USE CAUTION IF BUYING YOUR WEDDING DRESS ONLINE

More and more brides are buying two dresses for their wedding, but unfortunately some of these brides aren’t buying a second dress for the reception. They’re buying an emergency replacement gown for the designer knock-offs they purchased online from unauthorized Chinese manufacturers.  While the low price may be tempting, you could wind up spending more on a second dress to replace the original. Check out this video from Good Morning America’s investigation of Chinese knock-off dresses. Always check the designer’s website for authorized retailers if you are concerned about purchasing online.

Below is an example of a counterfeit wedding dress that was purchased online. If you find a price on the internet that seems too good to be true, then it probably is!  As you can see, the quality of the knock-off dress is no where near the quality of the authentic Allure gown.  So shop carefully! Click here to view a list of websites known to be selling counterfeit Allure gowns so you don’t become the victim of these knock-off websites.

Lindgren’s Boutique & Bridal Salon has been building a reputable business since 1996. We take great pride in offering Northern Ontario’s largest selection of the latest styles of designer bridal gowns, bridesmaids, flowergirls, mother of the bride, prom, special occasion dresses and accessories for our customers to choose from.

Our mission is to provide friendly and knowledgeable consultants to assist you with an open and honest courtesy. Our selection of gowns are carefully selected to provide a wide range of styles and sizes to accommodate all body types. We offer quality gowns at affordable prices. We are dedicated to our customers until the wedding day arrives. We look foreward to serving you.

After ten years as Head Designer at Maggie Sottero, Sophia Apostolides created a new bridal collection, Sophia Tolli.  With its unparalleled craftsmanship and exceptional fit, the Sophia Tolli collection provides an array of gorgeous, show-stopping bridal gowns.

Sophie adds,  “My collection has two distinct feelings:  soft classic romanticism and traditional bridal drama. My signature style will always be gowns with an exceptional fit and cut.”

Before, getting married meant breaking the bank. Nowadays, people have become more practical with events such as weddings. People are now looking for creative and ingenious ways to cut down the expenses and save on the wedding budget. If you are looking for shoestring budget wedding ideas, here are some awesome ones to spark up some inspiration.

1. Hold the wedding in your backyard.

Renting a venue can be quite expensive. You would be able to save a lot of money if you hold the wedding in your own backyard, that of your future spouse, or that of someone close to you. Just make sure that the venue is big enough to accommodate the guests you are planning to invite.

2. Trim down the guest list.

Speaking of guests, inviting only closest family and friends is one of the best ways to cut down the expenses. For one, this would make the idea of holding the wedding in your own backyard feasible. Aside from that, you would also be able to save on wedding favors, invitations, and so many more.

3. Give away DIY wedding favors.

DIY wedding favors are perfect for the crafty bride. But even if you are not that talented in the creative department, you can still do simple DIY wedding favors that are inexpensive, memorable, unique, and easy to do.

4. Have family and friends help with the cooking.

Hiring a catering service can be quite costly. If you and your family are a bunch of chefs and cooks, it would save you a lot if you go for this route.

5. Shop bridal accessories and wedding items online.

The online market is bustling with great discount deals and offerings on bridal accessories. Just see to it that you choose a reputable bridal online store that is equipped with a secure feature to protect your credit card information efficiently.

6. Use wedding items that serve double purpose.

Edible table centerpieces and wedding favors that can also be decorative elements are trendy this year. Aside from being trendy, they are also a good way to save money.

7. Borrow your wedding gown.

Wearing your mom’s wedding gown not only saves you money, it also makes your walk down the aisle more meaningful. You may choose to have some alterations done on the dress to make it more updated in terms of fashion style.

8. Be your own wedding planner.

Hiring a wedding planner can help a lot but it can also take a toll on your savings. Consider enlisting help of family and friends when it comes to the planning and be your own wedding planner.

9. Buy white or yellow gold rings instead of platinum or titanium.

White and yellow gold look almost just as elegant but for a smaller price tag. Platinum and titanium wedding rings are durable and classy but they are quite expensive.

10. Get married during an off-season.

Cost of catering, venue, flowers, and other wedding essentials is significantly lower during wedding off peak season.

Having a wedding does not require people to spend a fortune. In fact, the most memorable and meaningful weddings only spend a fraction of the cost that other couples spend. All you need to have is some imagination, creativity, and resourcefulness, and you can be on your way to having a wondrous wedding event without having to spend so much.

Source: This article was submitted by Wendy L. Bishop, a professional wedding blogger writing for MyDreamWedding.ca, Canada’s premier wedding blog for unique wedding ideas and wedding favors.