When you are shopping for wedding supplies, you will quickly realize that it is much more expensive than any other type of shopping that you’ll ever do. Manufacturers of wedding goods know that you are forced to buy their items in order to have the wedding of your dreams, so they tend to mark up the prices on everything so they can make a fortune off of your happiness. Everything from your napkins to your wedding dress will seem like they are more expensive than they should be, and this can quickly lead to some frustration and hard decision making. However, there are some ways to save money when shopping for wedding supplies that will keep your costs as low as possible so you can get more for your money. Here are some tips that will help you when you start the long and arduous journey to your wedding day.
Wedding Dress
Your wedding dress is a very important purchase, and chances are that you don’t want to compromise just to save a little cash. However, there are plenty of great ways to shop for your wedding dress that have savings built right into the process. First off, you should avoid shopping at designer stores because they are very expensive and the knock-off brands usually steal their designs anyway. Secondly, you can look at the discount section at the bridal shop to find marked-down dresses because they were “last year’s style”. And finally, if you’re very savvy, you can check around at second-hand stores to see if there is a great dress that was gently used that fits your style. That option isn’t for everyone, but you can save a ton of money by going this route.
Decorations
Decorations are an area where it is very easy to spend way too much money. Many couples lose sight of the fact that these decorations will only be used one time and then discarded. The best choice is to go to dollar stores and buy inexpensive napkins, plastic utensils, and plates for use at your wedding reception.If you have a particular style in mind that they don’t carry at the dollar store, you can also try shopping online. Online stores generally have a larger selection and lower prices because they don’t carry the same overhead costs that physical stores do.
Wedding Favors
Wedding favors are one of those things that many couples skip because they don’t have enough money in their wedding budget. However, you can easily choose wedding favors that your guests will appreciate, are easy on the wallet, and also make the reception a more exciting event. You should consider looking for wedding sparklers at a retail outlet after the 4th of July or from an online store. You can usually get them for next to nothing, and your guests will be entertained while using them as part of your wedding reception.
Flowers
Flowers are one of the more expensive items that you’ll need to buy for your wedding, and finding a florist that will give you a good deal can be next to impossible. Many florists make the vast majority of their money from wedding flowers and on holidays like Valentine’s Day, so it isn’t likely that you’ll find a discounted rate. Instead, you can choose an alternative to real wedding flowers such as wooden roses, paper flowers, or even flowers made from recycled plastics. They won’t smell quite as good as the real thing, but they are much less expensive and can give your wedding a very unique look.