Finding your dream dress for your wedding is stressful and at the end of the day, you don’t want to ruin it or come home and spend the next hour trying to unbutton your beautiful and expensive wedding dress when all you really want to be doing is enjoying the night with your new Husband. That is why a huge trend in weddings is to get a “Getaway dress” That you change into at your reception and do your grand exit in. This way you can do some final touch-ups as you change and also so that you don’t have to stuff your HUGE wedding dress into the car and have it take up half of the car.
Since you are only wearing this dress in a few photos and only for a little bit at the end of the day, you probably don’t want to spend too much on it. Although these are super cute white summer dresses so if you do want to re-wear them they would still be super cute and romantic for an anniversary date night outfit.
WARNING I ALWAYS suggest that you read reviews and check the measurements on the dresses before purchasing them for yourself. There are affiliate links in this post.
That being said here are a few of my favorite Wedding Getaway Dresses on Amazon for under 50$ that are super cute, flowy, and perfect for your big day!
1. Women’s Summer Square Neck Puff Sleeve Boho Midi Dress Swiss Dot Ruffle Flowy Tie Back Dress
This white dress is perfect for a summer wedding it has the cutest back with a beautiful bow and a gorgeous neckline. One thing I want to point out on this dress is that the bottom section is seethrough, some might find this as an issue, but nothing a quick sewing couldn’t fix.
This dress is great for an after-wedding dress that is both boho and cottage core aesthetic. This might be my favorite white dress on amazon so far. This dress has been given a 4-star rating so they have overall great reviews.
2. Women’s Dress Sweet & Cute V-Neck Bell Sleeve Shift Dress Mini Dress
This dress is super elegant and chic and I love everything about it. This amazon dress has very beautiful big sleeves and a lot of amazing reviews.
I love the sheer sleeves and how classy it looks especially with some gold jewelry. This is a flattering dress for most body shapes. This would be the perfect outfit to exit your classy and elegant wedding in.
3. Women’s V Neck Smocked Short Sleeve Casual Dress Swiss Dot Swing Flowy Ruffle Hem Mini Beach Summer Dresses
This is one of my favorite white dresses on Amazon. I am such a sucker for white swiss dot fabrics. I love the flowy sleeves and the stretchy bust area.
This dress has great reviews and is flattering on all body types including plus-size women. It is a great length that is modest and cute. Perfect for a summer white wedding getaway dress.
4. Women’s Lace Wrap Mini Dresses Floral V Neck Ruffle Short Dress with Belt
This dress isn’t my favorite one but when I looked at the reviews it looked AMAZING on a lot of women and for the price point it is an overall very cute dress for brides and their special day. This dress would look amazing for an elegant bride in the summer months.
I love this dress and I think it is super cute, the only issue that I see is the sleeves are not super flattering if you have bigger arms but still would be beautiful on most brides. I also saw that the bottom is a little sheer and some people were not a huge fan of that. The bust is stretchy and could fit most brides but the neckline is high so if you find that flattering on yourself I would definitely suggest this dress to you. Perfect white wedding getaway dress for the summer.
6. Women’s Casual Summer Crew Neck Short Puff Sleeve Smocked High Waist Ruffle Tiered A-Line Midi Dress
I love this dress but I personally do not look good in puffy sleeves. I do know MANY people who do look good in puffy sleeves so I had to add this one to the list. It is modest and cute for a bride who may not want to reveal too much of herself.
8. Women’s Casual Satin Dress Spaghetti Strap Cowl Neck Slips Side Slit Cocktail Party Silk Mini Cami Dresses
This dress is very cute but did have the lowest rating out of all the dresses on this post. I think this would be a very nice dress for an elegant bride and a great cocktail dress for the Wedding after-party.
9. Women’s Casual V Neck Long Sleeve Smocked High Waist Ruffle A Line Tiered Mini Dress
This is a very basic but cute dress for any bride who wants to keep it airy and modest. The long puff sleeves are gorgeous and the bust is stretchy for most body types. This dress had the best review ranking on Amazon out of the list I created for White wedding getaway dresses.
10. Women White Dresses Short Sleeve V Neck Ruffle Cute Sun Dress Chiffon Flowy Shift Mini Dress
This one is similar to the one above but has the little white polka dots which I think are super cute. This dress had overall pretty good reviews and would look good on a lot of beautiful brides.
