Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Logo

Wed lavishly for less | Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Buy Photos and Pages
    • Special Sections
    • Contact Us
    • Plus
    • Newsletters
    • Newspaper in Education
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Services

    • News
    • Local News
    • Photos
    • Crime
    • Databases
    • Education
    • Job Spotlight
    • Georgia
    • Business
    • Nation/World
    • Lottery
    • Sports
    • Alabama
    • Auburn
    • Braves
    • Columbus State University
    • Cottonmouths
    • Falcons
    • Hawks
    • High Schools
    • UGA
    • Blogs & Columns
    • War Eagle Extra
    • Bulldogs Blog
    • Valley Preps
    • Guerry Clegg
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • ToDo
    • Living
    • Dining
    • Celebrations
    • Outdoors
    • Faith
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • Blogs & Columns
    • War Eagle Extra
    • Bulldogs Blog
    • Guerry Clegg
    • Tim Chitwood
    • Richard Hyatt
    • Ledger Inquirer
    • Valley Preps
    • Chuck Williams
    • Dimon Kendrick-Holmes
    • Alva James-Johnson
    • Natalia Naman Temesgen
    • Chris Johnson
    • Opinion
    • Forum
    • Letters
    • Dusty Nix
    • Sound Off
  • Obituaries
  • Readers' Choice

  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad

  • About Us
  • Mobile & Apps

Living

Wed lavishly for less

By RUTH MANTELL - MarketWatch

    ORDER REPRINT →

May 15, 2007 04:16 PM

On a recent Saturday, Iram Weiser searched for a lace gown -- not too poufy -- to look perfect for her upcoming wedding reception.

The 32-year-old economist and her husband are renewing their vows. Weiser said she is looking forward to an upscale celebration, but she's also ready to save a few dollars. So she traveled from Boston to check out Michael's, a Manhattan consignment shop that offers designer gowns for a fraction of the original retail price.

"I didn't want to spend a lot of money. I know it's something I'm only going to wear once," she said.

Dressing for less is a simple way to save thousands of dollars on wedding costs. At a recent visit to Michael's, a size-six designer gown -- sleeveless silk with beaded silver tulle -- was on sale for $1,800, about one-quarter of its retail price.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Ledger-Enquirer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

Brides should be willing to give up some of the niceties of full-price salons. The selection of styles and sizes is limited at Michael's and other consignment stores, and alterations may not be offered on the premises.

Women can also choose elegant white dresses, or even bridesmaid dresses, which tend to be less expensive than bridal gowns. Isaac Mizrahi has designed wedding dresses for Target such as a strapless sheath priced at $89.99.

BIG BANDS EQUAL BIG MONEY

Couples can also look to save a few dollars on entertainment.

The costs of a DJ can range from $500 to $1,000 -- substantially lower than bands, which start at $1,500 and can easily hit $9,000, according to Ray Bialek, owner of a Rockville, Md.-based music-booking company.

"Bands are more labor intensive to put together. The DJ is responsible for himself," Bialek said.

It's important to get a DJ with a good personality who knows how to run a party, Bialek said, and suggested auditioning prospective DJs on the phone. He also disapproves of substituting iPods for a DJ.

"If the entertainment is boring, your whole party is ruined," he said.

For those with their hearts set on live entertainment, Bialek suggested recruiting older and more experienced students at a local music school.

FOCUS ON FRESH, FAMILIAR FOOD

Experts recommend choosing a menu that takes advantage of local food, which doesn't have to be shipped and can be prepared beautifully.

"Choose a menu that is friendly, welcoming, bountiful and colorful -- appealing to the eye but not necessarily expensive," said Anita Ellis, co-owner of Avalon Caterers International, Alexandria, Va.

Add drama by grilling a whole fish or a leg of lamb.

"The fragrance adds to the overall appeal of the meal, but it doesn't mean that you are cooking filet mignon. It's a wonderful experience without costing a lot of money," Ellis said.

If your heart is set on beef, choose cheaper cuts. Just covering the meat, kobi beef can cost $65 per person, and tenderloin $20 to $25. But for $10 to $12 a person, flank steak can be wonderful.

"In the right hands it's a beautiful thing, and it takes to sauces well," Ellis said. "Even the most modest cut of meat can be wonderful."

Here are other tips from experts to control costs:

Choose your favors wisely. Giving guests bags of flower seeds that they leave behind or throw out as soon as they get home is a big waste of money. Try something more efficient and tasty such as chocolate covered pretzels to go.

Find a photography student to document your wedding. Or you can ask a professional photographer about a digital-only package. But only take this option if you are technologically savvy.

Use in-season and local flowers to keep costs down. Fabulous lighting and pin-spotting each arrangement can do a lot to perk up a room and focus guests.

Keep your wedding indoors and avoid paying costs for creating an outdoor space and renting tents.

  Comments  

Videos

New Trees Columbus project encourages people to plant shade, not throw shade

Volunteers serve as the “hands and feet of Jesus”, feed homeless at SafeHouse

View More Video

Trending Stories

Columbus jury reaches verdict in birthday party shootout trial involving half-brothers

February 18, 2019 04:22 PM

1 state champion. 2 third-place finishers. These Columbus area wrestlers made history.

February 18, 2019 08:00 PM

9 Columbus area teams left in Georgia, Alabama high school basketball state playoffs

February 18, 2019 03:46 PM

Spotted Saturday at the Junior League of Columbus’ Character Breakfast

February 18, 2019 08:09 AM

Columbus jury reaches verdict in fatal shooting involving half-brothers

February 18, 2019 05:14 PM

Read Next

Living

Elizabeth Wellington: All this blackface makes me want to cancel high fashion

By ELIZABETH WELLINGTON The Philadelphia Inquirer

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 19, 2019 03:00 AM

I've watched in horror over the last few months as some the world's most prestigious fashion brands, such as Gucci and Prada, and as of last week, the very basic Katy Perry, repeatedly put their foot in it by putting blackface on it.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Ledger-Enquirer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE LIVING

Living

Ex-etiquette: Father texts daughter too much

February 19, 2019 03:00 AM

Living

Are teens getting high on social media? The surprising study seeking the pot-Instagram link

February 19, 2019 03:00 AM

Living

Ana Veciana-Suarez: Politicians scramble to explain bad behavior in old yearbooks, while I reminisce about the resiliency to improve my life

February 19, 2019 03:00 AM

Living

Lori Borgman: We said, –I do,– – they said we didn’t

February 19, 2019 03:00 AM
Living with Children: Common parenting mistakes

Living

Living with Children: Common parenting mistakes

February 19, 2019 03:00 AM

Living

Ask Mr. Dad: We all have emotions – men and women just express them differently

February 19, 2019 03:00 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Digital Solutions
  • Niche Solutions
  • Print Solutions
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story