Wedding Ideas

Spring is in the air! (And if winter is still clinging on where you live, we hope it reaches you soon.) Spring is a beautiful time of year to say, “I do,” and start your life as a married couple. Here are a few fresh spring wedding ideas to help you bring out the flavors and favors you love (without breaking the bank). 

Wedding Favors 

• Give guests a memento that will last long after the ceremony. Buy small packets of seeds for your favorite flowers, herbs or vegetables and give them as favors, or get crafty with this easy DIY seed matchbook project.
• If you have a favorite local specialty in the place you’re getting married, such as apricot jam, acacia honey or Texas hot sauce, find small, attractive jars or bottles to give to guests.

Food

You’re in luck! Spring has an abundance of seasonal produce that you can incorporate into the menu of your budget wedding reception. These spring wedding ideas are sure to be crowd-pleasers:

• Asparagus: Crispy asparagus and cheese wrapped in puff pastry for an appetizer or roasted asparagus with browned butter as a side dish
• Apricots: Fresh apricot, walnut and goat cheese tarts for an appetizer
• Arugula and strawberries: Side salad with arugula, strawberries and almonds 

Cakes

Get colorful and flavorful with your wedding cake! 

• Incorporate in-season fruit into the filling or decorations, or adorn the top of the cake with bright, fresh flowers.
• If you’re not really a cake person, explore other dessert options, such as cupcakes, fruit tarts, ice cream sundaes or easter egg candies.

What budget wedding ideas do you recommend for a spring wedding? Share your ideas in the comments!

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The important thing to remember when you are planning your budget wedding reception is that you want to be able to enjoy your own party. The reception is the time when you can finally relax, let down your hair (or kick off your uncomfortable shoes) and dance the night away with your new spouse, your best friends, your parents and even your 90-year-old grandmother. 

Creating the perfect wedding reception playlist is one of the most fun parts of the planning process, and it gives you an excuse to rock out to “Billie Jean” over and over again. 

Tips for Picking the Right Budget Wedding Reception Music 

1. Compare costs.

You may have your heart set on a live rock ‘n’ roll cover band for your reception, but before you make a decision, find out how much it will cost. A wedding band can provide lively and high-quality entertainment, but it often costs much more than a DJ. If you are trying to keep costs down, research DJs who have good recommendations and are within your budget, or look into the completely DIY route. With a rented sound system, an excellent iPod playlist and a music-savvy friend to keep things moving smoothly, you could create a great dance party for a fraction of the cost.

2. Consider your audience.

Whether you decide to hire a DJ or do the music yourself, you will want to come up with a list of songs that you definitely want to hear at the reception (as well as those you definitely do NOT want to hear). When you start to brainstorm your ideal wedding reception playlist, take into account your own personal tastes as well as those of your guests. Try to find a good mix tunes from different genres, eras and tempos that will get everyone out on the dance floor. For example, throw a slow song in for every five fast songs, and choose a little hip-hop and ‘80s pop for your college friends, some old-time rock ‘n’ roll for your parents and their friends and some Rat Pack crooners for your grandparents. You don’t have to go for all crowd-pleasers or wedding standards, but remember that getting too obscure will probably result in an empty dance floor. For example:

Slow Songs

"You Send Me" - Sam Cooke 

"Fly Me to the Moon" - Frank Sinatra 

"The Luckiest" - Ben Folds 

"Dance Me to the End of Love" - Madeleine Peyroux 

"If I Fell" - The Beatles 

"Always Be My Baby" - Mariah Carey 

Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Dance Songs 

"Single Ladies" - Beyonce 

"Footloose" - Kenny Loggins 

"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" - Michael Jackson

"The Twist" - Chubby Checker

"Push It" - Salt ‘n’ Pepa

"Say Hey (I Love You)" - Michael Franti & Spearhead 

"Runaround Sue" - Dion & the Belmonts 

3. Leave room for flexibility.

Have a Plan B in case your selections don't seem to be clicking with your guests. Talk to the DJ in advance and give him the freedom to shake up the playlist and rely on his expertise to play songs that will get people moving. If you are going DIY, have a few close friends make back-up playlists on their iPods in case you want to swap them in.

What are your tips for creating the perfect wedding reception playlist?

Browse beautiful matching trio wedding ring sets that won't bust your budget.

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What are your wedding budget priorities? Do you have a beautiful and affordable trio wedding ring set picked out? Did you find a gorgeous gown on sale? What about music? Having the right music to set the mood at your budget wedding and reception is important, but it can also be expensive.

