The Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses Trend

One recent wedding trend that fits nicely around here with our quest for budget-friendly wedding options is the mismatched bridesmaid dress idea. It seems that creative brides are finding a number of ways to offer flexibility to their 'maids that meets a variety of concerns: budget, body type, complexion, and style preference.

This is not to say that your bridesmaids should be permitted to go all willy-nilly with their dress selections. The mismatched bridesmaid dress theme should definitely have some legit parameters going in, presumably with creative direction from the bride herself.

For example, you might tell your maids: "Everyone wear black!" or, "I'm going with a vintage springtime look, so let's all do chiffon pastels in the color and dress style of your choice."

Or, perhaps there is a designer out there who's showing a rainbow of dress styles with slight variation - say, off the shoulder, strapless, tea length, floor length, above the knee, etc, all of which would coordinate well with each other.

Below, some samples of what we mean by mismatched bridesmaid dresses. Consider how this trend could work for your wedding party!

Contemporary meets vintage with these artfully blended styles in muted tones.
Pic courtesy of http://exquisiteweddingsmagazine.com

Romance abounds: flowy, short dresses in an array of dusty, floral shades. Pic from http://visualartspeakers.com

Summer wedding daydreams, dressed in peachy cream. Notice the variety of open-toe shoes on display here.
Pic source: http://weddingbee.com

Wedding Accessories – "Everything but the Dress"

Pic belongs to weddingfactorydirect.com

Frugal NJ brides, take a look at WeddingFactoryDirect.com for competitive pricing and bulk discounts on all the wedding essentials you'll need in addition to your wedding gown.

They have everything to complete your look including wedding-day jewelry, hair accessories, wedding shoes, gloves, veils, bridal flip flops, purses and more. Also check out jewelry and hair accessories for bridesmaids.

In addition to wearables, you can pick up other wedding-day essentials such as wedding decorations, cake cutters, monograms, champagne flutes and other key items.

This website has a large selection of wedding items and you will indeed benefit from their bulk pricing.

www.weddingfactorydirect.com

Phone: 1800 790 4325

Email: info@weddingfactorydirect.com

South Jersey Wedding Deal: $79pp Wedding Package at Centerton Country Club

Pictures courtesy of CentertonCC.com

I recently came across an ad in the Celebrations advertiser for Centerton Country Club and Event Center. They are located in Pittsgrove, NJ and recently renovated their venue. Features include a 10,000 square-foot grand ballroom, spacious dance floor, and romantic French doors that overlook a perfectly manicured golf course.

The ad states "complete wedding package for $79." I am not sure for how long they are offering this price, but it's worth exploring if you're a South Jersey bride in search of a good, all-inclusive wedding package.

They also promise, "unique presentations and creative ideas for every budget." 

Centerton Country Club has a handful of Google reviews, all listed at 5 or 4 stars (five is the max) with positive feedback from satisfied clients. So, pretty good, it seems.

For more info, visit http://centertoncc.com or call them at 856-358-3325. Emai is sales@centertoncc.com.

Can't Afford a Wedding Present Dilemma

Dear NJ Wedding on a Budget,

I was recently invited to a good friend's wedding but I am currently unemployed. I don't feel that now is a good time in my life for the expense of a wedding gift. I also feel incredibly guilty, and unsure of what to do. I have known this friend for many years, and am truly overjoyed for her. Should I not go to the wedding? Should I go, but give her an IOU? Please help.

Sincerely,

Broke

Dear Broke,

Weddings always come up, even during hard times. Who knows... maybe someday it will be your turn to walk down the aisle, and your friend may be short on funds at that time. The future is always uncertain.

That said, if she is a good friend, she will understand. Everybody looks forward to a good send-off on their wedding day, and maybe even a little nest egg to put toward their future life. But we also understand that not everyone may be in the financial place to help out in this regard, and that is okay. A wedding is not a money collection, after all. The real joy in getting married is celebrating with loved ones, receiving the blessing of people who mean the most to us, and making a public declaration of your love and devotion to that special person.

If you are out of work but want to attend your friend's wedding despite lack of income, here's what you can do:

Give a modest cash gift. I know everyone says that covering one's plate cost is the proper wedding-guest protocol, but there are always exceptions. It is easier than one might think to set aside a little bit of money. You could skimp on groceries for the week, use a credit card for a purchase you'd normally pay cash for, etc.  

Give something homemade. A photo collage of the couple, a pottery vase that you made yourself, a beautiful set of hand painted glasses. Do you have creative talent? Put it to use in the form of a one-of-a-kind, personalized wedding gift. Whatever you create is sure to delight your friend, and may actually become one of her most cherished wedding-day mementos.

Give of your time and talent. If your friend is doing a DIY wedding, then there may be many opportunities to help make her day special. It could be tying ribbons on wedding favors the night before... pouring sand into candle centerpieces... making homemade confections for the dessert table. Talk to the bride, explain your financial quandary and offer to contribute your time and talent. What is your profession? Musicians, photographers, hairdressers and makeup artists (both professionals and hobbyists!) are welcome additions to a do-it-yourself wedding.

Finally – did you know that you have a full year to fulfill your wedding-gift obligation to the bride and groom? Although procrastination is not always the best idea, sometimes it's necessary to wait until a better time to be generous.

Whatever you decide: if your friendship is strong then it will not require lavish gifts to keep it going!

Got a pressing question about NJ weddings? Email info@njweddingonabudget.com for advice and tips today!

Thanksgiving Themed Wedding Ideas

With Thanksgiving just ten days away, I thought it would be a good time to share some Thankgiving-Day wedding ideas. Some cool stuff I found on my scavenger hunt, below:

A beautiful and rustic fall-themed table setting for your Thanksgiving wedding day. From http://www.bridesmaidsandweddings.com.

Pie bar... totally tasteful wedding idea for Thanksgiving. Photo courtesy DecorsEven.com

Creative idea for wedding table centerpieces... multi-wicked candles wrapped in colorful corn. Pic courtesy Pinterest.

Little bitty pumpkins wrapped in lace... for the vintage Thanksgiving bride. From ALoveForDetail.com.

Pinecone wedding favors... or is it table cards? Either way, makes for a sweet touch of autumn for your November wedding day. Picture courtesy http://chapelinthepines.com/

 Tables all aglow for this Thanksgiving-themed night wedding. Pic courtesy of ChicagoWeddingBlog.com