Getting married? Check out these Top 5 bride-on-a-budget ideas

Everyone wants a wedding that becomes one of the most memorable days of his or her life. But, the current economic downturn can make planning that special day a stressful and more challenging task.  While budgets may be stretched – couples are still falling in love, becoming engaged and getting married.

 ”We are seeing a new type of bride emerge,”  says Denise Viotti, senior vice president and creative director of bridal and special occasion retailers Camille La Vie and Group USA. “We call her the Recessionista Bride. She is a fashionable young woman not willing to miss out or compromise on the wedding she has always dreamed about. She is however, making smarter financial decisions when it comes time to budgeting for the big day.”

Viotti said there are plenty of ways to make a dream wedding come true without breaking the bank. “Couples just need to know where to look and what to cut back on.”  So what does a Recessionista Bride do?

1. Buy off-the-rack. It’s no secret that weddings are all about the dress.  But, in a shaky economy, it’s all about the dress … for less. When the sky’s the limit, many brides chose a custom-made gown or order a hand-constructed dress from a top design-house that can take months and many fittings to make. For brides looking to cut costs but not style, shopping at a specialty bridal retailer with a large assortment of ready-to-buy, open stock bridal gowns is the way to go.   First, the bride can really see how her size and shape looks in each different gown.  And the fun of shopping with her mother and bridal attendants remains — but finding the perfect dress already constructed and in her own size cuts down hefty production costs associated with made-to-order gowns.  The best part about shopping off the rack, other than the dollars saved? Brides can still have these gowns altered for a perfect fit.

2. Choose a simpler style. “A large part of the reason bridal gowns are so expensive is because of their complex construction, expensive fabrications, and embellishments. Looking for a simpler gown with clean lines and less beading or trim will significantly reduce the retail price,” says Viotti.  Spring’s freshest trends include classic A-lines, trumpet skirts and flowing Grecian gowns — all in luxe fabrics with just a hint of embellishments for extra special nighttime glamour.