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planning » save & splurge

Designer Style, Smart Savings

Posted November 9th, 2009 | 10:30 am | By Leah Andrew | No Comments

Photography courtesy Christina Gapic Photography.

At SmartBride Boutique, we’re all about helping you find designer names and fabulous style for your wedding, without paying those designer prices. This week we are sharing five Save Tips to help you get the look you want (high style!) at the price you want.

1. Loose the Extras

Sometimes you try on the dress of your dreams, only to find out the deco belt around your waist, or the beautiful shoulder sash are extra! A friend of mine, who is getting married next year, found her dream dress and was ready to purchase, and then discovered the price increased by another $1,200 because of extra trimmings. Be aware and avoid the extra costs. Read the rest of this entry »

planning » save & splurge

Finishing Your Look

Posted November 2nd, 2009 | 10:52 am | By Leah Andrew | No Comments

Adele cuff. Photography courtesy stelladot.com.

Jewellery is an important accessory to any dress. It can complete your look, add some drama to a classic silhouette or hold special memories. It can also push the overall cost of your dress to the limits. After all, every smart bride knows that it’s not just the dress….it’s the undergarments, the shoes, the jewels and other accessories that make you the total package on your big day! Read the rest of this entry »

planning » save & splurge

Melissa Sweet Treats

Posted October 26th, 2009 | 10:32 am | By Leah Andrew | 2 Comments

Mila. Photography courtesy of priscillaofboston.com.

Melissa Sweet is one of those coveted names in wedding gown designers, and why not? Her dresses are modern, sophisticated and always stylish! However these designer dresses also come with designer price tags to match (from $3,000 to $6,000). If the dress is the thing you want to splurge on, I say go right ahead, it’s your special day! However, if you like the idea of a designer dress, but want to pay a fraction of the price, these three once worn Melissa Sweet dresses are in excellent condition and come at an even sweeter price. Read the rest of this entry »

planning » save & splurge

The Dress for $500 or Less!

Posted October 19th, 2009 | 10:30 am | By Leah Andrew | 1 Comment

: Photography courtesy of Palomablanca.com.

When shopping for my dress, it seemed everything I liked was out of my price range! I was convinced that finding a dress that fit my body, my style, felt good and most importantly made me feel completely amazing would cost more than I was willing to spend. If this sounds familiar, I hope to save you some stress. This week I’m choosing to focus on four beautiful dresses in a variety of styles to show you don’t always have to sacrifice designer names and fabulous style to get the dress of your dreams for a reasonable price—in this case for $500 or less! Read the rest of this entry »

planning » save & splurge

Chic Fall Centrepieces

Posted October 12th, 2009 | 10:30 am | By Leah Andrew | No Comments

Photography courtesy of Trillium Floral Designs.

Do you find yourself dreaming of the glamorous floral centrepieces you see in wedding magazines? I did. Needless to say, once I found out how much those looks would cost I promptly discovered there are many ways you can get a similar look for less. With the help from friends at Trillium Floral Designs, I will share some tips to get the splurge look for less! Read the rest of this entry »

planning » save & splurge

More Mini Madness!

Posted October 5th, 2009 | 10:30 am | By Leah Andrew | 2 Comments

Vineyard dress. Photography courtesy of priscillaofboston.com.

In homage to last week’s Mad about Minis article I received in my inbox from the ladies at Weddingbells, I wanted to share a few more short and sexy dresses that are posted on SmartBrideBoutique.ca. Often these dresses are 50% less than retail, helping you live and breathe the ‘save and splurge’ mentality. Hope these dresses strike your fancy! Read the rest of this entry »

planning » save & splurge

Blushing Bridesmaids

Posted September 28th, 2009 | 10:30 am | By Leah Andrew | No Comments

Liz Dress. Photography courtesy of Girl Friday Clothing.

Trying to find dresses for your bridesmaids can be a real challenge. But remember, they are the ladies who keep you calm, cool and collected on your big day and you owe it to them to find dresses that:

a)    Look good on a variety of body types
b)   Don’t cost an arm and a leg
c)    They might actually wear again! Read the rest of this entry »

planning » save & splurge

Blooms for your Budget

Posted September 21st, 2009 | 10:30 am | By Leah Andrew | 4 Comments

Flowers are a beautiful part of both the ceremony and reception but, as I realized when planning my own wedding, can also be a spot where costs can add up if you’re not careful! The good news? You don’t need to sacrifice quantity or quality to get a fantastic wedding bouquet. With the help of friends at Trillium Floral Designs, I’ve designed two similar fall wedding bouquets for different budgets. Now it’s up to you to decide whether to save or splurge!

Save: $100 – $125

Photography and flowers courtesy Trillium Florists.

This striking bouquet features:

- large red gerbera daisies
- yellow lilies
- orange alstroemeria
- green trachelium
- burgundy daisies

Although some of the flowers themselves can be costly, using larger flowers like gerbera daisies creates a full look with less flowers, helping reduce the cost. By focusing on colour palettes instead of specific flowers, you can still have a fresh, contemporary fall look for less. Read the rest of this entry »