11. Women’s Warp V Neck Ruffle Short Sleeve A Line Swing Flared Cocktail Party Midi Dress
I am definitely considering buying this dress for myself because the reviews are amazing and the dress is very flattering and is flowy and elegant. I love the flutter sleeves and the waist giving it a lot of shapes which can be hard in white dresses.
12. Women’s Long Sleeve Sweetheart Neck Waist Tie Double Layer Ruffle Mini Dress Flowy Tiered Short Dress
I LOVE the neckline of this dress and the beautiful long sleeves with the adorable bow in the front. This is such a cute dress with great reviews and is a super cute white getaway dress for your wedding exit.
Are you dating someone but not sure if you actually want to marry them? Here are a few red flags and things you should consider before getting engaged, let alone getting married. These are a few tips that can help you decide if they are really the one. And to find out if you really want to spend the rest of your life together.
12 Things To Consider Before You Decide To Get Married
1. What is your Gut telling you?
You should ALWAYS listen and trust your gut.I cannot repeat this enough. Your gut knows way more than you do. It can pick things up that you would not without it. For example, you can feel eyes on you without having to see someone staring at you. It is the same concept as your gut. Even if you do not fully understand it, listen to it and trust it. You may not know why at the beginning but you will thank yourself later.
2. Listen to your Family & Close Friends
Your family and close friends know you and they can see things that you may not. Listen to their concerns and actively ask them for their opinion and concerns about your partner. Having an outside look in can be tremendously helpful in deciding whether this is the person for you or not. You should respect their opinion and have an open mind to what they have to say.
3. Does your partner have toxic tendencies?
This is such an important thing to look for because they might start off not that bad but as time goes on it will increase and by then it’s too late and could escalate into a verbally or physically abusive relationship. So make sure you are being realistic when thinking about who they will become and small red flags. At the end of the day, it is your choice to decide what you are comfortable with and what are deal-breakers for you. So proceed with caution.
4. Why do you want to marry them? Besides Love.
Love is an amazing and sacred thing but it is not the only factor in choosing a spouse.
Do you like their family?
Do you feel safe around them/ with them?
Do your life goals complement each other?
Do you want to raise kids the same way?
Do they make you want to be a better person?
Are they good with finances?
Do you have the same religious beliefs?
Etc…
There are so many logistics that come into play when you merge your two lives together as well as your families together. Love is important but it is not the only important thing to consider. In many cultures and places around the world, love doesn’t even play a part in a marriage. So make sure you and your partner are compatible in every way or that you are willing to make it work besides some hiccups.
5. Do you or them have anger issues?
Remember you will be spending the rest of your life together so make sure you know if you can handle their anger issues and don’t be naive with this topic because this could be a huge deal in your marriage.
6. How do you argue with each other?
I always tell couples you have to argue at least once before you seal the deal. I mean like actually argue to see how they react in certain situations and that you can see if you are willing to deal with how they argue for the rest of your life because if you are married you are going to argue it’s inevitable. It is nearly impossible not to.
7. Do you like their friends?
You are a combination of the top 5 closest people to you. So if you do not like their friends there is a good chance you may not like them when the butterflies and the rose-covered glasses go away.
8. Do you personally think you are ready to get married?
Not only should you consider qualities in your partner, but yourself as well. You don’t want to ruin an amazing relationship because you were not ready. So heres a few questions to help you find out if you are ready:
Can you swallow your pride for a greater outcome?
Do you know what you want in a partner?
Do you know what you need in a partner?
Are you petty?
Are you emotionally stable?
Are you emotionally mature?
Are you being honest with yourself and your partner?
Etc…
9. How are your financials? Are you good with money? Are They?
Money can be one of the biggest causes of fights and divorces so it is so important that you are open and honest with your money habits and that you are both doing your best at being more money friendly.
10. Do your life goals/ priorities line up with each other?
It’s your life and you can do literally anything you want to do and you don’t want to regret throwing your plans away. Blaming your partner for not being able to live up to your potential is toxic and depressing for both parties. Make sure you know what you want and if it’s them, then go for it! If not, maybe you should take a second look.
11. Do you feel pressured to Marry them?
Love is an amazing thing and should never be rushed. Take your time and don’t just get married because people are telling you that you need to. Even if it’s your partner. If you feel like the time is right then go for it! If not, take your time.
