Is it no secret that I’m a fan of Raina Dawn Events. The weddings she plans (like this one we featured here) are top notch, beautiful affairs with every detail accounted for.
That’s why I’m especially thrilled that she shared some of her insider tips on how she gets a great look for some of her clients, for a whole lot less that you expect. Consider this your best “cheat sheet” for wedding details!
“When it comes to your wedding, it truly is all in the details. But far too often, those details can wind up costing you a fortune, an unnecessary added expense on top of everything else! Well, with the wealth of information and products available at our fingertips on the internet today I suggest using the internet as a TOOL to attain the “Look for Less.” We all know how fun it is to search on the internet for bridal inspiration so take full advantage of it to find the best deals available out there, whether it be napkins, hankies, stamps, vintage signs…you get the idea.
It is important to be careful what you pair with items you purchase off the internet in order to not stray from the theme, for instance if you are having a formal wedding you want to be sure to not purchase things that are too casual. But as long as you have the right style in mind and shop around it is absolutely possible to achieve the look you are going for a fabulous price…Once you get started with finding the right inspiration, the sky’s the limit! Trust me!
Check out some of our absolute favorites…
Instead of spending a lot of money to letterpress or engrave your return address on your wedding invitations and thank you cards, consider purchasing an embosser! What a fabulous way to cut costs and an investment in a product you will be happy to have! Neiman Marcus has a great selection of embossers including this one I just received and can not rave about enough.
For centerpieces at a daytime casual rustic wedding, a great welcome basket or even to hold 
pashminas for the ladies as a favor visit Galvanized Pails. for some cool pails- like I said there are so many options for these, they are a such a great product to get creative with and so useful!
Muslin Bags is another great website to use where you can find these muslin bags and use them as little favor bags. A great way to personalize them is to visit your local craft store or have a stamp made with your monogram (try another great site I love, Rubber Stamps, and then purchase fabric ink in your wedding colors and stamp the muslin bags! This is an easy affordable way to add such a unique touch!
Of course one of our favorite websites out there for finding handmade steals and unique finds, is the fabulous Etsy and seriously if you have an idea there is no limit to what you can find or do with a site like this! Sometimes it is fun to just browse the endless inspiration their designers provide.
I am a huge fan of Michael Angela, and love all of her hand embroidered products,check out a few favorites:
Another of my favorites on Etsy, Family Attic offers custom designed vintage signs, you can also visit their website. These signs are not only super cute, they are extremely affordable and an added bonus is the amazing customer service you will receive while designing a custom vintage sign or picking one out from their extensive collection. And not to mention these signs can be used not only for adorable pictures, but for directions and in your home on shelves with weddings photos or as décor, or as a picture or postcard for your thank you cards! Some say”Mr. & Mrs” and on the back say and Thank You” so you can get two for one!
Photo credits( Lto R) Elizabeth Messina, Jose Villa, Studioatg
Instead of purchasing custom napkins for your local stationary store or other customized items, you can order them for a great price
For Your Party. They do great napkins & matchbooks & lots more! The same personalized look with your monogram or whatever prefer at a fraction of the cost They even have a sale section so be sure to check that out to see what bargains you can get for even less & check out their Grab & Go from section. (Photo courtesy of M Benedict Verley).
A great inexpensive and personalized favor idea is to burn you and your groom’s favorite music to a CD… you can then print your own CD labels or get them here on another of our favorite sites. Giving out one CD per couple makes for such a cute and very inexpensive favor or great for the welcome bags especially if doing a destination wedding!
Visiting some great wholesale websites is another option to keep in mind. You can get fabulous inspiration at a great deal. Check out Koyal Wholesale for candy bar jars and scoops
all types of fans & everything at amazing prices.
Another site we love is ClearBags where you can purchase your own clear little favor boxes or bags! You can then purchase ribbon or pretty labels online & put your favors together yourself to get a gorgeous look with the clear boxes. (By the way these boxes are very well made, thick plastic and look very high end and even come with little clear circle stickers to close them with).
Another favorite website if you are looking to do a save the date postcard with your engagement photo or a thank you or a postcard image for a destination wedding is Overnight Prints. Simply upload your image and then create! Their customer service design staff are super helpful! And have a friend who knows graphics help you and you can create double-sided postcards 100 postcards for $11 or 250 postcards for $21. Wow!
And if you are having a wedding on the beach there are tons of great websites out there just for you, but again, I advise to be careful 
site for some inspiration as a starting point. not to get carried away with kitschy designs and cheap favors, and to really look around. An idea is to use things like the parasol or starfish in a tasteful and clean, sophisticated way! Check out this
Another great website and store in NYC Pearl River is the perfect place to find lanterns, i.e. black or silver or gold chinese slippers instead of flip flops for a black tie ballroom wedding
So, as you can see, once you get started, the possibilities are endless! How lucky are we to have such a comprehensive wedding planning resource as the internet and all of this info with a few clicks of the mouse? Just like PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com itself, (an all time favorite website of ours to get that Look For Less ), you are sure to discover some amazing sites out there.”
