Associate Editor Sylvana Soto-Ward Says "Elegance doesn't have to be extravagant . . . " and Editor Meredith Melling Burke offers these suggestions of how to do just that.

1- Keep the bride's bouquet grand, but go petite and chic for the bridesmaids.
2- Do some of the planning yourself. Put together a journal of ideas and resources, which will become a keepsake of its own after your wedding day.
3- Consider an alternative to a traditional wedding band. (I add, Anything with the word "wedding" makes the price "go up. Ask your jeweler for suggestions. Perhaps you can by a ring that can be "built" on later when money is looser.)
4- Include personal touches from friends and family with particular talents. (I add, make sure that you aren't compromising on quality by doing so. Not anyone with a digital camera is a true photographer and you won't want to sacrifice lifetime memories.)
5- Downsize your wedding gown. Retailers have stepped up to the plate and included less expensive gowns in their collections. J. Crew, for example, has a lovely gown selling for $325.
6- When selecting where you register for gifts, keep in mind the tighter budgets that friends and family have.
7- Hold your reception at the home of someone close to you, a backyard, or waterfront location, perhaps. (I add, Be mindful of the fact that guests sometimes "forget" that they are in a private residence and are not as careful as they should be.)
8- Downsize the menu. Choose less expensive food options and stay away from the filet mignons. (I add, if there are family or friends who can make the dessert, bake the cake, or make another "contribution to the menu, ask them to do so, in lieu of a wedding gift.)
9- Use seasonal flowers that will be less expensive than those that are out-of-season and/or flown in from overseas.
10- Consider "Something Borrowed," like your mother's wedding gown, or your grandmother's vintage jewelry. (I add, Can you sew? If so, take a shot at accessories like the flower girl's basket and/or the ring bearer's pillow.)
11- Substitute an iPod and let Audiosites provide music at your reception. (I add, Think carefully about whether you will be changing the atmosphere of your wedding by doing this.)
12- Instead of after-the-wedding brunch, send guests home with a basket of late-night, snack goodies.
13- For your invitations and other printed materials, opt for letterpress over engraving. (I add, And, of course, there always is a computer.)
14- Try making the wedding cake on your own. There are cakes that can be made months in advance (e.g., fruitcake with Grand Marnier) that will "hold." (I add, some cakes also freeze and defrost well. Bake it. Freeze and defrost a "test" cake.)
15- Use potted plants as favors and you'll be downsizing and helping the environment when you give these as party favors.
16- In order to get good deals, check out honeymoon destinations and on-line packages. (I add, Talk to a professional travel agent. Give him, or her your budget. Be flexible about where you want to go and the agent can look for and find bargains.)
17- If you ask your guests to limit their choice of clothing to particular colors (e.g., black and/or white only), they will, in essence be adding to the decor of your wedding. It will also add a pleasant twist to your wedding photos.

I add, Creativity and thinking out-of-the-box are the prevalent themes these days. Using these ideas and others that you come up with, will keep your wedding elegant, yet more affordable.

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