12. Do you really know them well enough?
I am a huge true crime binger and if there is anything I have learned from it is, do you really know your spouse well enough? A lot of spouses of the murderers say they had no idea that they were doing things like this or even capable of it. Now that may be an extreme example of this question but you should know every single detail of your spouse before you get engaged or you will be so shocked after you get married. No one goes into a marriage wanting a divorce, which is why it is so important to make sure you do know them!
I hope these Questions help you decide if they are really the one you should Marry.
At the end of the day, it is your choice on who you marry and when. So I hope these questions help you decide if they really are the one you want to spend the rest of your life with. These questions definitely helped me decide if I wanted to break up with my ex-boyfriends and if I wanted to marry my husband and I couldn’t be happier with my final decision.
Planning a wedding is super stressful and a lot of work. A lot of the time we forget the smallest details and it makes our big day an extra stressful mess. This is why I went on Pinterest for hours trying to make sure I covered every single detail of my wedding to make sure that nothing went through the cracks.
As a Member Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, there are a lot of extra steps that people outside of my faith do not have to worry about. So when I was looking for a wedding checklist it was a lot harder because there isn’t that much LDS wedding content. That’s when I knew I needed to make this list so that I can help other LDS girls plan their wedding and not stress nearly as much!
This list should have everything but if somethings do not apply to you feel free to skip over them. Every wedding is different so I hope this can help you as much as possible!
The Ultimate LDS Wedding Check List
– Choose a photographer
– Get engagement photos
– Choose a date
– Choose a temple
– Make sure you have discussed EVERYTHING with your partner and that you know he is the one you want to actually spend eternity with (Check out my blog post 100 questions to ask before you get married)
– Wedding letters? (letters you write to each other and read them the morning of your wedding day)
– Father-daughter dance?
– First dance?
– Mother and son dance?
– Garter/ Garter Toss?
– Vows?
– Get Away plan?
– Getaway dress?
– Wedding favors?
– Choose MC for reception
– Figure out how you are going to do audio
– DJ or Band?
– Choose the type of reception you want. Line reception or Sit down reception?
– Wedding gift to spouse?
– Get endowment temple recommend from the stake president
– Buy garments
– Buy Temple clothes
– Hopefully, do some spiritual prep before getting endowed
– Get endowed
– Figure our who is going to be the set up crew
– Kid’s room?
– Choose someone to be in charge of putting all of your personal stuff in the car before you leave.
– Choose a clean up crew if your venue doesn’t have one
– Choose someone assigned to take care of leftover food.
– Choose someone assigned to bring wedding gifts to your house or to your car.
Actual Wedding Day Planning
– First look photos
– Temple photos
– Wedding photos
– Bridal Portraits
– Wedding night hotel?
If I missed anything please let me know!
I really hope this post can help you plan for your wedding. I would have loved to have one of these on my day! If you know anyone else who is LDS and trying to plan a wedding, make sure you send this there way so that they can be less stressed!
Make sure you pin this to your wedding Pinterest board so that you can find it later!
Marriage is such an amazing and sacred thing and because of that, it is important to make sure you marry the right partner. Marriage is definitely not something anyone should rush into so hopefully these questions help you prepare to get married.
Before you get married you should talk about literally EVERYTHING. There should be no secrets or gut feelings you have ignored. Discussing everything and anything you can beforehand to strengthen your marriage and make things easier when times get tough, and they will eventually get tough.
Although at the end of the day, it is your choice on who you marry and why, so proceed with caution and take what I have to say with a grain of salt.
100 Questions To Ask Your Partner Before Getting Married
I would definitely suggest asking these before you even get engaged but either or work!
Do you have any debt?
Why do you want to get married?
How do you fight?
How will we work through our fights?
Are you willing to swallow your pride?
What does your family think of me?
How often will we see our families?
Do you like my family?
Where do you want to end up?
What are deal breakers for you?
What are your pet peeves?
How neat/ tidy are you?
How are we going to do clean-up?
What traditions do you want to do with our family?
What are your beliefs?
Are you good with money?
What is your stance on politics?
Who is going to decorate the house?
How many pets do you want?
What type of pets are you okay with?
How much education do you want?
What are your life goals?
What are your priorities?
Do you want kids?
How many kids do you want?
How picky are you with baby names?
How are we going to do finances?
How are we going to budget?
What is your sex drive like?
How often will you want sex?
What are your sexual preferences?
How many people have you dated before me?
What do you want in a partner?
What qualities do you need in a partner?
How many sexual partners have you had before me?
What is the farthest you have gone sexually?
Are you genuinely attracted to me?
What is your favorite thing about me?
