I really enjoyed being a judge for the do-it-yourself wedding invite contest!!

I was completely impressed at the creativity of the contest submissions and am now am completely sold on the idea of doing wedding invites personally.

In hindsight, I spent *way* too much on invites for our wedding. They were beautiful, but let’s face it, people look at them for a few seconds, note the date in the calendar and then toss them. Not the best choice for a splurge when you’re on a budget.

Anyway, if you’re interested in doing this, check out the contest results and submissions–wow!! Awesome ideas!!

I’m judging a contest for Do-It-Yourself Invitations. You can submit a photo of your invitations–along with a tutorial–in order to put yourself in the running for five awesome prizes

First prize
A $100 gift card to Penellibelle One-of-a-kind Custom Bridal Jewelry

Second
A custom wedding poster from Unless Someone Like You

Third
The Regal Romantic garter set from The Garter Lady

random drawings
A $75.00 gift card to Bella Button Designs Custom Jewelry

A gorgeous wedding charm bracelet from Deb’s Designs

Here are the details….

Submit a picture of your handmade wedding invitations along with a brief tutorial or explanation on how you made them and any special products or techniques that you used. All entries will become a separate page on this site for others to see and learn from. Make sure and tell your friends and family to check it out and vote on your entries.

The Rules

• Your contest entry must be completely original and your own work.
• Invitation made from DIY kits are not eligible.
• All entries must have an explanation or tutorial on how it was made. The point is to inspire others. Try to include the tools you used, papers and brands, and any other tips you may have.
• The deadline for entries is May 31st, 2009 at midnight EST. A winner will be chosen by June 9th. The winners will be notified by email.

For Extra Entries To The Random Drawing

• Write up a post about this contest on your blog or website.
• Display the Do-it-yourself-invitations.com button on your website.
• Spread the word. Tell your friends about the contest by posting in your favorite wedding and paper crafts forums.

Make sure and let us know about your giveaway entries and show us the link to your posts. All contest entries will be eligible for the giveaway as well as the invitations contest. You do not need to enter the handmade wedding invitations contest in order to gain an entry to the random drawing.
Visit the contest promotions page to get buttons and banners for contest promotion. You’ll also need to visit the promotion page to let us in on where you placed your links to the contest.

When I was engaged, I told my husband I’d help him out with finding a discount diamond because I love discount/sale shopping.  At the time, the very lowest price I found was with Diamonds on Web

http://www.diamondsonweb.com/

What I really liked about this site is they sent two diamonds of my choosing to a local jewelry store so we could examine them with zero committment.

We found a beautiful diamond through this site at an amazing price.

An excellent way to save money on your wedding is to make your own wedding invitations.  I don’t even want to say how much I spent on ours.

This is one wedding expense that it is very unlikely that any guests will ever remember.  Most likely the invitations are received, they note the date in their computer or look at your wedding website, and toss the paper invite.  At best it might sit in a drawer until the wedding.

This website is an excellent resource on how to create your own wedding invitations:

http://www.do-it-yourself-invitations.com

There are ideas, tips and step by step tutorials on how to create your own beautiful custom wedding inviations.

My very favorite book when planning my wedding was Bridal Bargians by Denise and Alan Fields.  It has excellent informationo n how to plan a wedding on a budget.   And if/when you have kids, an absolute must is Baby 411 and Toddler 411.    All excellent books!!

If you or your spouse happen to be in a position to offer something for a barter, this can be a great way to save money for a wedding.  For example, my husband owns a webdevelopment company, so he created a new website for our DJ in exchange for free service.

Another example would be if you get “freebies” at your job–for example my sister in-law works at the Apple Store and frequently wins really cool Apple or other store gifts.  This would be something that you could offer to your vendors in exchange for a discount or (where applicable) free service.

Remember, don’t be afraid to negotiate.  At the end of the day your vendors are business people and they want to earn your business.

In this crazy economy, what better time to look at ways to save on wedding costs?  Purchasing a used bridal gown is a great way to cut your costs.