Generally, it is cheaper to pay for a DJ than for live music. It can also be more affordable to book wedding music for off-peak times of year or even times of the week.  Ask your family and friends for recommendations in your area, and ask around for the best rate before you commit. Once you find the best budget wedding music, it is time to sit down with your DJ and plan out a kick-butt wedding playlist. You may already have a few songs in mind, or maybe just a general genre, but the more your DJ understands your taste in music, the better the party will be.

Wedding Playlist Ideas

“What I Like About You” by The Romantics

“All I Want Is You” by Barry Louis Polisar

“You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC

“Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service

“In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel

“Something in the Way She Moves” by James Taylor

“Eternal Flame” by The Bangles

“If I Were a Carpenter” by Johnny Cash

“Dancing Queen” by ABBA

“Happy Together” by The Turtles

“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong

“Marry You” by Bruno Mars

“At Last” by Etta James

“Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepson

“I Wanna Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles

“The Story” by Brandi Carlisle

“Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts

“Better Together” by Jack Johnson

Use this list of wedding playlist ideas to get your wheels turning about what you would most like to hear your DJ or band play at your budget wedding reception. And join in the conversation in the comments to share your favorite wedding songs!

Photo credit: Wedding Photography by Jon Day


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If the idea of planning a budget wedding makes you break out in hives, then perhaps coordinating all the details of a more conventional wedding just isn’t for you. Some couples opt for more simple, budget-friendly options such as tying the knot at city hall and then hosting a small reception at a favorite restaurant. Other couples like the idea of combining their wedding and honeymoon in one package with a destination wedding or a budget wedding at sea on a cruise. Indeed, a cruise can be an affordable way to integrate a budget wedding and a budget honeymoon.

Benefits of a Budget Wedding on Open Water

1. Someone Else Will Be in Charge

If you plan a budget wedding on a cruise ship, most of the work is already done for you. You just need to bring a wedding dress and inexpensive wedding rings. Many cruise ships even offer tuxedo rentals on board. You can kick back, relax, and enjoy each other’s company while someone else takes care of all the wedding details, such as arranging music, food, and photography as part of your cruise wedding package.

2. You Will Be Pampered

Even if you stay in the least expensive stateroom with no extras, you can’t avoid being pampered. Someone else makes your bed, takes out your trash, and brings your free room service. Gourmet three-course dining is likely also included in your package, with a few specialty restaurants available for an additional splurge. If you want to splurge, you can also spend time being pampered at the ship’s spa, perhaps indulging in a couple’s massage before or after the budget wedding. Whether or not you decide to partake in some of the extras onboard ship, just remember to include tips in your budget wedding / budget honeymoon cost estimates so that you can show appreciation to the people who do the pampering.

3. You Will Be Entertained

Amenities differ by cruise ship and cruise line, but most have something for everyone to enjoy. While you are on the cruise ship, you can likely kick back by the pool, read in the library, have a mini-golf competition, learn to ice skate, unwind in the hot tub, view free theatrical performances, take classes, or participate in a wide variety of other free activities.

4. You Can Have Adventures

When the cruise ship is at port, you can venture off on your own to enjoy a more private budget honeymoon or participate in adventures with your wedding guests. You can probably go parasailing, take a jeep tour, explore ancient ruins, go swimming with dolphins or sea turtles or sting rays, ride on a pirate ship or glass-bottom boat, climb a waterfall, take a horse and carriage ride, go scuba diving, take a hike, go shopping, or relax in a hammock on the beach, depending on where you are and depending on your budget and tastes.

You can make a luxurious, all-inclusive cruise vacation work well for your budget wedding and honeymoon. Get started by picking affordable rings today!

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One of the best ways to unwind and relax after the budget wedding and reconnect as a couple is to get out of town together. When you are planning a honeymoon on a budget, it is important to find the balance between getting away together on an incredible journey of relaxation or adventure and staying within your price range. Expected travel expenses include such things as transportation, lodging, food, entertainment, and even souvenirs. Fortunately, there is a website that can help cut costs significantly.

If you are planning a honeymoon on a budget, consider using airbnb. Airbnb is a website with listings for rooms, houses, apartments, treehouses, RVs, and other lodging opportunities worldwide. Rather than staying in an impersonal hotel room, you could spend your honeymoon in an authentic home abroad, shopping at local markets, and cooking and living like locals in another country. Or perhaps you would prefer to stay somewhere closer to home after your budget wedding.

Picture this: use frequent flier miles to help pay for your airfare, or drive a fuel efficient car to the honeymoon destination of your choice. Rent a home for a week or two. Plan on most of your culinary adventures taking place in the kitchen, thus saving  great deal of money. And consider some of these amazing lodging deals or others like them for your honeymoon on a budget:

1. A modern flat in Croatia for $39 per night

2. A southwestern schoolhouse in New Mexico for $129 per night

3. A treehouse in Hawaii for $40 per night

4. An Airstream trailer in Portland for $50 per night

5. A luxury villa in Kenya for $83 per night

6. A private cabin in Belize for $40 per night

7. A cottage on the Aeolian islands for $65 per night

Where is the honeymoon of your dreams?

