by Melissa Avery

Created on: May 27, 2009   Last Updated: May 29, 2009

I got married on a yacht in the San Diego Harbor at sunset. We had about 100 people at our dinner cruise reception and the DJ was great. We paid less than $3000.00 and that includes two hotel rooms, the wedding on the yacht and airfare from Denver to San Diego.

It is entirely possible to have a beautiful wedding on a budget. What it takes is the mindset that it's the actual vows that matter and not what dress you're wearing. Are you getting married to be in a fashion show or are you getting married to start a life with the person you love? If you are prepared to use some imagination, do some research and get crafty, you can have a great wedding. Hopefully, by sharing my story and some helpful hints I can jumpstart you on your way to "Cheap but Chic".

The Dress:

Personally, I'd rather spend the money on the Honeymoon for a once in a lifetime trip, but that's just me. However, I think my dress was beautiful. I bought it at David's' Bridal $99 (& up) sale. It was one of the "& up" dresses, but it was still under 200 dollars. It was champagne gold, strapless and had an A-Line skirt. I dressed it up on my own with champagne colored net and beaded flower pins that I bought at a Claire's clearance sale. The wedding coordinator (included in the cost of the Wedding Cruise) loved it. So did my husband. I chose a beaded headband instead of a veil and bought my shoes at TJ Maxx. $100 retail shoes for $29.99. More expensive doesn't mean more beautiful, so keep your options open. If you fall in love with a dress that needs to be altered, consider if there is a good tailor nearby that will do it for less than the bridal shop. Look at online sites like EBay or Craigslist. Shop the prom Clearance Sales at places like Dillards or Macy's. They mark them down incredibly low and have some gorgeous formal dresses. Keep these places in mind for bridesmaid or mother- of - the - bride/groom dresses.

Location:

We chose San Diego because we had previously been living in Yuma, Arizona and had family and friends in that area we wished to invite. Of course, San Diego is a beautiful area, but it's not known for being "cost friendly" or, let's just say it, cheap. I did some research and found out that my husband - to - be could get a 50% discount on Hornblower Wedding Cruise tickets because he was in the Military. I don't know if that discount still applies now, 5 years later, but look around your area and see who may offer a discount that you or a family member could use

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>