Lynchburg Living

2010 Hitched

By Susan S. Davidson, CP

More than likely, one of the most expensive days of your life will be your wedding day. In fact, with the price tag for the average American wedding falling between $20,000 and $25,000, many couples feel pressured to spend significantly more than they can afford.

Adding to the financial pressure is the desire of the bride-to-be to have the perfect wedding. Most girls begin dreaming about their wedding day years before they have a clue about what the words “wedding” or “marriage” mean. Even my 5-year-old daughter has already started thinking about what her Big Day will be like.

“I think about four things: lots of flowers, a beautiful pink dress, really good food and,” she grins hesitantly, “one other thing.”

“What other thing?” I ask.

She leans into my ear and whispers, “You know…the kiss!”

As she giggled shyly over the last detail, I realized that even though her wedding day is still decades away, she had already begun to imagine what the day would be like. While the details will change as she grows and matures, one thing will not – she will want her day to be one she will always remember. Many believe that the only way to have the wedding of their dreams is to spare no expense. With careful planning and creativity though, your wedding day can be a beautiful and memorable event without costing you a fortune.

The Reception

Undoubtedly, the most expensive part of your wedding will be the reception, making it the area in which you have the greatest opportunity to stretch your budget. A quick and easy solution to cutting back on the cost of the reception is to offer a buffet-style meal rather than a sit-down meal. Buffets offer you the flexibility of preparing extra food in the event that unexpected guests arrive. You will also save in labor costs since buffets do not require waiters to serve and take away courses, refill glasses and fill special requests. Buffets allow your guests to choose what they would like to eat rather than being offered only a couple of options. Also, consider having a brunch or a luncheon reception, which typically offer food items that are less expensive than dinner courses.

The Dress

The most exciting part of planning a wedding for any bride-to-be is selecting the perfect bridal gown. Without a doubt, the dress will be the most talked about detail of your wedding ceremony. Having a beautiful wedding dress, however, does not have to send you into debt. Of course, the best way to save on a dress is to wear your mother’s wedding dress or make your own, but for many, neither is an option. Finding the best dress at the best price is all about timing. Most bridal stores begin discounting their bridal gowns after June. Ask to try on sample or floor model gowns – they are usually priced much less than the ones on the racks and are still in good condition. Opt for gowns made of polyester blends rather than silk. Polyester is cheaper than silk and tends to wrinkle less. In addition, ask about the availability of previously-worn gowns for rent or purchase at your local bridal boutique. This option could allow you to wear a designer dress for a fraction of the cost.

Church Street Bridal at the YWCA in downtown Lynchburg also offers fantastic, high-end dresses at just a fraction of the cost. Looking for a $5,000 Kleinfeld’s dress for $500 or less? Then Church Street Bridal is definitely worth a look. Best of all: All proceeds benefit the YWCA.

New and gently-used gowns can also be found at consignment stores, online retail establishments and in your local newspaper. If shopping in the newspaper or online, keep in mind that wedding gowns are sized smaller than regular dresses. Since a wedding gown that is too large can be altered more easily than one that is too small, look for gowns that are one to two sizes larger than your regular dress size. Finally, consider this advice from actress and fashion analyst, Melissa Rivers: “You can have a $10 dress or a $10,000 dress – if it doesn’t fit, it’s gonna look horrible.”

The Cake

Just as the bride’s gown is the highlight of the wedding ceremony, the wedding cake is the focal point of the reception. When it comes to finding inexpensive cakes that are beautiful and delicious, the possibilities are endless. The most inexpensive solution is to make the cake yourself, but most brides-to-be would rather not take on this daunting task in addition to all the other last-minute wedding details. On her wedding day three years ago, Kathie Morgan of Lynchburg decided to transform several store-bought cakes into a beautiful and unique design. She purchased four chocolate cakes from Costco for $16 each and created her own mushroom and leaf embellishments from marzipan and chocolate to adorn the cake. Not only did the cake taste delicious, it was even a much talked about artistic display at the wedding reception.

If you would feel more comfortable having a professional make your wedding cake, stick to simple designs – they are far less expensive and can be very elegant. If you have already hired a florist to decorate the reception area, ask him to bring a few extra flowers to decorate the base and layers of the cake. Also, consider adding fresh, seasonal fruit to transform a simple cake into an appealing, one-of-a-kind design.

When planning your wedding, it is easy to get so caught up in the details that you can forget what the day is all about. While the dress, the reception, the cake and all the other accoutrements are important, the wedding is really about the two of you, joining together to begin a new life as one. Even if tying the knot on a shoestring is your only option, you can still have the wedding of your dreams. Plan thoughtfully and realistically, experience the moment and enjoy the day. After all, tomorrow comes quickly.