristina lozito photography & flowers, new york

19 “Have your florist create a few statement arrangements that

guests will drop dead over instead of spreading your budget

thin with many smaller florals they’ll walk right past. Focus

on areas where they’ll congregate, like the bar and the dance

floor.” —rick davis and christopher vazquez

20 “You need only two or three large blooms with a little bit

of filler to create bridesmaids’ bouquets that are minimalist

cool—and fifty bucks cheaper apiece.” —kelly revels

21 “Skip the boutonnieres, which can set you back $300. Encour-

age your fiancé and his groomsmen to sport pocket squares

instead.” —kelly revels

Bridal Attire

22 “Order your gown at least eight or nine months out to avoid

rush fees of as much as $500 and last-minute alterations of $100

to $300.” —alix childs, ceremony, boston

23 “Rent your jewelr y from a high-end site like Adorn, which

lets you borrow a $30,000 diamond necklace for $300. Down-

side: You have to send it back.” —alix childs

24 “Shop during a designer trunk show to pay $150 to $500 less

for your gown. Some salons will even throw in complimentar y

customization like a neckline change, size adjustment, or veil,

which could be another $150 to $800 in savings.” —camille wynn,

the dress theory, nashville

25 “Follow bridal salons on social media to catch promotions like

10 percent off your gown, 20 percent off jewelry, or a free veil with

gown purchase.” —lindsey principi, maddison row, charleston, s.c.

26 “Buy your dress at a sample sale for a retail markdown of 20

to 90 percent. Most occur before or after Bridal Market in late

spring and early fall, but even if a sale’s not happening, ask if the

boutique has any samples you can buy. Chances are, some gowns

have already been set aside for the next one.” —anna walsh, anna

bé bridal boutique, denver, and a & bé bridal shop, minneapolis

Photography

27 “Choose a less-expensive package that doesn’t include hard-

copy prints and albums. You can always buy them later.”

—lauren fair, lauren fair photography, pennsburg, pa.

28 “Book the photographer for only 8 to 10 hours instead of

a full day (12 to 14 hours). She’ll still capture all the important

moments, but you’ll pay as much as $4,000 less.” —sarah

tiedeman gallagher, readyluck photographers, brooklyn

29 “Save $500 by booking a second shooter for only

the getting-ready shots and ceremony.” —tory williams,

tory williams photography, brooklyn

30 “Seek out new talent! Seasoned photographers can

often recommend someone up-and-coming, who’s likely

more affordable.” —christa milster, our labor of love,

los angeles

Favors

31 “Most out-of-town guests want something to eat,

drink, or use in the hotel room. A small scented can-

dle doesn’t break the bank and is easy to bring back

home.” —sara fay egan

32 “Instead of passing out late-night food and favors,

combine the two and ser ve warm cookies to guests as

they leave the reception.” —sara fay egan

Venue & Decor

33 “Choose an off-peak day. A Friday wedding will save

you thousands on the venue and on your weekday rehearsal

dinner. Even better: a Sunday wedding. Site fees can be

$4 ,000 less, plus food and beverage minimums are lower,

which is great for smaller parties.” —reese rowe, herban feast

catering and events, seattle

34 “Host your ceremony and reception at the same venue or

at two places within walking distance of each other. You’ll

save up to $4,000 by eliminating the need for transportation.”

—jennifer stiebel, soco events, washington, d.c.

35 “Reuse ceremony chairs at the reception. You may have

to pay a moving fee, but it will still be cheaper than ordering

twice as many seats.” —maria svensson, four seasons resort the

biltmore santa barbara, calif.

36 “Instead of renting expensive linens, top your venue’s

standard cotton or polyester tablecloths with a decorative run-

ner and save about $25 per table.” —emarie c. vangalio, la tavola

fine linen rental, napa, calif.

37 “If you want a lounge-like setting for cocktails, ask to

borrow sofas, chairs, or tables from other rooms in the venue

instead of renting furniture.” —sara fay egan

38 “Specialized glassware is a beautiful tabletop statement, but

a full setting can cost $14 per person. Choose just one standout

champagne or wine glass and use standard options for the rest

to get the same look for $10.50 less per setting.” —brooke keegan

39 “Use disposable bamboo plates for apps and dessert. Verterra

makes quality dishes that cost 50 cents each, plus they’re eco-

friendly.” —marci delozier haas, frankies sputino, new york