Photo credit: visit~fingerlakes

The sun is shining through the colorful leaves. Delicious fall breezes are blowing. Change is in the air. Is it time for you to make a change in your life? Perhaps you are considering a proposal this fall, but you are still on the fence. Is now the right time for you to propose?

10 Reasons to Propose this Fall

1. You know that he is the one.

Maybe you have had many boyfriends, or maybe it has always been him. Regardless, you know in your heart that he is the person that you want to spend the rest of your life with, the person you want to share for better or for worse with.

2. You see eye-to-eye on important issues like money, religion, and children.

You have a solid foundation for starting a life together with compatible values, attitudes, goals, and dreams. You’ve discussed the future and have a shared vision for what it might look like as a couple.

3. You are ready to start your life together.

It is fun to go on dates and spend time together, but you are ready to start creating an entire life together.

4. You know that he is ready, too.

Sometimes women are more ready for commitment than men, but you feel secure in your relationship and confident that you are both ready for taking the next step forward together.

5. You are a confident woman.

You are a confident go-getter. You are sure of yourself and don’t feel the need to wait for him to plan a proposal.

6. You can afford a trio wedding ring set.

You are ready to purchase a trio wedding ring set for the two of you, or maybe you have a couple of possibilities bookmarked to show him after you pop the question.

7. You can afford a budget wedding.

You are in a good financial situation as a couple to be able to afford to plan and execute a budget wedding in the near future.

8. You have an exciting proposal plan.

Maybe you want to propose to him at a baseball game before the end of the regular season, or you have another proposal idea in mind that you are ready to act on.

9. You might want to plan a budget wedding for the fall or winter.

If you want to get married soon, then you will want to get married even sooner

10. There is no time like the present!

Are you ready to propose? Get started with a trio wedding ring set today!

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You’ve found the love of a lifetime. You’ve proposed. You’ve chosen a trio wedding ring set together. But now that the time has come, what will your budget wedding actually be like? Feeling stumped? Picture this possibility:

It is a gorgeous fall day. The sun shines brightly through the changing leaves that rustle in a gentle breeze. You and your groom stand hand-in-hand by the lake at the local state park, surrounded by your closest family and friends. You are holding a bouquet of seasonal wildflowers in front of your mom’s altered wedding dress. He is wearing his favorite suit.

Your minister marries you as a flock of geese flies over the glistening lake. After the kiss, you and your new husband wander together over to the picnic shelter where your budget wedding feast is waiting. Since you saved so much money by choosing an outdoor wedding with a small guest list and modest attire, you are able to splurge on a catered gourmet picnic lunch.

With your beautiful trio wedding ring set on your fingers at last, you are both able to relax and enjoy the moment together with a small, intimate group of guests. Unlike many couples, you actually are able to sit down and enjoy your own wedding food. While you are kicking back with the people you love most, your favorite wedding photographer will continue to take breathtaking pictures to help you remember this day for years to come.

You and your guests savor the fresh air and sunshine while eating pan seared lemonfish, grilled asparagus, a mixed greens salad with apricots and toasted hazelnuts, and a crisp white wine. For dessert, you chose the nicest bakery in town to make a luscious almond wedding cake topped with raspberries. And before you know it, it will be time to depart on your budget honeymoon!

Start planning your budget wedding with My Trio Rings today!

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When you are planning a budget wedding, one challenge is to find the best prices and prioritize your hopes and dreams without scrimping on creativity and individuality. If you can find a good deal on your reception music, one fun way to express yourselves as a couple is during the dancing. You have a groom. You have a date. You have a venue. You have an inexpensive wedding ring set. Now is the time to plan the dances! Here are a few creative ideas to get you started.

1. The Whole Wedding Party Dance

If you have a wedding party that is made up of good dancers, or at least people who would be willing to get out there and try, then you might want to recreate something like this couple, who started their first dance as a married couple to a sedate slow dance, but one minute in broke out into a snappy number from “Grease,” with the assistance of their entire wedding party. A dance like this could be choreographed with a live band or with a DJ, depending on your budget and music preferences.

2. Father - Daughter Dance

If some members of your wedding party have two left feet or a little bit of stage fright, how about Dad? Would he be excited about making some moves for a memorable father - daughter dance at your budget wedding reception? This dad has very smooth moves and appears to have a playful sense of humor as he dances his daughter into her new life. The father – daughter dance is a time when most of the attention is on the bride, her wedding gown, and her inexpensive wedding ring set. It is a great time to shine and express some originality.

