50 Ways to Save on Wedding Essentials Without Sacrificing Style

When I started this blog, my primary goal was to help people save money on their weddings. Since then, I've evolved into more of a lifestyle blog but that hasn't changed my passion for empowering people to have their dream wedding on a budget.

You CAN save money on typical wedding bits and pieces and STILL have your dream wedding – it's all in the details and your level of flexibility.

In that spirit, I've rounded up 50 ways to save on wedding essentials without sacrificing style:

// I may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post. //

Save On The Wedding Reception Centerpieces:

How about an edible centerpiece? Fill trays or bowls with fruit or bread and let people enjoy them with the meal. Or you could even do the entire meal family-style and let the platters of food be the centerpieces!
Swap out flower arrangements for potted plants or even herbs. Pot them in tins or pretty crocks inexpensively.
Spray tall branches white, silver, gold or leave them natural and arrange in tall glass cylinders.
Candles (or LED tealights) make dramatic and inexpensive centerpieces when grouped together or in glass vessels. Especially lovely for an evening holiday or winter wedding.
Buy all of one type of flower in bulk and then fill matching containers with masses of them. This is a very dramatic (but very affordable) look for a modern or urban wedding.

Buy a printable stationery suite and print and assemble your wedding invitations at home.
Design your own invitations using free fonts.
Look for Groupon or LivingSocial deals that allow you to purchase stationery for a fraction of the retail price.
Skip all the extras (like the second envelope and tissue inserts). They are relatively outdated anyway and no one will even notice.
Stick with plain white envelopes and dress them up with pretty envelope liners made from scrap paper.

Love lots of bling but can’t afford the ring? Ask if it also comes in a setting using a lesser metal. White gold looks just like platinum but costs a fraction of the amount. You can always upgrade the setting to a nicer metal at a later.
Buy your engagement ring and wedding ring at the same time and ask for a package price.
Not picky about the design or metal? Check Amazon, etsy, or ebay for some real steals.
If it is the rock you love but it’s too expensive, look for rings with a stone that is the next grade down. If it is at the top of the next grade, it generally looks the same but for a lot less money.
Have a metal fabricator friend or someone with access to a lathe? Always wanted to take a jewelry making class? Why not ask them to MAKE your wedding ring? We did!

Traditionally, the groom's boutonniere is made using a flower from the brides' bouquet – so why not do just that? Pluck a single bloom from hers and pin it on!
Save on the labor costs and DIY them. There are a mountain of excellent tutorials out there to help you.
If you must have some special little detail then just do it for the groom rather than the entire wedding party.
To cut costs, pick a boutonniere that is elegant and simple. Fancier ones include additional material and labor costs that will increase your bottom line (you could pay 20% or more for the addition of those items).
Skip the flowers or greenery and use some thing else like a feather, a seed pod, or even an action figure!

Keep it simple, pick a plain dress and instead dress it up with stunning jewelry and accessories (those will probably be worn again!). Amazon carries tons of simple white dresses and many artisans on etsy make budget dresses in simple styles.
Rent a dress. There are many online options now for people to rent fabulous dresses at affordable prices.
Skip the bridal boutiques and hit the mall. Stores like J. Crew, Express, and Ann Taylor have great dresses in lovely styles that are totally affordable.
Try some big box stores like Nordstrom, Macy’s, and even Target for great dresses at even better prices.
Shop the off-season or clearance rack for amazing deals.

See if a local chain or shop will give someone a free tux if all the other groomsmen rent or buy theirs' there. And don't be afraid to ask for the perk if it's not offered to you!
Skip the fancy tuxedos and opt instead for a suit (preferably one they already own – that's what my husband did).
Do the groomsmen really need to wear a tuxedo or suit? Why not have them rock a (much more affordable) sweater, vest, or just a dress shirt and pants?
Does a family member or a friend have a tuxedo or suit that they can borrow? Often, a good tailor can temporarily alter it to fit and then take it back to “normal” after the wedding.
In the military, police force, or a firefighter? Then wear your dress uniform! Not only is it free but they can represent what might be an important part of their personality and their career.

Make a topper out of something free from your house – a framed photo, figurine, or bit of memorabilia from your first date.
Use something edible like berries, cookies, or candy are delicious and unique.
Snag a few buds or greenery from a bouquet and use them as the cake topper.
Skip the expensive topper and pick up something handmade and affordable from etsy.
Have fun with it and use Lego figurines, action figures, or toy cars!

Stick with favors that can be eaten or played with. Food or toys are ALWAYS the best favors.
Dress up plain notebooks or water bottles with custom labels or stamping. It's an easy DIY that’s popular with guests.
Shop after holiday sales for items you can use. Mini locale-specific ornaments, a bag of red candies, or a patriotic button can all be found in seasonal sales and will work for your wedding’s theme.
Do you really need favors? REALLY?!?! Are you just doing it because everyone else is?
Do favors that double as decor. Group single blooms or potted plants together as a centerpiece for the reception and hand out as individual favors after the wedding.

Look for dresses in the girl's closets. Many little girls already have a pretty dress that would be perfect for a wedding.
Buy through ebates.com. Using this rebate program, you’ll save money (via member discounts) AND you’ll receive a percentage of your purchase back in the form of a check or cash direct deposit.
Look for dresses at major department stores or big box stores around the holidays. They have lots of ruffled, glittered, girly dresses at amazing prices.
See if an older sister or cousin has a lovely dress that they've outgrown and are willing to pass on to the littler one.
Skip the fancy dresses and opt instead for cute rompers, tutus, or even princess costumes!

Go for subtle over big. A smaller bouquet of gorgeous flowers can make more of an impact than a massive wad of so-so blooms. This is especially true if your dress is simple, modern, or vintage.
Mix in berries, pinecones, silk leaves, or other inexpensive embellishments to fill-out a bouquet for less.
Don’t even carry a bouquet – use a family bible, your pet dog, or even a good luck charm instead!
Select in-season flowers. While most popular bridal flowers are available year-round, some traditional ones like peonies and lilies of the valley can be difficult to find and expensive when out-of-season.
DIY the bridal bouquet. Sites like Blooms By The Box sell bridal flowers wholesale and deliver them right to your door! They also have great bouquet tutorials on their site.

What's your favorite money-saving wedding tip?