For this Real Deal post - I thought I would pick gowns that are all from the same designer - so here are some authentic Watters & Watters Bridal Gowns that we found on eBay. Some are used, some were bridal salon show pieces, but all are priced WAY lower then what you would pay at the salon.

Watters & Watters Style #5299

Candlelight with violet trim, size 10. This dress is brand new, and the seller includes photos of the actual dress as well. It is currently listed at $110!

Watters & Watters Size 12 Gown with Jacket

This dress retails for $925 and is listed for $100 with a $225 Buy It Now option! It is listed as new with tags, and the photos are of the actual dress, not just an ad pic:) That’s always something to look for - so you can see what exactly you are getting.

Watters & Watters Style 3061B

This gown retails for $1185 and this particular gown was a store sample. It is listed with a Buy It Now price of only $149!! It is ivory Silk Organza with Swarovski Crystals in a size 10.

Those are just a few of the gowns we found for under $200! Check out eBay for more Watters & Watters Bridal Gown.

Designer Style Replicas, The Real Deal | 1 Comment »

This is probably one of the best, affordable Tiffany Blue Wedding Favor ideas that I have found so far. You can purchase these Tiffany Blue Candles with Boxes on eBay for as little as $1.20 each - which include both the candle and the white box with blue ribbon. That on it’s own is a great price for a wedding favor - but these could do double duty as well. Remove the candles and use them as part of the table decor/centerpiece - then fill the boxes with candies or other small treats as a wedding favor for your guests! Now - you’ve got your wedding favor boxes for 60 cents/box and some gorgeous Tiffany Gift Box candles for your decor for 60 cents/candle!

Breakfast at Tiffany's, Wedding Favors | No Comments »

Tiffany Blue weddings are still our most popular theme on Budget Dreams. In fact, as of today, 14 of our top 50 keywords used to find us in search engines are related to Tiffany Blue Weddings! So, I thought I would see if I could find some new stuff to feature for all our Tiffany Blue fans out there - and boy am I glad I did!!!

I found these Tiffany Blue Chair Covers on eBay - for $7.50 each including matching napkins!! NOT BAD!! Of course, if that is a little more then your budget allows, consider adding a little extra elegance to the head table by covering the head table chairs in these chair covers instead.

Breakfast at Tiffany's, Decorations | No Comments »

DIY Brides will love the wedding invitations from MyGatsby.com! They have a complete selection of DIY invitation kits that allow you to mix and match from over 60 colors to create your own custom DIY invitation kit. These kits can also be a great way to save a little money while still getting a wide variety of color choices.

For example, here is a 3-layer  5 1/2 x 8 1/2 invitation kit. It comes with the three cardstock layers - each in a color of your choice, as well as an enclosure card, enclosure card envelope and outer invitation envelope. The entire set is about $2.16 per invitation! For a simple, elegant DIY invitation, simply print your invitation on the card stock, assemble and send. You’ve got complete invitations for less then $3/invitation!

If you want to get a little fancier - there are literally unlimited possibilities for customization! Here are a few ideas:

1. FONTS! - Check out a free font site like DaFonts.com for a selection of fonts to suit your style - elegant, funky, classic, etc. Use your favorite font for the entire invitation - or just for the key words (like the couple’s names for example).

2. Ribbon - Ribbons are still hot right now - and  they are a great way to add a special touch. Wrap a ribbon around the invitation and tie it in a bow. Fold the invitation in half to make a tent card, then insert the ribbon between the two outer layers and tie the card shut. Or, just take a small bit of ribbon, tie it in a knot or a bow, and attach it to the top or center of each invitation.

3. Flowers - Add a special pressed flower or paper flower to each invitation for added flair. Type out the invitation, leaving space between the names and the details for your flower. With dozens of colors, shapes and styles available, there is probably a flower that matches your wedding theme.

4. Seals, Stickers and Stamps - The first thing they will see is the envelope, so that is a great way to do a little personalization. Wedding stamps are one great option of course, as are wedding seals and stickers for closing the back flap of the invitation as well.

If you lick the pocket-fold invitation style, which is my personal favorite - check out their Folio Pockets.  They have some great options for pockets, which you can pick an a large variety of colors and then finish off with cardstock supplies in the colors of your choice for a completely customized look! Definitely the DIY bride’s dream:)

DIY Projects for Brides, Invitations | No Comments »

Take a look at these adorable hand-decorated candles from Etsy seller, Taylored Arts! They are beautiful and fairly affordable at $8/candle. For a centerpiece, you could pair one of these candles with a black BlumeBox ($5) holding a bouquet of white silk roses. Depending on where you purchase flowers, you cost could be as low as $20/centerpiece for a stunning, elegant black and white wedding.