Here are a few other tips for having a wedding on a budget:

1.   Negotiate!  I negotiated down pricing with every vendor I worked with on my wedding–florist, photographer, event site, etc. Ironically, one of the very few things I paid full price on was my bridal gown (thus the idea for this website!)   You would be amazed what you can get if you just ask

2.  BYOB.  Bring your own beer…and all the other drinks.  I saved a lot by using a venue which allowed me to bring my own alcohol and bartender.  The bartender rates were reasonable and we purchased all the drinks from BevMo.  BevMo has an excellent return policy, so everything that was not consumed was returned for a full refund.

3.  Consider having your wedding on a Sunday.  I saved money with many vendors and the venue site by going with a Sunday.  One tip–don’t make the wedding run late in the night.  I don’t think your guests will want to be out late on a Sunday when they have work the next day.  We started ours at 2pm and ended around 7pm, which seemed to work great.

One of the easiest ways to save money on your wedding is to purchase a used gown.  Let’s face it, the dress has only been worn for a few hours and will most likely be in perfect/like-new condition.  Brides should ask themselves, is it really worth spending thousands of dollars on a gown that you’ll wear for a few hours and never again?

Hi Everyone,

We’re looking for used dresses.  If you or anyone you know happens to have a dress from one of these designers, we’d love for you to post it on SmartBride. Best of all, it’s free!