3. Bride and Groom Dance

How well does the new bride and groom work together? This couple shows off their romantic side when they start dancing slowly to “Unchained Melody.” Then all of a sudden, the couple breaks into a marvelous rendition of “Baby Got Back,” with wild cheers from all of their guests.

Plan an original budget wedding today!

Photo credit: Nuno Duarte

Ladies, are you ready to get married? Are you fairly certain that your guy is also ready to take the plunge and start planning a budget wedding with you? One good sign is that he initiates conversations about a shared long-term future together and can’t wait to spend his life with you. Just because he is ready to commit doesn’t necessarily mean that he has worked up the nerve to propose yet! Fortunately, there is no rule that says that you can’t be the one to pop the question. To get started, choose a trio wedding ring set that incorporates your style with his.

A Trio Wedding Ring Set for Every Guy

1. The Sports Fan

If your guy would rather be glued to a sports game than doing just about anything else, then you might want to consider a trio wedding ring set such as this one that has a thicker men’s wedding band with styling reminiscent of a class ring or sports ring. The ladies’ wedding band is a smaller version of the men’s wedding band, and the engagement ring features sixteen princess cut diamonds in a central square feature set in yellow gold. All this bling can be yours for you and your husband-to-be for $799.99.

2. The Sensitive Guy

Some guys prefer a more masculine design, while other guys lean towards the romantic for their wedding band. If your guy has fun cooking dinner with you, discussing your favorite novels, or catching the latest rom com together, then he might like a wedding band with more subtle and elegant styling, such as this one carat diamond trio wedding ring set that is set in white gold. In addition to tastefully stunning diamonds, these rings also offer romantic detailing on the bands, all for $1049.99.

3. The Outdoorsman

If your husband-to-be is happiest stomping through the woods, fishing by the lake, or just spending time soaking in the great outdoors, then you might like to choose this ring set that features a curving leaf-like design. This 14 K white gold ring set includes ¼ carat total diamond weight for only $579.99

Even if your guy doesn’t fit into any of these categories, keep shopping around for the budget wedding ring set that is right for you. Now you are well on your way to planning your budget wedding!

Photo credit: benluckman

Are you dreaming of a day at the spa with your maid of honor? Do you wish you could afford that designer wedding gown? Are you frustrated that you can't find affordable and original wedding accessories? Some couples feel frustrated planning a budget wedding, because they wish they could stretch their wedding dollars a little further. Fortunately, there are many different helpful sites on the internet that can help you do just that.

Planning a Wedding on a Budget Online

1. Groupon or Living Social

If you want to use Groupon or Living Social to allow you to make some budget wedding splurges, then you might first wish to make a list of your wedding priorities. Both Groupon and Living Social are unpredictable in their offerings, so you won't want to wait until the last minute to find a great deal on your wedding essentials. Instead, depending on how long your engagement will be, you probably want to go ahead and make arrangements for the basics (ceremony site, wedding gown, food) along the way as you begin planning a wedding on a budget.

But as interesting things become available on Groupon or Living Social, you might find that you are able to get great deals that allow you to make a few splurges on extras. Maybe you will get a huge discount at your favorite spa to purchase massages for yourself and your husband-to-be as a wedding gift, or manicures and pedicures for yourself and your bridesmaids. Perhaps you will find an amazing travel deal for a budget honeymoon destination. Or maybe you will purchase an amazing restaurant deal for a girls' night out before the wedding.

2. Ebay

Ebay is a great place to start budget wedding shopping, because you can bid just as much as you are willing to pay for an item, and no more. You just enter your maximum bid, and you will find out at the end of the auction whether you won the item you hoped to buy. On Ebay, you can search for dresses, veils, shoes, wedding jewelry, unused wedding favors, wedding decor, and just about anything else you can think of.

3. Etsy

If you are planning a wedding on a budget, then Etsy is an excellent site for finding lovely, eclectic, handmade touches for your wedding, sometimes at an excellent price. What about a vintage inspired 1950's ivory wedding dress for $105? Or custom-designed stickers to place on the bottom of Hershey's Kisses as favors on the reception table, only $13 for 540 stickers? Whatever your unique budget wedding vision, you are likely to find something creative and beautiful that fits the bill on Etsy.

Plan your budget wedding today!

Photo Credit: Horia Varlan

One of the easiest ways to derail a grocery budget – or a wedding budget! – is cooking for people with food allergies. Products that are gluten-free, dairy-free, and the like can be significantly more expensive. If you are planning a wedding on a budget, then you will want to think carefully about how to handle your food choices in such a way that will fit your needs and wants while also staying within your budget.

Budget Wedding Food Scenarios

Scenario 1: You have severe food allergies or specific dietary needs, but your guests don’t.