Do you have any food allergies or intolerances?
What foods do you not like?
Who is going to cook?
Can you cook?
How much alone time do you need?
How often are we going to go on vacation?
How often do you want to go on date nights?
Do you want to live near family?
Where are you willing to move?
If there is a better job opportunity are you willing to move?
What is important to you?
Do you like to relax on vacation or do a lot of activities on vacation?
What type of vacations do you like?
What happens if I get fat?
What happens if you get fat?
What happens if we fall out of love?
Are there any friends you don’t like?
How often are we going to see our friends?
Are you a risk-taker/ are you willing to take risks?
What happens if we have a honeymoon baby?
What happens if we have twins?
What type of birth control are we comfortable using?
What happens if we have a baby with disabilities?
What happens if one of us gets handicapped?
Are you embarrassed by me?
Do you love me or the idea of me?
If I change are you still going to love me?
Why would you ever get a divorce?
Do you have any secrets you haven’t told me yet?
What is your gut saying?
Do you feel good about getting married?
Have you prayed about it?
Have you struggled with mental health?
Does your family struggle with mental health?
Are there any health problems that run in your family?
What is your love language?
Would you let me go through your phone?
Do you think it’s appropriate to have friends of the opposite gender?
Are you willing to go to counseling if we are having problems?
Should we get a prenup?
Do you look at pornography?
Do you drink alcohol? How much is too much?
Do you have a criminal record?
Do you take prescriptions I don’t know about?
Are you prone to addiction? Are you addicted to something I don’t know about?
What do we do if one of us gets addicted to something?
If someone asks for money what do you we do?
What is our retirement plan?
How would you feel if I didn’t groom myself for a few days? (shaving, makeup, etc…)
How much alone time do you need?
How would you like to be comforted when sad?
How much does my appearance affect your feelings towards me?
Do you think it is appropriate to have friends of the opposite gender?
How often should we go on date nights?
How often should we hang out with our friends?
How much of our life should we not share with family/ friends?
Do you have any deal breakers? (not acceptable things/behavior)
How should we handle our money?
Where do you want to be in 10 years?
What happens if one of us gets mentally or physically disabled?
If things ever got bad, would you be willing to go to couples therapy?
What happens if one of us is infertile? Adoption? Surrogate? IVF?
I hope these questions help you determine if marriage is the right path for your relationship and help you through some hard questions that will hopefully make things easier in the future!
If you think I missed any questions that are essential to ask before you get engaged/ married comment down below and let me know so I can add them to the list!
When I was looking for a Temple Dress I was shocked that there really weren’t very many options. I knew I wanted to feel comfortable and confident in my dress. Especially when I go to the Temple for my Sealing or my Endowment. Luckily I found one I loved in time, but I was cutting it pretty close to the deadline! After I got endowed and lived in Utah for a bit, I learned of all these amazing stores that also sold Temple dresses! I was so shocked and I was so in love!
I kept telling everyone who was about to get engaged all these amazing stores they need to check out before they find the one they want! Because Deseret Book is great, but their options are very numbered.
I decided that when I made a blog I would have to make a list of all these amazing stores and help others feel comfortable and confident while in the Temple. I hope that this list helps you and that you can either find the dress of your dreams or replace your older one!
Chances are you might know these Stores already!
You might already know a lot of these stores but would never have guessed they also sold Temple Dresses. I asked around and hopefully, I found most of the stores that have Temple Dresses, if I missed one, please feel free to contact me so I can add it to this list!
Make sure you share this post with other LDS girls about to get endowed! This may make their life a little easier! This is a great way to minister to those about to get married or endowed!
What are LDS Temple Dresses?
For those of you who do not know what LDS is or what a Temple Dress is allow me to explain. LDS stands for Latter-Day Saints which means Members of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. A Temple Dress is a long-sleeved Maxi Dress that is 100% White. You probably have seen a Temple from the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints. They are GORGEOUS buildings that Members Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints go to Worship in. As Members, we wear white which symbolizes Purity and Faith. To learn more about LDS Temples, Endowments & Sealings click here.
Some people even wear Temple Dresses as simple Wedding Dresses, so even if you are not LDS feel free to check out this list!
These Were all the ones I could find! If there are any I am missing, please feel free to contact me and I will add them to the list!
I love the Temple so much and I am so grateful for all the blessings the Temple has given me and my family. I hope that as you prepare to go to the Temple you will feel comfortable and confident in your dress!