If you love the candle, but it doesn’t quite fit into the center piece budget - use it as an accent on the guest book table or cake table, or even as a unity candle. Here are a few more of her candles which are currently available as well.

Black & White, Decorations, Recommended Websites, Think Outside The Box | No Comments »

I often have brides asking me for advice on where to find bridal gowns under $250. While there are a few places, often there just isn’t that much selection. What I often tell brides is to make sure they look through the bridesmaid dress selections as well. Many bridesmaid dresses are available in styles that, if ordered in white or ivory, would look just as good if not better then the cheaper bridal gowns available.

Here are a few examples I picked out from the Bill Levkoff bridesmaid line. These are just a few of the ones I found with photos in white or ivory, but there were plenty more - and each one is priced under $250! They are stunning styles, perfect for a semi-formal, informal, garden, beach or destination wedding and very nice on the pocket book.

Styles shown here: Style #808 - $220 at The Bridal Shop, Style #550 - $220 at The Bridal Shop, Style #303 - $230 at The Bridal Shop, Style #305 - $190 at The Bridal Shop, Style #355 - $196 at The Bridal Shop, Style #966 - $184 at The Bridal Shop

SO - here is the next question that I often get asked: If I wear a white bridesmaid gown,how do I make sure that my gown stands out from the bridemaids? Well, color is of course the first key - but the other key is length. If you are wearing a full floor length bridesmaid style as a wedding gown - then choose a tea length style for your bridesmaids and your gown will look even more bridal. For example, here is a quick photoshop knockup of Bill Levkoff Style #550 with Style #267. There is no doubt which one would be the bride, and which would be the bridemaid - but both girls look stunning! That bridesmaid Style #267 is also a very affordable option for your bridesmaids at $150!

Bride's Attire, Weddng Party Attire | 2 Comments »

Save the date cards are cute and fun - but not necessary. If you are working on a fairly tight budget, it is important to use the money for things that you need. Some brides believe that save-the-date cards are a must but the truth is, there are really more of a trend then a tradition. From an etiquette stand point - guests must receive a formal invitation and a thank you for any gifts received. That’s it. Everything else is just extras.

If you don’t have any out of town guests, simply call up your closest friends and families to let them know when the date is and ensure that the most important people are actually free that day. Then send out invitations 6-8 weeks before. If you are planning a destination wedding or have a fair number of out-of-town guests, it is perfectly acceptable to send out an email or a quick phone call just to let them know in advance that you will be inviting them to your wedding, give them the date and location, etc.

So what if you need to give them more information? INTERNET:) You can start your own free blog all over the place, and use it to blog about the wedding, your plan, hotel and travel information for guests, etc - and just send out an email or phone call letting them know where they can find all those details. For the few relatives that are far away, need the info and don’t have internet - print it up for them and send it in the mail. Then, use the money you saved to send out gorgeous invitations closer to the wedding date:)

Invitations | No Comments »

Wedding can be expensive but not just for the bride. Think about your bridesmaids - your maid of honor, for example - may expect to pay $200 or more for a dress, have her hair, make-up and nails done, host a hen’s night and a bridal shower, and purchase gifts for the bride for those and any other events she is invited to. If you are planning a bridal shower, you should take a look at these gorgeous bridal shower decor kits.

Not only do they include just about everything you need, saving you a lot of time, but they are very affordable. I originally found the idea on Party Pail when I was looking for baby shower tableware for my sister’s baby shower. I really liked the convenience of having everything in one - from the tableware to the streamers and balloons. (Shown here, the Winnie The Pooh Theme)

Of course, Winnie The Pooh is not exactly “bridal” but check out this one!

This is the Celebrate! Wedding Shower set. It comes with invitations, plates, cups, cutlery, table cover, streamers and balloons. There are enough place settings for 8, invitations for 10 - but you can order extras as well. The basic kit for 8 plus decorations is only $40! I really like this design because it is a very chic design and the colors work well for a coed shower as well. For a more feminine design, check out this chic French Bistro collection - with POLKA DOTS!! (coincidentally the second most searched for keyword on this blog, lol)

Decorations | No Comments »