If you have a strict diet for religious reasons, moral choices, or food allergies, then you already know how to cater to your own diet. But will you ask your guests to eat the same way? There are two basic choices in this scenario. One option is to serve your guests a meal that adheres to your vegan diet, your kosher diet, your gluten-free diet, or the like. This is the preference of many couples, but it can also become very expensive to create a meal based around special diets, and it might be out of your price range if you are planning a wedding on a budget. Another choice is to offer more standard fare to your wedding guests but to have a special meal prepared to suit the dietary concerns of the bride and groom.

Scenario 2: You eat a standard diet, but some of your guests have strict dietary concerns.

This is a tricky scenario to deal with, because you want your guests to be happy and comfortable, but perfectly meeting everyone’s different dietary needs and preferences perfectly at your budget wedding just isn’t possible, especially if you are having a large wedding. Not everyone can eat dairy or gluten. Not everyone chooses to eat meat. Many people avoid carbs or sugar like the plague. So what is the savvy bride to do? Fortunately, most people with food allergies or strict diets know how to manage their own diets when they are eating out. They may choose to eat before they come, or they may pick and choose what foods best fit their dietary needs. One of the most practical food options for a group of guests with diverse dietary needs might be to offer a buffet with a variety of food choices and small cards that list the ingredients in each dish, to assist those guests with dietary concerns.

Are you planning a wedding on a budget with diverse dietary needs? Share your tips with us!

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If you are planning a wedding on a budget, then you are probably planning to start your life together on a budget, too. Think ahead carefully about what you might need in order to maximize the usefulness of your budget wedding registry. Before you start drooling over the enticing catalogs of your favorite expensive kitchen stores, take stock of what you already have. If you each already have a home, then you probably already have some duplicate items that you may want to sell or give away. Regardless of the situation, it is best to make a list of what you need first, then think about what you want, and then start looking at the catalogs and websites to craft your budget wedding registry.

Budget Wedding Registry Tips

Items to Choose

1. Select long-lasting, high quality items for your wedding registry. Don’t choose items just because they are inexpensive, because then you may need to replace those items in a few years.

2. Select solid colored or neutral patterned pieces when you are choosing items that will be around for a lifetime. If you ask for high quality white dishes, for example, it will be much easier to match those dishes to different seasonal décor or your own changing tastes over time.

3. Do choose items for your registry in a variety of price ranges so that none of your budget wedding guests feel left out.

4. In addition to more practical items, consider asking for some memorable items that will always remind you of your wedding each time you look at them and the person who gave the gift, such as a really beautiful wooden fruit bowl or handmade pottery mugs.

5. If you’re already pretty well set for items for the kitchen, bed, and bath, then don’t forget to consider having a honeymoon registry instead to help pay for your budget honeymoon!

Items to Avoid

1. It can be tempting, but don’t ask for a bunch of fancy appliances that are likely to gather dust. If you’re not likely to make homemade pasta or funnel cakes but once in a blue moon, you may  be best off asking for a multi-purpose electric griddle and borrowing the other items from a friend on occasion.

2. Don’t select items that are so expensive or fragile that you would be too intimidated to use them – or that none of your guests would be able to afford!

3. Just because you’re planning a wedding on a budget doesn’t mean that you don’t have an eye for quality! Items that are too inexpensive or cheaply made, such as particleboard furniture, is not long-lasting and may not make it to see your first child, let alone your grandchildren!

Photo credit: craiglea123

If you haven't discovered Pinterest yet, it's time that you do. The site allows you to share the beautiful and interesting things that you find on the web quickly and easily. It's free to register on Pinterest, and it's incredibly useful for discovering creative budget wedding ideas. 

Start by visiting Pinterest.com and start a free account. Select the people whose pinboards you want to follow (both friends and those you don't know personally). Then create pinboards for the topics that interest you, such as "Recipes," "Ideas for the Home," and, of course, "Wedding Inspiration." With the click of your mouse, you can now pin the photos you discover on the web and repin photos that other people have shared on their boards. One word of caution: Pinterest is seriously addictive.

Here are 5 ways that you can use Pinterest to plan the budget wedding of your dreams:

1. Save-the-Dates and Invitations

The easiest way to decide on the style of Save-the-Dates and Invitations is to look at a variety of examples and see what catches your eye. Do you prefer a modern design, or a more classic one? Splashy or understated? Whether you are planning a destination wedding or a homegrown event, you'll find inspiration for wedding planning on a budget.

2. Engagement & Wedding Photography

You may have rolled your eyes when you've seen run-of-the-mill engagement and wedding photography. Make sure to avoid cheesy poses yourself by finding creative shots on Pinterest and showing them to your photographer. Get ideas for props you can use in your engagement photos, such as chalkboards for writing fun messages, and start brainstorming unexpected settings. Give your photographer suggestions for uncommon wedding day poses and shots to capture.

