Bride Invented As She Went Along

Chris Christen, Wedding Essentials editor

Dear Readers:

“Savvy Savings,” an article in our last issue (July 2007), prompted a call from a recent bride whose resourcefulness shaved thousands of dollars from her wedding bill. “You put the word ‘wedding’ in front of something and it costs three times more,” she told me when we met.

Amber (Dahir) Zednik, 23, loves coordinating things and had her wedding planned before she was old enough to date. “My wedding was nothing like I had envisioned. I wanted a big church wedding, with a horse and carriage and a reception at Joslyn Art Museum.”

She got one out of three, marrying at St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha on June 29, 2007.

When she and husband Lada began planning their special day, Amber realized her dream wedding was out of reach. “We set a budget of $5,000 and spent maybe $250 more than that.” Here’s how she did it.

• The day before the wedding, Amber hit area Target, Wal-Mart and Baker’s stores for flowers. “Whatever was on sale, I bought.” She spent $65 on Gerbera daisies and nearly four dozen white and red roses. That night, after a prenuptial gathering at Sam & Louie’s Pizzeria, Amber and some of her bridesmaids had a slumber party and built their bouquets.

• The flower girl’s dress was purchased for $20 at a bridal inventory reduction sale at an Omaha hotel. When a second flower girl was added at the last minute, Amber headed to a south Omaha shop for a frilly white First Communion dress, which the shopkeeper sold for $15. The ring bearers wore black pants and white shirts. “We had ties, too, but they got left behind at the house.”

• She trolled the Web for discounted bridalwear and was delighted to find cherry red Alfred Angelo gowns for her five bridesmaids. Amber found her princess-style gown on eBay for $100, plus $60 shipping and $30 for a crinoline from a local bridal shop.

• The groomsmen wore basic black tuxes sans vests and cummerbunds, reserved for $44 each during a special promotion. Their ties were a gift from the couple.

• The bridesmaids received necklaces, bracelets and earrings made by the bride. Her total expense using discount beads: About $20.

• Amber booked their reception at Karen’s Fireside, which could sufficiently handle their 150 guests. Centerpieces, tables and chairs, flatware, glassware, linens, dance floor and buffet meal with three entrées were included in the rental package. The event came in under $30 per person.

• Instead of horse and carriage, the couple made their getaway in a sporty 1996 Mazda Miata borrowed from a friend.

• They shopped hard for a photographer and hired a videographer to make a quality video for Lada’s parents, who live in the Czech Republic. (Amber and Lada will deliver the video to them this month.)

• The bride, a scrapbooker, made their heart-embossed wedding invitations and programs. “They looked expensive but they were so cheap it wasn’t even funny.”

• Amber chose chocolate-dipped strawberries as a parting gift for their guests. “ Target had a killer sale on strawberries the day I bought my flowers.” She dipped the berries in milk chocolate, drizzled them with red chocolate, then spiked each with a fancy toothpick and a printed thank you in Czech and English.

“I had the best time of my life.”

Isn’t that what it’s all about?