Check Out Our Other Blog Posts
Top 10 LDS Quotes To Get You Through The Hard Days
I just got married last year and the biggest Wedding problem I ran into was finding cute but modest bridesmaid dresses. Especially when I wanted a certain shade of green. I can’t even explain how frustrated I got. Luckily I had a bunch of amazing bridesmaids who helped look around the web and find any dress that fit my description. Eventually, I found the perfect bridesmaid dresses from Lulus.
I promised myself once I made a blog I would have to create a list of every dress shop that had a bridesmaid section and had as many modest options as I could find. I found as much as I could and they are all linked below. If you are looking for just any type of dress that could work as a bridesmaid dress, I highly suggest checking out my blog post called 41 Online Stores That Sell Modest Dresses. There are A LOT more options on that blog post. But for this one, it is just shops that have a section dedicated to bridesmaid dresses.
Why These Stores?
I love and trust all of these stores. I have bought dresses from so many of them or I have had friends that have. They are all amazing stores that I respect and adore so much!
I feel like a lot of bridesmaid dress stores that I looked at that were not these I didn’t trust them or thought they could potentially be a scam. But with these stores, I am not worried about that at all!
Hope These Help!
I hope these dress stores help you find the bridesmaid dresses of your dreams! Also that they look absolutely stunning in your Wedding pictures!
If you want more dress options that aren’t “technically” Bridesmaid Dresses but still could work. Check out my other blog post 41 Online Stores That Sell Modest Dresses.
I only had a couple of games at my Wedding Reception and I regret not having more! They were so much fun and everyone enjoyed them! If you have a line Reception it may be a little harder to incorporate these games into your special day but there may be a few that should still work.
You should always consider what type of guests you invited before you decide what games work best for your day. For example, if you do a few dance games but you don’t have a lot of young outgoing guests it might be hard to get people into the game. But at the end of the day, it is you and your husband’s day. So make it personal and customizable to you.
I am going to introduce the game and then explain how to play.
1. The Shoe Game
The Shoe Game is the most common Wedding game. It is a super fun “who is” game. You can have your MC facilitate the Game and explain it to the audience as you and your spouse get ready for the game. This is also a great opportunity to finally get out of those heels for a little break!
How to play
Step 1
The Bride & Groom sit back to back on chairs
Step 2
The Bride & Groom take off their shoes and give one of their own to their partner. They should have one of each of their shoes. (Some people use Barbie or Ken dolls instead-but up to you)
Step 3
The announcer then reads out one question at a time and the Bride & Groom will lift up whom ever’s shoe they think fits the question best.
Example:
MC: “Who is Messier”
*Bride & Groom raise whomever’s shoe they think is messier*
The Hand Game is a really funny game where you get to figure out how well you actually know your partner (physically). This game takes a few volunteers from the audience and gets everyone every involved.
How to Play
Step 1
Blindfold the Groom (or Bride)
Step 2
Choose a handful of volunteers from the audience. The more diverse the funnier it gets. For example, Young, Old, Harry, or Small. You can choose as many as you want but I would suggest about 10 volunteers.
Step 3
Every volunteer places their left hand out in a line
Step 4
The Groom (or Bride) then has to guess what hand is their spouses.
This game is super fun because when they finally choose who they think is their spouse it’s either super funny or super romantic.
3. Find The Guest Wedding BINGO!
This Wedding game is super great for letting guests get to know each other and socialize more. Especially when the 2 families barely know each other this gives them more reason to talk to each other.
I think we all know how to play Bingo so I shouldn’t have to explain it too much.
Who ever is the winner gets a prize and you get to decide what that prize is!
This is a classic and a super fun game to get people dancing. It is also great to get people in the audience to get up and join the party. Hopefully, you should already know how to play this but if not here are some instructions for you:
How to Play
Step 1
We are going to do exactly what Rihanna told us not to do and:
Stop the music
Step 2
Everyone has to stop dancing and Freeze in their spot and not move at all.
Step 3
Whoever is last to Freeze or moves before the music starts again is Kicked out of the Game.
Last person standing wins!
5. Princess, Knight, & Horse
This is a super fun dancing game that gets more people in the audience to get up and dance. It is super easy to play and super fun to watch as well. It is similar to Freeze Dance although this game requires people to pair up.
Step 1
Get everyone to pair up. Preferably Boy & Girls but it doesn’t really matter.