3. Wedding Decor

Pinterest users (or "Pinners") share wedding decor ideas galore. Find pictures of gorgeous place settings for indoor or outdoor weddings, sweet wedding favors, and simple flower arrangements. You're sure to find the perfect accents for your budget wedding, including eco-friendly and DIY options. .

4. Bridal Style

You'll find many different ideas for bridal style on Pinterest. Pictures of wedding dresses range from elegant to simple to funky. You'll find ideas for wedding day shoes, jewelry, and styles for every kind of hair. There are even accessories that you can make yourself if you're wedding planning on a budget.

5. Honeymoon

What kind of honeymoon would you like to follow your budget wedding? One of the biggest benefits of Pinterest is that it displays a plethora of beautiful photos side by side. You can browse through them and decide whether you'd like to save or splurge on your honeymoon, and what kind of experience you'd like to have. Do you want to lounge on a tropical beach? Go camping in the wilderness, or ride the roller coasters at a Disney theme park?

BONUS - 6. Follow My Trio Rings!

My Trio Rings has created a number of pinboards which cover unique engagement and wedding rings spanning the entire web in addition to pictures of the latest ring styles and designs in the industry and by My Trio Rings. Follow the pinboards to see updates to these boards!

To look for wedding ideas on Pinterest, hover over the "Everything" option on your home screen with your mouse, then choose "Wedding & Events" from the drop-down menu. You can also use the Pinterest search bar to search by keyword for a specific type of item.

Happy pinning!

Last edited; 4/18/2012. Photo credit: Pinterest

As you are planning for your budget wedding and deciding what your priorities are, consider that your wedding day will be a beautiful day, but it is also likely to be a busy day. Make sure that you are making plans that will help you make budget wedding memories that will last a lifetime.

Make Budget Wedding Memories for a Lifetime

1. Get Married When You Both are Ready

When you are thinking about picking out an affordable wedding ring set and planning a wedding, make sure that you are both ready to get married and commit to each other for a lifetime. Read these tips to help you decide whether you two are ready to take the plunge.

2. Choose Real Diamonds

When you are selecting an affordable wedding ring set, be sure to choose real diamonds. Real diamonds are certainly more expensive than alternatives such as cubic zirconia, but fake diamonds do not have the strength and history of real diamonds, and they are not likely to last a lifetime. If you want to save money on real diamonds, simply consider purchasing diamond cluster rings that are part of an affordable wedding ring set from a reputable online jeweler. This is a wise investment at a great price, and it will last you a lifetime.

3. Hire a Professional Photographer

Many wedding planners and brides who have been there would agree that one of the most important things to NOT skimp on during your budget wedding planning is photography. If you want to share your wedding memories with your children and grandchildren in the years to come, then hire a professional who knows how to best capture your special day on film. In addition to ordering prints, it is also worthwhile to splurge on digital copies of your wedding photos, so that you can be sure to preserve those memories for a lifetime.

4. Preserve Your Dress

If you might want to pass your wedding dress on to a daughter or granddaughter today, don’t just throw it up in the attic. Protect your budget wedding dress investment by taking your dress to the cleaners or to a bridal shop to get it preserved in a special airtight box that will help your dress last much longer.

Photo credit: Instant Vantage

It is not unusual for companies to create and market budget wedding knock-offs – dresses and jewelry and other wedding accessories that strongly resemble diamond cluster rings worn by royals or gowns worn by celebrities. After this year's marriage between Prince William and Kate Middleton, for example, many designers copied Kate's wedding gown and her sister Pippa's bridesmaid dress to create budget wedding gowns more widely available to customers for less money.  

What is less common is for the designer of the object in question to also design a knock-off. However, designer Sarah Burton, who designed Pippa Middleton's draping silk dress, has just released a knock-off of her original design, which features a zipper in back, unlike Pippa's original buttons.  

This knock-off dress, however, is not exactly a budget wedding dress. Instead, it costs over $3,000 to purchase – out of the price range of many brides. The Bridal Association of America reports that an American bride pays an average of $1,500 on a wedding gown, even if she is not on a budget. So spending over $3,000 on a knock-off designer gown is indeed far beyond the reach of many. If you are planning a budget wedding and hoping to save money on a variety of items such as wedding gowns and diamond cluster rings, then perhaps avoiding such knock-off gowns in general might help you save a little money. If you make selections based on your own personal style, it could be far less expensive than trying to imitate the style and taste of someone famous, who probably has a great deal of money to spend on wedding accessories without thinking too much about a budget.  

