By Theresa Farrage

In the league of Donald and Melania Trump or Tom and Katie Cruise?

It’s not impossible to wear a Vera Wang dress, arrive in a horse-drawn Cinderella carriage and toast your marriage with the finest Cristal champagne.

In fact, it’s quite possible — at a fraction of the cost that you might expect.

Los Angeles-based party planner and lifestyle expert Mindy Weiss says brides have affordable options when it comes to achieving star style.

“A luxury affair without the matching price tag is possible when armed with a little knowledge and ingenuity,” Weiss says.

Weiss, whose clients include Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, and Heidi Klum and Seal, has been planning celebrity weddings for 19 years. She advises brides to choose options that save money without people knowing where you saved it.

The first step is to create a budget.

“It’s key to figuring out how much you have to spend. Break it down listing which details that are most important to you and try to stick to it,” says Cindi Freeburn, vice president of public relations at David’s Bridal.
Weiss and Freeburn advise brides to put their money toward things that mean the most to them. Maybe the Vera Wang dress is out of the question, but that doesn’t mean looking like a movie star is impossible. You just have to know your limits and go from there.

“When you go shopping, only try on gowns within your budget. Don’t tempt yourself with dresses that you cannot afford. There are so many choices out there now. You should definitely be able to find something that you like and that is beautiful, too,” Weiss says.

Weiss suggests doing a little pre-shopping in bridal magazines and online to get an idea of availability and price.

“When figuring out your budget, keep in mind that, in addition to the cost of the dress, there will be expenses for alterations, veil, shoes and any accessories such as jewelry and undergarments,” Weiss says.
According to Freeburn, the best way for a bride to save money is to ignore labels and simply shop for a dress that fits beautifully and reflects her personality.

One Hollywood trend is to wear a different dress for the ceremony and the reception.

Since every bride’s budget may not allow two dresses, Weiss suggests purchasing a dress that has a beautiful cover-up that may be worn for the ceremony, but removed for the reception to change the look.

There are many ways to save money without appearing thrifty. Weiss suggests designing floral arrangements in ways that allow you to use them at the ceremony and the reception. Toast with your dinner wine instead of champagne.

“The toasts are about you and your new husband and not about the champagne. No one will mind,” Weiss says. If you don’t want to spend a lot on entertainment, Weiss advises hiring a disc jockey or using your iPod.
Order cake for about 30 fewer than the actual number of guests who plan to attend. She suggests having a small ceremonial cake that the couple can cut while guests enjoy slices of cake from another source.
“There are many reasonably priced bakeries that will make a cake for you that will be less expensive than a traditional wedding cake would cost. You can garnish the cake slices with fresh fruit and no one will even notice if the actual cake design is slightly different,” Weiss says.

It’s important to make the wedding your own.

“While a lot of my clients may have disposable income to spend on a wedding, most couples do not. I firmly believe that whether a star on the big screen or a school teacher in a small town, every bride deserves to feel special on her wedding day, regardless of budget,” Weiss says.

Theresa Farrage lives in Omaha and is a regular contributor to Wedding Essentials magazine.

TAKE IT FROM THE PRO . . .PARTY PLANNER MINDY WEISS

• Determine your budget and stick with it.
• Only try on gowns that are within your budget.
• Put your money toward things that mean the most to you.
• Design floral arrangements to go from the ceremony to the reception.
• Hire a disc jockey or use an iPod for music at the reception.
• Have a smaller cake for the bridal couple to cut for pictures and order a lesser-priced cake for the guests.
• Toast with the table wine.