I’m in love with a man that is the complete opposite of what I expected. Years ago I wrote “the list”, and oh sure, he has all of the important things (ie. loving, close to his family, great sense of humor) but none of the qualities in my subcategories (ie. No Doctorate from Yale. Dark and handsome… but definitely not tall. And much to my chagrin, he’s not a millionaire). In fact, after our first date I turned to him, as if I were the hiring manager at a job interview, and said matter-of-factly “you have none of the qualities on my ‘list’”.

Thankfully this didn’t dissuade him.

Fast-forward two years… In the exact same spot where he asked me to be his girlfriend, he asked me to be his bride.

I burned my “list”.

Now I’m planning to marry the most unexpectedly magnificent man I’ve ever encountered.

My parents are equally magnificent. They have generously agreed to pay for our wedding. Then my dad got a pay cut at work. In a shaky economy he’s grateful to have a job, but this throws a major loophole in the extravagant “platinum wedding” I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little girl (and admittedly, planning since well before I was engaged.) Mom and I are working hard to reign in our expensive tastes. After weeks of touring Crystal Ballrooms in fancy hotels, we’ve agreed to only view places that actually fit into our tight budget.

Thankfully, for me, finding deals is like a game. I love wearing designer clothes that I got from thrift stores, jewelry from yard sales, and shoes from clearance bins. And I LOVE telling people that my dress only cost $2.00, after they compliment me on my style! With so many great deals available, I pride myself on being high maintenance… on a budget.

We believe that with some creativity, ingenuity, and great sales we can create a platinum wedding on an aluminum budget.

Martha Stewart is definitely a budget bride’s friend. I LOVE her DIY ideas and I currently own about 14 past issues. So far. It grows every few months lol. Now Martha Stewart is hosting a FREE, ONLINE luxury wedding event for brides. This is a great chance to chat with top wedding experts and get your most pressing wedding questions answered for FREE.

There’s only one catch – you have to register. So go ahead, click here – and register today:)

Check out this beautiful video of photos from their photographer.

For more details on the wedding, here is a great article from People.

This past May, my incredible boyfriend and I got engaged! A little back story to catch everyone up on our history together: Daniel and I met my freshmen year in college in choir. He asked me out a handful of times and I said yes but always flaked. Bad me. I tell him it’s because I knew once we started dating we wouldn’t stop. He says it was because he was post-Chemo looking with pale skin and growing back his hair. Maybe it was a little bit of both…? We did eventually date on and off until just before Dan’s graduation in May 2008. We officially began dating then and have been together for just over one year! All the waiting was well worth it

On the weekend of my college graduation Dan, his mom, and my family all traveled into town. We went out to lunch in Laguna Beach at this incredible beachfront restaurant called Las Brisas. Before we ordered, Dan said he wanted to go out to the little gazebo overlooking the ocean. My heart dropped into my stomach; but still I thought, no way.

He and I walked out to the gazebo where four ladies yelled for us to look out and see the dolphins! We saw two dolphins’ fins glide over the water. (Later, my stepmom told us that dolphins are good luck in Hawaiian, Mexican, and Native American cultures…hilarious but we’ll take it!) Without planning, all of the women left the gazebo so Dan and I could enjoy our favorite beach together. The waters were crashing onto the rocks below and we just stood together talking about how beautiful it all was. I also mentioned how starving I was. I probably said “guacamole”” at least three times.

Our waiter brought out a bottle of wine to me and said a man at the bar bought it for me. Dan acted upset….I smiled Inside the bottle was not wine, but this poem that Dan wrote for me about the magic of our relationship. I turned around and there was my Dan, on one knee, asking me to marry him. Y.E.S., I said, and proceeded to put my head in my hands and jump up and down. I threw my arms around my FIANCE only to have him ask me if I wanted to see the ring! It takes my breath away still.

Now we are living in New York for the next few years as Dan completes his masters degree at The Juilliard School. I am from the San Francisco Bay Area and we are planning on getting married there in the summer/early fall of 2011. We’re looking for casual elegance in a predominantly outdoor venue. The next two years will be full of planning, dreaming, and saving for our special day! I look forward to sharing our adventures along the way and hope to be of some help for all of you, too!