*   2 Be Bride-Elizabeth Darcy

* Justin Alexander Couture

* 2 Be Bride-Gavin Michaels NEW

* Karelina Sposa Updated

* 2 Be Bride-Isabella Chessari NEW

* Kenneth Pool

* Adele Wechsler Eco Couture NEW

* Kirstie Kelly Couture

* Adele Wechsler Hello Africa NEW

* Kirstie Kelly For Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings NEW

* Alfred Angelo

* KITTYCHEN Couture NEW

* Alfred Angelo Sapphire NEW

* Kleinfeld Collection

* Alfred Sung Bridals Updated

* L’ezu

* Alice Padrul

* La Fleur by Anne Barge

* Alita Graham Exclusively for Kleinfeld NEW

* La Sposa Updated

* Alix & Kelly NEW

* Landa Designs Updated

* Allure Bridals

* Lara Helene Bridal Atelier NEW

* Allure Couture

* Lazaro Updated

* Alvina Valenta Updated

* Lea-Ann Belter Bridal Updated

* Amarildine Exclusively for Kleinfeld

* Legends by Romona Keveza

* Amsale

* Lela Rose Wedding Collection

* Amsale Exclusively for Kleinfeld

* Les Noces Couture Updated

* Anjolique Bridal

* Liancarlo Updated

* Ann Taylor Celebrations Updated

* Lynn Lugo

* Anne Barge

* Maggie Sottero Bridal Updated

* Antoniette Catenacci Updated

* Manuel Mota NEW

* Atelier Aimée Updated

* Manuel Mota Couture NEW

* Atelier Diagonal

* Martin McCrea Updated

* Augusta Jones Updated

* Mary’s Bridal/P.C. Mary’s, Inc. Updated

* Avíne Peruccí by St. Pucchi

* Mary’s Modabella

* Azura Bridal

* Matthew Christopher Updated

* Badgley Mischka Bride

* Melissa Sweet Updated

* Bellissima Couture

* Mia Solano

* Birnbaum and Bullock

* Michael of Boston

* Bliss by Bonny NEW

* Michelle Roth Exclusively for Kleinfeld

* Blue by Enzoani NEW

* Mikaella Bridal Updated

* Bonny

* Miss Kelly by the Group ® NEW

* bridal fashion by Millie NEW

* ModelNovias

* Brides by Demetrios Updated

* Modern Trousseau

* Carolina Herrera

* Mon Cheri Bridals

* Caroline DeVillo Couture Updated

* Monique Lhuillier

* Casablanca Bridal

* Moonlight Updated

* Charo Peres for Novissima

* Mori Lee by Madeline Gardner Updated

* Chia Lieu

* Nicole Miller

* Christina Wu

* Novia d,Art NEW

* Christos

* Novissima

* Claire Pettibone

* Oscar de la Renta

* Claire Pettibone Exclusively for Kleinfeld

* Palazzo

* Classics by Eden

* Paloma Blanca Updated

* Coren Moore NEW

* Pattis NEW

* Cosmobella

* Piccione Bridal NEW

* Couture Bridal by Elma Reis Updated

* PLATINUM for Priscilla of Boston Updated

* CYMBELINE Paris Updated

* Pnina Tornai Exclusively for Kleinfeld

* Danielle Caprese Exclusively for Kleinfeld

* Priscilla of Boston Updated

* DaVinci

* Pronovias Updated

* Demetrios Updated

* Raylia Designs

* Demetrios - Blue

* Reem Acra NEW

* Demetrios - Destination Romance

* Rena Koh

* Demetrios - Ilissa

* Reverie by Melissa Sweet NEW

* Demetrios - Illusions

* Rhyme Couture NEW

* Demetrios - Princess

* Rina di Montella

* Demetrios - Sensualle

* Rivini

* Demetrios - Sposabella

* Romona Keveza

* Demetrios - Ultra Sophisticates

* RS Couture Exculsively for Kleinfeld NEW

* Demetrios - Young Sophisticates

* Saison Blanche Boutique NEW

* Dere Kiang

* Saison Blanche Couture

* Destinations by Maggie Sottero

* San Patrick Updated

* Destinations by Mon Cheri

* Sarah Danielle

* Divina Sposa by the Group ®

* Sarah Houston NEW

* Domo Adami

* Simone Carvalli

* Eden Bridals

* Simple Silhouettes

* Elie Saab for Pronovias

* Sincerity Bridal

* Emerald Bridal Updated

* Sincerity Bridal Plus NEW

* Enmanuel Couture by the Group ®

* Siona Garcia Exclusively for Kleinfeld

* ENZOANI

* Sonia Cholette

* Essence Collection by Bonny Updated

* Sophia Tolli

* Essense of Australia Updated

* Sottero & Midgley

* Eugenia Updated

* Sposa by St. Pucchi

* Gail Garrison NEW

* St. Pucchi

* Group USA & Camille La Vie Updated

* Stephen Yearick

* Ian Stuart Exclusively for Kleinfeld NEW

* Suzanne Ermann

* Impression Bridal

* Suzanne Neville London NEW

* Impression Destiny

* Tara Keely designed by Edric Woo Updated

* Ines Di Santo Updated

* The Collection by Lynn NEW

* Isabella Margianu

* Tsarina Couture NEW

* J. Crew Weddings

* Unforgettable by Bonny NEW

* Jacquelin Exclusive

* Val Stefani NEW

* James Clifford Collection

* Valentino for Pronovias NEW

* Jane Wang Exclusively for Kleinfeld NEW

* Vaughan & Buckner Bridal Couture NEW

* Janell Berté Couture

* Vera Wang

* Janet Nelson Kumar

* Victoria’s Bridal Collection Updated

* Jasmine Collection

* Victorio & Lucchino Exclusively for Kleinfeld

* Jasmine Couture

* Vineyard Collection Updated

* Jenny Lee

* Vwidon by Carla & Kenneth

* Jenny Packham NEW

* White One

* Jessica McClintock

* Winnie Couture

* Jim Hjelm Updated

* Winnie Couture Destination

* Jordan Bridals

* Yolanda Couture Updated

* Judd Waddell

* Youlin

* Junko Yoshioka

* Ysa Makino

* Justin Alexander

Right now Smartbride is looking for used dresses.  Do you have a wedding dress that’s collecting dust under your bed?  Why not sell it and use the money for your honeymoon, your home, or something special you’ve been wanting to buy.

The best thing about Smartbride, is you can sell your gown at zero cost.  There is no cost to buyers or sellers.  Why pay to sell your dress when you can do it here for free?  If you’ve already got your gown posted on a paid site, you can also sell your dress here and cover extra ground.