Sarah Pease | Brilliant Event Planning: Don’t just use mirrors to get ready on your wedding day – use them to decorate! A mirror can substitute the current wall décor at your venue, open up your space, dress up your ceremony site, make a perfect centerpiece, and more. Check out ways you can use mirrors at your wedding in unexpected, beautiful ways on a shoe string budget.
On your next vintage shopping spree, thrift store trip, or flea market expedition, keep an eye out for quirky, framed mirrors of all shapes and sizes. Once you’ve collected a few framed mirrors, you could post them in clusters on a wall or hang them on pretty string for an inexpensive high impact look. Mix and match your vintage mirror finds for an eclectic and unique look. If you want them all to match or would like a more modern look, use a little spray paint to transform your finds.
Images: Alders Photography (left) Flutter Glass Photography (right)
Aren’t convinced mirrors can provide you with a gorgeous look for less? Here are a few more ideas:
- Add a mirror as a centerpiece to your cake or place card table. A full-length mirror in the center of your table will give the table a reflecting pool quality that will impress your guests!
- Serve your hors d’ oeuvres during cocktail hour on mirrored trays. Simply add handles (you can find them at any hardware store!) to small framed mirrors for a unique way to start your celebration.
- Want a lounge at your wedding but don’t have a big enough budget to rent furniture? Borrow end tables and coffee tables from friends and family and glam them up by adding appropriately sized framed mirrors to the tops.
For all you suburban brides that may not have immediate access to local thrift shops, I’ve seen great deals on mirrors at places such as Home Goods, Target, and even Home Depot. Look in the clearance and sale sections and don’t be afraid of mirrors that have nicked frames – you can always correct them with a little paint or distress the frame further using a hammer.
The Look For Less is a regular feature on our blog. Get amazing style tips from top wedding experts who can help you get a great look at your wedding, without breaking the bank.
Today’s feature was written by Sarah Pease of NYC’s Brilliant Event Planning. Specializing in proposal and wedding planning, they are known for combining immaculate design and precise planning and have produced event experiences for everyone from celebrities and professional athletes to their next door neighbors.
Meagan Gilpatrick | Maine Seasons Events: A great way to get a custom, layered look on guest tables at your wedding is to use custom fabric runners and overlays. Renting a basic poly/cotton full length table linen in a foundation color from the wedding palette and layering with a custom fabric element on top is an affordable way to achieve a custom look on your tables.
Photo: Sharyn Peavey
Many local people provide alteration, basic seamstress or sewing services, dry cleaners are a place to start, or look up “alterations” for your area and make some calls. Many times you can find someone in your area who will take the fabric you provide, and your measurements and whip up custom runners or table overlays for you for a few dollars a piece. Factor in the cost of fabric, and you can have custom table treatments for under $200 for a wedding with 18 tables.
Photos: Brea McDonald (left) Corbin Gurkin (right)
Look for coupons for local fabric stores, JoAnne craft stores often have a 40 % or 50% off coupon, and if you buy the fabric as one cut, you can use the coupon on the whole supply of fabric. Do the measurements carefully and allow for extra fabric for seam allowances and ample table overhang, then buy the total yardage you need.
A unique, custom look for less!
Photo: Maine Seasons Events
The Look For Less is a regular feature on our blog. Get amazing style tips from top wedding experts who can help you get a great look at your wedding, without breaking the bank.
Today’s feature was written by Meagan Gilpatrick of Maine Seasons Events. Owner, creative director and Maine native, Meagan Gilpatrick, believes each event design should incorporate special style elements that reflect the personalities of her clients. And Maine Season Events is a full design and wedding planning company specializing in one of kind, creative and stylish weddings.
Azar Jazestani | Principal Planner Ok so is it terribly wrong to fake the cake? Well, I say go for it! Ladies and lads, if you don’t already know this, those beautiful cakes you see in your favorite magazines are almost always dummy cakes. Stand ins! Can you tell? Why not bring a little faux fab to your wedding day?!
Cakes cost a fortune and the option of settling for an ugly one that fits into your budget is just wrong. This is a great alternative for the bride who has the style, but wants to save a pretty penny. Always dreamt of having a lavish eight tiered bad boy for your big day? Well, this may be the answer to your dreams.
Meet with your favorite cake designer and tell them what you are thinking of doing for your big day. They will design your cake based on your colors, theme + overall feel and deliver a perfect piece of art with a few fake tiers. You can still have a diva’s cake on a less than diva-ish budget!
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So, when the big moment comes, cut the cake and ever so gently feed each other the real stuff (just remember which tiers are faux!) As for the guests… wheel your cake out of the reception and into the kitchen where you can secretly get rid of the evidence! Once the cake slices are plated and garnished to perfection, all your unsuspecting guests will think is how delicious it is! It’ll be our little secret.
The Look For Less is a regular feature on our blog. Get amazing style tips from top wedding experts who can help you get a great look at your wedding, without breaking the bank.
Today’s feature was written by Azar Jazestani of Principal Planner in Montreal, Quebec. Principal Planner coordinates every event with exceptional grace and a trendy touch creating unforgettable results.
Wedding Cake Photos by Luisa Galuppo.