Step 2
Stop the Music randomly and get the MC to yell out either “Princes“, “Knight“or “Horse“
Step 3
If the MC yells out “Princess” the Women (or a partner) must jump into the guy’s arms and he has to hold her there until the music starts again.
If the MC yells out “Prince” then the Man must kneel on one knee and the Woman must sit on his knee until the music starts again.
If the MC yells out “Horse” then the girl must piggyback the guy until the music starts again. ( you may have to adjust this one because some people in dresses can’t do a piggyback so they might have to be the horse in this case)
Step 4
Whichever couple is last to complete the task gets kicked out of the game. This continues until there is only one couple remaining.
The last couple remaining Wins the Game.
6. Sixes
This Game is for large groups of people but can be adjusted for smaller groups. It can help be a little ice breaker for those who are a little scared to socialize. Sixes is also a dance game and is again very similar to Freeze Dance.
How to Play
Step 1
Play the music and stop suddenly.
Step 2
The MC will then call out a number between 1-6
Step 3
The dancers will then need to pair up with how ever many people the MC called out
For example, The MC calls out 5 then everyone would need to team up and make a group of 5
Step 4
If someone is unable to join a group of the number called or if a group is one more or one less than the number announced. They are then kicked out of the game.
I think we all can agree Weddings are EXPENSIVE. Not only does the Wedding Day cost a lot, but so does the Honeymoon, the new housing situation, and of course, starting a new life together.
I got married a little over a year ago and as a college student, things can get tight pretty quickly. So here are a few tips and tricks I used, or at least wish I used to save me hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars.
1. Buy Your Veil on Facebook Marketplace
When I went dress shopping I loved my dress but I didn’t even know if I wanted a Veil. The dress store told me it would be $300 just for the type of veil I wanted. I honestly didn’t think it was worth it for only a few pictures.
I checked Facebook Market place in hope that maybe someone was selling one that would match my dress. There were so many!! I found one that would perfectly match my dress and it was the perfect length for it too. It only cost me $15!!!
If you do this, make sure you check if the veil is the right type of white for your dress. If your dress is Ivory make sure you check that it is actually an Ivory Veil. Or if it is a White Dress make sure it’s a white veil. But for $15 it may be worth a few mistakes.
Not only can you check Facebook Market place but also try Craigslist, KSL Classified, etc..
2. Barrow Decor
Luckily my 2 older siblings got married a few years before me and my Mom saved most of their wedding decor. I was able to sort through and choose what would work for my wedding. This saved me and my family so much money in the long run! I now tell my friends who are getting married to come over and look through a few of the boxes. I then let them pick and choose what might work for their Wedding.
Another example of borrowing decor: if a friend has a large picture frame in their house you could ask to borrow it. At your Wedding, you could use it as a day plan or as decor. Along with other decor items your close friends may have like lanterns, plants, etc…
3. Print your Invitations Double-sided
I used Vistaprint to do all of my Wedding Invitations and was able to make it double-sided. (There are definitely other ways you can make them double sided but that’s just what I used.) I made one side a super cute picture from our Engagement Shoot. ( My super talented sister took Danielle Gwilliam Photography. ) And for the other side our Wedding date announcement, Registry information, & RSVP.
Having double-sided Invitations is a lot cheaper than printing a photo and the Wedding information on a separate card. Especially when you have to buy everything in bulk.
4. Start with a Smaller Ring
I heard this one from my best friend’s Mom and I absolutely loved the idea! Start off with a smaller diamond. Paying for a wedding is super expensive and it’s not always ideal to spend over $7,000 for a wedding ring upfront. And then even more in a few months!
So start with a diamond (or another gem) that is a little smaller than your dream ring. Then on a future anniversary when you can actually afford a larger diamond. Sell your diamond and use that money to buy a bigger sized one.
Not only does this save you money at the time. But it also makes your anniversary and your wedding ring even more special.
5. Get Moissanite instead of a Diamond
The price of Diamonds is ridiculous and honestly not worth it. Moissanite is almost as strong as a Diamond and actually reflects light better than diamonds. (which means it sparkles more than a Diamond 😉 . I kept telling my Husband (Fiance at the time) to not spend the money on a Diamond. But instead, get Moissanite and he did! We got to put the money towards more education and even a house! Definitely worth at least considering!
If you are set on having a Diamond, you could also consider getting a Lab-created Diamond. The exact same Gem but a lot cheaper! ( still a little more expensive than Moissanite but a Diamond none the less.)
