How can you really create a splash when it comes to your reception? Change up the tradition by serving up some homemade dinner favorites. I know it sounds like a lot to take on, and let’s be honest-it is, but the result is a totally budget savvy (DIY dinner will save you thousands) and completely unique approach to your reception dinner!

When you get married you are combining two families together and introducing a whole new world to each. Why not introduce the guests of your wedding into your family as well with those favorite foods you grew up on. It makes for a far more intimate wedding reception dinner, and I bet your guests will love the chance to indulge in foods that are special to the two of you.

If you and your family are not the best of cooks, check out some recipes and find some brand new favorite dinners! Sites like epicurious.com can inspire you with some amazing new recipes that your guests will surely enjoy.

Caterers can cost $6,000, $10,000 or far more just for a wedding reception dinner. Doing the food yourself is something that may seem scary and stressful, but in the end is so worth it! You could probably do a dinner for around $3,000. The price can’t be beat, and neither can the gesture!

If you make sure to prep ahead of time, it will make the whole thing less stressful. Decide on the menu early, get the marinade’s going, then hire a few wait staff for the day of the wedding to cook and serve the food. This salmon recipe was found under “quick and easy” so you don’t have to slave away in the kitchen for days to create the perfect meal. Recipe at epicurious.com

This is such a gorgeous dress! I was drawn to the simple silhouette and flowing fabric. This is such a perfect dress for an spring or summer wedding.  Instead of just showing off this incredible dress and leaving you to tread the waters alone to find everything needed to complete this look, I have decided to just complete it for you!

Since the dress is minimalistic I think the best idea is to spruce it up with some statement accessories. I love the blush, gold and ivory tones, and we all know that fabric flowers are so incredibly in right now (and hopefully this is one trend that will stick for a very long time to come!). More is not always better, so each piece has only a subtle “statement” which all comes together as a complete look.

This flower clutch is so chic and modern. It’s so out there and unusual but due to the ivory color, it won’t suck all the attention from the beautiful bride. And any girl knows that going anywhere without a clutch is not only fairly impossible, but definitely not as fun. Now, add a statement bracelet like this to your wrist and you’ve got your hands full!

What you do with your neck and chest is a pretty important part of completing your wedding look. You could do a simple single pendant silver necklace and create a really simple look, but for fear of not going out there enough, I figured a statement necklace to really bring home the complete look and an all-eyes-on-you awe, would be your best bet!

Since we went pretty far out there with the accessories, I figured some nude shoes would tie it all together. These cute little Betsey Johnson’s won’t over do your look, but with the flowers at the toes, it will tie your look together from head to toe!

Playing with accessories to complete your look is often times better than buying a “statement” dress and not worrying about your look any further. Accessorizing definitely a fun task, but remember that there is a limit to accessorizing! Take it only so far, but don’t flood your overall look with gobs of accessories all over! Keep it classy yet fun!

And now for the price tags!

Dress: Smartbride.net $950 (AMAZING deal),

Clutch: Nordstrom $98,

Bracelet: Nordstrom On sale for $15.9 ,

Necklace: Nordstrom $58,

Shoes Nordstrom. On Sale for $116.

Total price for this look only $1,237.90!

Amazing free template from Wedding Chicks! This will majorly cute costs on invitations because you print and do them all yourself! I love the simple design and the perfect spring colors!

I come bearing news of SALES! That’s right, and if you are a bride that wants to frolic around in flats for your wedding day (because let’s be honest, standing all day in heels can get tiring!) then I have the perfect sale for you!

Here are some amazing spring flats to go with virtually any color combo and any dress! I picked shoes with a little something extra on the toe because it will really give a “wow” factor when they peak out from under your dress.

All of these are currently on sale at Nordstrom!

Top: Maggie Sottero – $1400, Maggie Sottero – $700

Bottom: Maggie Sottero – $600, Maggie Sottero – $800

I’m loving these Maggie Sottero designs but loving the prices even more! Someone just mentioned this brand, and after doing a little research I have come to love it. The prices are low but the quality and the design detail still remain solid.

Search more Maggie Sottero listings on Smart Bride!

Show it Off:

Posting an ample amount of photos of your dress is better. The more you post, the better idea a person can get of the dress and all the different views. After your wedding you are bound to have tons of photos of you in your dress, in ALL different angles, so give people a real idea of your gown.

Models are no Substitute for the Real Thing:

Posting pics from the designer’s collection photo shoot will give people some what of an idea of the dress design, but it is no substitute for the real thing! So it is time for you to be the model to show your dress in your size, on you (while also giving people a little glimpse of your gorgeous wedding!). The more the buyer can see the real dress, the better chance you will have of getting some interest.

Fill In the Blanks:

Give people as much information as possible about your dress. Fill in all the blanks so you end up in more searches and so that potential buyers can get the true look and feel of your dress!

Promote It!

Tell everyone you know about it. If someone is interested in purchasing your dress, send over the Smart Bride link so they can get all the details. That will save you time and effort and makes it easier for the buyer as well! Tell your Twitter followers, post it on Craigslist, Wedding Bee, etc etc.  Smart Bride is completely free for you as a seller, so use it as a place to store all the info you want about the dress, then send people to the link to check it out!

List your dress now!

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.