Coordinate With Other Couples

Lisa Yuen and Kevin Rhoads contacted the couple who was using their wedding venue the next day and coordinated their chair rental. This is a great way to save money and to decrease your environmental footprint (because the equipment only needs to be delivered, set-up and broken-down once). Don't be shy about asking your venue about other couples. Good "share items" include tents, tables, dance floors, lighting, and chairs. Some couples share flowers, candles, and other decor items as well. There is no harm in asking.

A Non-Wedding Dress Option

Instead of buying a bridal gown, Alissa Harvey chose this lovely white bridesmaid's dress. "My dress was actually a bridesmaid dress that cost less than $250--a great tip for budget-savvy brides. Many of those bridesmaid dresses come in lots of colors including traditional ivory or white. Mine had a gorgeous sapphire sash around the waist to coordinate with my sapphire wedding and engagement rings."

Non-wedding dress options often require less fabric to make and are easier to recycle. If you or your maids wear bridesmaid's dresses consider donating them after the wedding to The Cinderella Project or The Glass Slipper Project.