My absolute favorite Moissanite Ring shop is Olive Ave Jewellery. They are SUPER cute and affordable rings that are definitely worth checking out!
1 Carat Diamond = $1,800- $12,000
1 Carat Lab-Created Diamond= $800-$1000 (although it has no resale value)
1 Carat Moissanite = $600
These are an estimate of the prices in 2021 (prices may vary depending on what jeweler you go to)
6. Have your Bridesmaids pay for their Dresses as a Wedding Gift
My bridesmaids were a huge help when it came to choosing the perfect bridesmaid dresses. I gave them a few color options and we all searched the web together. The group chat was flooded with a bunch of dresses. We wanted something formal but we also wanted something that they would want to actually wear again.
Then instead of getting me a wedding present, they can just pay for their dress and keep it and use it whenever they want after the Wedding. One of my bridesmaids even wore it to her engagement shoot that summer!
7. See if Friends that are good at Hair/ Photos will make you a deal
I think we all have that friend who is either really good at doing hair or an actual hairdresser. You could reach out to them and see if they would be willing to give you a friend discount and be apart of your special day.
This also goes with Photographers. Although I do not suggest going cheap with photographers. Photographers can be some of the most important people in keeping that day rememberable for years to come. You don’t want that to be messed up. So make sure they line up with what you want. But if you do have a talented friend or family member, see if they would be willing to help you out. In return, you can give them more exposure through social media, etc…
8. Check Facebook Marketplace
You never know what is going to be on Facebook Marketplace, so the rule of thumb, check Facebook Marketplace! You can find Decor, Used dresses, Veils, Shoes, etc… And usually for quite a bargain. You will be surprised what is on there and how some items are practically brand new.
Not only should you check Facebook Marketplace but also try looking at Craigslist, KSL Classified, and other websites like them. There sometimes is a diamond in the rough.
9. Outdoor wedding
If you are able to have an outdoor wedding, try looking for one! Ask friends that have large yards if they would be willing to let you use their yard for your wedding. Or some parks even allow you to use it for a venue and are definitely cheaper than indoor wedding venues. Outdoor Weddings can be absolutely gorgeous!
10. Church wedding
Most Churches are only being used a few days out of the week and many are available to book. For example, The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints has a gymnasium. If you contact their Bishop they will most likely let you book the gymnasium for free. Of course, booking at a church would mean no alcohol. But for a free venue, it might just be worth it!
It may look tacky at first, but with the right decor, you could make it look magical! I have seen it be done before so I know it’s possible!
11. Do your own nails
Nails are such a minor detail that you will barely notice in the long run. Plus doing your own nails will save you A LOT of money upfront and also in the long run. You can even buy Gel nail kits on Amazon for super cheap and have awesome nails for years to come.
12. Consider Dress Rentals
A lot of people would never even consider Wedding Dress Rentals because they have the stigma of being gross and outdated. But in recent years a lot of Wedding Dress rentals have stepped up their game. For a dress you are only going to wear for a day, it is at least worth considering. You never know what is out there until you check. It may just be your dream dress.
Some people want to save their dress so their future daughter can wear it to her wedding. But let’s be honest, dresses can get trendy and outdated quickly. Your style may not be your daughter’s style. I know I don’t want poofy shoulders and a mermaid dress. So do not get your hopes too high on that one. It probably isn’t worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a small chance that your daughter may want to wear it.
13. Do your own Makeup
There are so many YouTube Tutorials out there and product recommendations! It is possible for you to do your own makeup. Plus you have probably been doing your makeup for most of your life. You will know what you like and what you don’t like. There is even a chance you have most of the makeup already. I would definitely suggest getting more high-end makeup for your Wedding day. Then you can use it after your wedding day too!
I would also consider talking to make up professionals at Sephora or other makeup places to make sure you get the right shade for your skin tone.
14. Check the Dollar store
Every time I go to the dollar store I am ALWAYS shocked at what they have, for only a dollar. Not saying you have to use stuff from the dollar store, but it is definitely worth checking out before buying expensive decor. There are so many things that a layer of spray paint could make into a super cute decor piece.
If you go to the Dollar Tree Website you will notice that you can also buy things in bulk for even cheaper. If you want real Wine glasses, the Dollar tree has them! Along with so many other things that you would not realize they had unless you checked.
15. Check some thrift stores
Thrift stores are always full of surprises. There are even more finds in larger city’s thrift stores. With a little searching, you may just find a diamond in the rough. With a little fixing up you won’t even be able to tell it’s been thrifted.
