Famous couples enlist professional consultants who expertly plan extravagant weddings on a near-limitless budget — something nonfamous brides and grooms aren’t usually able to do. However, by finding affordable alternatives to a wedding’s key aspects, your own nuptials can definitely reflect star style.
The wedding dress
Even if a couture gown is out of your price range, there are plenty of mid-range designers whose creations are reminiscent of dresses worn by famous brides. First, focus on what makes your favorite celebrity wedding gown really stand out, be it the dramatic train on Eva Longoria’s Angel Sanchez gown, or the off-the-shoulder look of Katie Holmes’ Armani. Next, look online and in bridal magazines for gowns that share similar elements with your dream dress. Finally, print or tear out images to take to your local bridal salon, where you can locate, try on, and discover the dress that looks best on you. If you must have a designer label, consider a beautiful bridesmaid gown in white or ivory fabric.
The flowers
Flowers can be a very pricey wedding detail, especially when it comes to the-sky-is-the-limit celebrity weddings. The key in this case is to match the colors of your favorite celebrity wedding. Nicole Kidman utilized masses of white flowers for her wedding, and you can do the same — but substitute white dahlias, daisies, or tulips for roses, peonies, and hydrangea for an enormous savings. You can also take a cue from celebrity brides who went without bridal bouquets altogether: Gwen Stefani held an antique family Bible in place of blooms.
The cake
With towering layers and sugar-spun roses, celebrity wedding cakes can be extremely elaborate. Donald Trump and Melania Knauss chose a seven-tiered cake that weighed in at 50 pounds, while Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas treated guests to a five-tiered cake covered with thousands of gum paste flowers. When attending cake tastings, bring along photos of your favorite celebrity wedding cakes and ask the designers if they can create a scaled-down version that will feed half of your guests. You can then supplement the “designer” cake with sheet cakes that are sliced out of sight. Having your designer use fresh blooms in place of sugar flowers will also net you a savings of nearly 50 percent.
The jewerly
Celebrity brides love wearing vintage jewelry with character. While buying (or borrowing) million-dollar pieces from Neil Lane is a luxury the nonfamous cannot afford, you can get a vintage look by scouring estate sales for a beautiful piece or wearing a family heirloom. Purchasing costume jewelry with a vintage feel is also a great way to get the look without the cost; think ornate earrings, detailed brooches and dress clips, and art-deco inspired bracelets. Borrowing fabulous jewelry from a friend is not only economical but fulfills your “something borrowed” as well. And although stars love to flaunt diamonds, Swarovski crystals offer an affordable alternative that looks extremely elegant.