Neesa (short for Laneeca) is planning a July 24, 2010 wedding for 100-150 people and her wedding budget is $6000! Here is a little about Neesa in her own words:

Like most women, I have been dreaming about my wedding day since before I could ride a bicycle sans training wheels. I must have “married” every male cousin & neighbor atleast five times each in my backyard before I was even out of preschool. Of course, while I was walking down the “aisle” (aka a slip n’ slide) in my white church dress & toilet paper veil with the family dogs acting as a horse-drawn carriage, it never occurred to me that someday I would actually be doing this for real. And on a budget, no less. That isn’t to say that I still can’t have the kind of wedding every little girl dreams of. It simply means that I will have to make some sacrifices along the way & decide what really is important to me. (So much for that horse-drawn carriage..)

I should probably start out by saying that Eric & I are not a traditional couple by any means. We have been dating for very nearly ten years now & have a daughter who is just a week shy of her first day of school. To the two of us, & everyone who knows us, we are already a married couple in every sense of the word, & a wedding at this point is merely a formality. Because of this, we have a lot of things that most engaged couples don’t, including a mortgage & a child who needs a college fund a lot more than I need that one-of-a-kind hand sewn Vera Wang gown. While a fantasy wedding on the beaches of Belize certainly sounds appealing, the fledgling economy, my check book, & my own sense of reasoning remind me that it has to stay just that- a fantasy. Perhaps some women would be disappointed by this, but I am certainly not one of them. The fact of the matter is, whether my budget was five thousand dollars or five million, I am getting my dream wedding regardless. It has nothing to do with location, or centerpieces, or the type of dress I might wear & everything to do with the man at the other end of the aisle, waiting with baited breath to spend the rest of his life with me. That, in & of itself, is what is important to me- that which we can not put a price tag on. Everything else is just a bonus.

Welcome to the team Neesa, we look forward to reading your ideas as you plan your own dream wedding.

Intimate Backyard Weddings:

In a trend that brings to mind the wedding at the end of “In Her Shoes” with Cameron Diaz, many 2010 brides are opting for elegant, intimate weddings in their own backyards. This growing trends is extremely budget friendly for obvious reasons: no location fees, smaller guest lists and a more casual menu allow for a much more affordable affair. If you don’t have a great backyard – consider the yard of a close friend or family member. A local park may be the next best thing. Brides opting for this style of wedding need to keep the weather in mind and make sure to have a foul-weather back up plan.

DIY Wedding Favors

DIY Brides are going to love the return of personal, handmade wedding favors. While handmade wedding favors may be a time consuming option, 2010 brides appreciate the savings and their guests appreciate the personalize sentiment.

Mismatched Bridesmaids Dresses

The perfectly matched group of maids is a thing of the past. Brides are opting for mismatched styles in a number of different ways. Some brides are choosing to allow their bridesmaids the freedom to choose dresses they love (at prices they pick) by simply providing a color guideline. Other brides are choosing to outfit their maids in a variety of colors that compliment each other. Patterned styles are also popular, as are combinations of patterns and solids. Why is this budget friendly? This allows your and your bridesmaids to shop at smaller boutiques and shops that wouldn’t generally be considered bridesmaid gown shops.

Statement Jewelry

2010 brides want to make a statement but without the cost. One great way brides are choosing to do this is with bright, bold statement jewelry. Statement jewelry pieces don’t have to be expensive: bright colored beaded necklaces are huge this year – and a lot less costly the pearls or diamonds.

Nearby Destination Weddings

Brides who love the idea of a destination wedding are turning to more affordable options closer to home. This may be a local beach, a bed and breakfast or a small local resort where the couple can have their dream destination wedding without the travel expenses.

Meaning Over Materialism

Over all, as we adjust to the changing economy, brides are beginning to adjust their priorities. 2010 weddings will concentrate more on the meaning of the even rather then the materialism. As brides look for ways to cut costs, they will also be looking for special ways to convey the true meaning of the event. Many brides are choosing to concentrate more on the why rather then the how.

SO AWESOME!

Here’s a neat new site that brides on a budget will want to check out. The idea is to bring together brides who are looking for the same wedding items: decor, apparel, rentals, vendors, etc. With Bridal Share, brides can work together to share the cost of items that can be used and shared between their weddings.  Brides who are already married can offer items for sale, and brides who may have purchased items and then changed their minds can swap items as well.

Bridal Share not only helps you save money – it also makes it easier to reuse wedding goodies – and reusing is very eco-friendly. Best of all – Bridal Share is free:)