Plus Vintage is in and you can find a bunch of vintage decor pieces at thrift stores. You may just need to get a little creative and you will save hundreds.
16. Honey
Honey Logo
Honey is a chrome extension that has literally saved me so much money. Once downloaded, Honey will be in the corner of your screen. Every time you go to purchase something online it will scan for promo codes or deals. You probably wouldn’t have known they existed unless it checked for you.
I use Honey for literally everything I buy online. I told all my bridesmaids to use honey when purchasing their bridesmaid dresses. It saved them all $15 off their dress. And with 5 bridesmaids, that saved a lot of money super quickly!
17. Rakuten
Rakuten Logo
Rakuten is also a chrome extension and an app I use all the time. All you do is when you buy things online go through Rakuten. It will then give you a certain percentage back each time you buy with them. The percentage is different for every store but is definitely worth it! After a certain amount of time Rakuten will send you a check in the mail for all the money you got from your cashback.
This is also a super great app because if you already know you are going to buy something, you might as well use Rakuten. And get money back from your purchases.
It use to be called Ebates but now they renamed it it Rakuten.
18. Shop Online
When shopping online there are so many ways to find great deals and save money. You can also compare similar items and choose what works best for you and your price range. Not only will you find great deals, But you can also look for exactly what you want instead of settling for something you found in store because it was “close enough”.
19. DIY Wedding Decor
Fixing up items to match your wedding can be super easy and super cost-efficient. If you found it at a thrift store or at the dollar store you can save so much money. With a little coat of spray paint or a little fixing up, it will match your decor perfectly.
If you are good at would working you could even make your own arch or other decor items. Go on Pinterest for a little inspiration and get to work! You will save a lot of money if you get a little crafty!
20. Delegate to Family and Friends
Catering can be expensive, having a few helping hands could save you a lot of money. I luckily had a few family members and friends who were more than happy to help me out on our big day. It made it a lot less stressful and we were so grateful for all of their help!
My grandmother is amazing at arranging bouquets and actually did all of our floral and it turned out absolutely perfect! My close family friends helped us set up decorations beforehand and also clean up. It was a lot of fun! We blasted music and made everything look absolutely perfect!
As well My brother is good at audio equipment, and my cousin is a good DJ. Together they were great at my Wedding!
21. Use Nature to your Advantage
A few months before my Wedding my Grandpa had a huge tree in his yard he needed to get rid of. Luckily my wedding was nature-themed. We took the tree trunk and cut it up into rounds that we then used for our centerpieces. It looked absolutely amazing!!
My Grandma already loves gardening. So for my Sister’s Wedding, she actually grew a lot of the flowers for her wedding in her garden. So if you have a green thumb, or you know someone who does, see if they would be willing to plant some flowers for you.
I lived in Vancouver, Canada, so it was always very green. I was able to use some fern leaves from the forest to go towards my decor and bouquet. Along with other leaves, we were able to find in our backyard.
22. Take advantage of Black Friday + Cyber Monday
If you are able to wait to buy things until Black Friday, Cyber Money, or potentially Boxing Day (in Canada). You will literally save hundreds of dollars. There are so many MASSIVE sales so most of the stuff you want to buy will be on sale.
My Wedding Cake A really bad picture I took with my I phone because i was obsessed with the cake.
23. Have a Talented Friend or Family Member Make your Cake
A cake at least for me was a very minor detail that I would be fine without having one. But my Mom is super talented and made my dream cake. There are so many simple cake designs out there. So even if your friends aren’t professionals, they would still be able to recreate it.
24. Book an Air Bnb instead of a hotel for your Honey Moon
Hotels can be expensive or even trashy looking. Your Honey Moon should be nothing but magical. Luckily Air BnB’s have super cute houses that you can book. The location may even be better than a hotel. So it is definitely worth looking into! With an Air BnB, you can also have access to a kitchen. So you will be able to save money by making things instead of going out to eat for every meal.
25. After the Wedding Registry
For my Registry I used Target. After my Wedding Day, they offered a discount for everything that wasn’t purchased on my registry. The discount lasted a few months. We were able to buy everything else we needed from the registry for 25% off! So be smart with what you put on your Registry and you could get some massive savings!
I hope these tips helped you save Hundreds on your wedding!
If you want to see more content like this, make sure you follow me on Pinterest & Instagram!