Alternately, you may just want to avoid the big-name jewelry and gown designers altogether and instead browse the styles of lesser-known retailers who can offer the same quality at a much lower price.   What are your tips for sticking to your wedding budget without compromising your style?

Photo Credit: Flickr (www.chicagofabulousblog.com)

Perhaps you aren't a very by-the-book kind of person. Perhaps walking down a straight aisle in a white strapless gown in front of 100 guests just isn't your fantasy wedding. Perhaps you feel a little bit uncomfortable about registering for 12 place settings of china on your wedding registry.

If you don't fit in the typical $25,000 wedding box, never fear! From an original trio wedding ring set to creative wedding gifts, from unconventional wedding ceremony sites to eccentric wedding cake choices, there are a lot of different ways to make your budget wedding your own. Here are three ideas to get you thinking about a different kind of wedding registry.

1. Eclectic Budget Wedding Gifts

With such websites as My Registry or Amazon, you can create one single registry with a variety of different lovely and unconventional items from local family businesses, your favorite environmentally friendly companies, or even your favorite homemade items from stores like Etsy.

2. Intangible Budget Wedding Gifts

Perhaps you both already have your own homes and already have a lot of stuff. You may be planning to downsize rather than scale up after yourwedding, with a trio wedding ring set being the only new item you wish to bring into your home. If that is the case, consider a honeymoon registry to fund the trip of your dreams or perhaps a charitable gift registry to help people in need, rather than feeling committed to a more conventional registry populated with hand towels and waffle makers.

3. Homemade Budget Wedding Gifts

If the best present would be having your guests give of themselves for your wedding gift, then consider asking friends to prepare and bring their favorite dish for you, either for a potluck reception or to stock your newlywed freezer. Or ask a friend to host a wedding shower to which everyone brings a favorite plant from their garden to help get yours started. If you're crafty and have crafty friends and family, consider asking each wedding guest to create a quilt square for you. Just send a small square of plain fabric in each budget wedding invitation and ask family and friends to use fabric, fabric pens, embroidery floss, or other washable materials to create a special square that you can incorporate into a memorable wedding quilt.

What are your unique weeding registry ideas?

Photo Credit: Flickr (MRS TWINS)

It seems like there is an app for everything these days – getting restaurant reservations, quizzing kids on spelling words, checking traffic conditions, and so much more. In today's increasingly digital world, many people spend much of their day glued to a cell phone, even at work. Now if only you could find an app to help you select the perfect inexpensive wedding ring set before you pop the question!

Believe it or not, you can get a free wedding proposal app in the iTunes store for your iPhone, which also includes tips about selecting an inexpensive wedding ring set.

Additionally, there are many popular free or relatively inexpensive budget wedding planning apps that might be helpful to you and your spouse-to-be as you try to keep track of your wedding budget and wedding plans.

1. TheKnot.com offers a free wedding planning app, Wedding 911, with popular wedding advice from TheKnot.com as well as the ability to post questions for input from fellow app users, anytime, anywhere.

2. iWedding is a more pricey purchase, at $6.99. It includes features such as planning and tracking a budget, managing guest lists, and staying on top of to-do lists.

3. A different budget wedding app that you may choose to purchase is the $4.99 Bride Guide, another app which purports to be a comprehensive wedding planning resource, from budgeting to buffeting. You probably only want one of these more comprehensive budget wedding planning programs, since it might get confusing to switch between programs.

4. Keep on top of your budget wedding dress shopping with iBridalGown, a virtual dress-shopping helper which you can purchase for $3.99.

5. If it is your registry you are working on, apps such as the free Amazon Mobile might be a good resource for keeping your gift ideas all in one place at your fingertips.

What apps have you found helpful in your wedding planning?

Photo Credit: Jim G

Pachelbel? Tchaikovsky? Beethoven? Mendelssohn? Many brides and grooms feel perplexed when they hear all of the options available to them, even if they are choosing to have a traditional budget wedding. Many people fret about finding an affordable wedding ring set, but that process can actually be far easier than finding affordable wedding music.

Perhaps you feel equally out of your league. As you start to make decisions about your budget wedding music, you may wish to consult comprehensive guides from The Wedding Channel and TheKnot.com. Both sites offer comprehensive wedding music guides that list a wide variety of music options for all the different parts of your budget wedding ceremony and reception, including a variety of different musical styles.
Additionally, if you are having a church wedding, your pastor or your organist might already have a small selection of standard music they use in weddings at the church. A few popular wedding ceremony hymns include “Amazing Grace,” “For the Beauty of the Earth,” “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” and “Day by Day.” A soloist might sing more beautifully, but you will save money if you ask your guests to sing your hymns of choice during the ceremony. And the more familiar the song, the more lovely the sound will be.

Many wedding planners strongly recommend sticking to professional musicians and professional DJs for your wedding, but as with hunting for an affordable wedding ring set, your budget is your budget. If the best ceremony music you can afford is singing hymns with your guests, embrace that and make the best of it. The same is true if your budget wedding reception music needs to be an iPod playlist of your favorite songs played over a loudspeaker. But before you resign yourself to a purely DIY music approach, consider these possible sources of affordable wedding music:

1. University music students
2. Talented friends and family
3. New DJ’s
4. Church organists and choirs

What music are you most excited about including in your wedding?

Photo Credit: A. Vivaldi

You probably don’t like the idea of importing the rigid gender dynamics of the Victorian Era into your own wedding and marriage. You probably also don’t want the added expense or diminished privacy of a female chaperone accompanying you on your honeymoon. But if a budget wedding is on your mind, there are many bygone customs that just might fit the bill.

1. Host a morning wedding.

For much of the Victorian Era, it was the law that weddings take place in the morning. A morning wedding could be an excellent choice for your budget wedding, because it might make the venue less expensive to rent, since morning weddings are not as common today. Also, a wedding breakfast could be significantly less expensive than a meal at another time of day, since there would be less expectation of alcohol or expensive meat or seafood entrees. Light pastries and fruits, for example, could be an economical choice for a wedding breakfast.

2. Use vintage clothing and décor.

You may be able to find a vintage look wedding gown from a thrift store or antique store for a much better price than at a modern wedding boutique, or you may be able to borrow one from a costume rental store. White was not a common wedding gown color during the Victorian age, so you could also cast a wider net and look for a range of pastel shades, which would give you more budget wedding dress choices. Just be certain to pair your dress with a long lace veil, a fashion started by Queen Victoria herself.

Whether you choose a new diamond cluster ring or vintage wedding jewelry, look for more intricate, old-fashioned styles.

For your wedding decorations, look for intricate and frilly touches at garage sales, antique stores, and even in Grandma’s attic. Those old crocheted doilies could be re-purposed for centerpieces at the reception tables. Some stores might even let you simply rent or borrow such used decorations inexpensively rather than buying them.

3. Go easy on the flowers.
 
The bride only needs a small, tightly clustered budget wedding bouquet for an authentic Victorian wedding. Instead of expensive, exotic flowers, pick simple flowers with sentimental meanings. White carnations, for example, signify pure love, while red roses indicate true love. For an authentic Victorian touch, add some ivy to the bouquet like Queen Victoria. She started a tradition of planting wedding bouquet ivy, which symbolizes endurance in the language of flowers, and passing on cuttings of the ivy to her children and grandchildren in later years. Besides, fewer flowers mean more attention on your diamond cluster ring!

Photo Credit: Le Petit Poulailler

In today’s fast-paced world, flexible bargain hunters can often find amazing deals on anything from clothing to vehicles to travel to food. However, bargain hunting is not an exact science. When it comes to planning a budget wedding, it would not be smart to wait until the last minute looking for the best possible deal, not find a deal, and then need to go far over your budget in order to find a caterer or other service provider available at the last minute.

No, the best idea is to plan ahead. From picking an inexpensive trio wedding ring set to booking a venue, sooner is generally better. If you have more time to plan a wedding, then it gives you the time for things like getting a ring resized or a dress altered without the stress (and added expense) of needing a quick turnaround, and it gives you more of an opportunity to look around for the best deal before you absolutely need to make a decision.

How Planning Ahead Saves Budget Wedding Bucks

1. Purchase your budget wedding dress several months in advance. This gives you plenty of time to order the dress without paying for more expensive shipping and handling. Most bridal stores do not sell off the rack, so it often takes several weeks for your dress to come in. This also gives you more time to shop around for a good deal or to hire a seamstress to copy a designer dress for you at a much more reasonable cost. And if you need alterations made, having a few months as a cushion also saves you from having to pay significantly more to a tailor for a rush order.

2. Select and order your inexpensive trio wedding ring set with months to spare before the wedding. Ordering ahead allows you the luxury of time to choose the right rings for your budget, saves you money on shipping, and gives you the chance to get the rings resized if they don’t have the perfect fit when they arrive.

3. Allow yourself plenty of time to shop around for the venue, caterer, photographer, etc. that will give you the best value for your money. You might even have the time to take on a few DIY projects to save a little cash. But at some point, you will need to make a decision and commit to your choices. The perfect deal may not be out there, but at least you won’t be trying to scramble at the very last minute to find a professional and reasonably priced wedding photographer who isn’t already booked. And if you are not in a rush, you can make plans to book an off-season budget wedding to save even more money.

What are your tips for planning ahead to save money? Share them in the comments.