The term Bridezilla wasn’t coined by chance.

The wedding planning process can be a wild adventure that all too often has future twosomes losing sight of their love on the quest to total nuptial domination. 

Psychologists suggest many brides and grooms who plan extravagant, elaborate wedding believe the more over-the-top their big day is, the happier they will be in married life. Unfortunately, statistics prove marriages that focus less on the day’s meaning than its image, are more likely to end in divorce.  

In Canada, the average wedding costs anywhere between $20,000 and $30,000 depending on the location, as prices tend to be higher in large urban centres.

The most expensive wedding ever recorded occurred in the year 1981, when the crown prince of Abu Dhabi’s week-long nuptials rang up a $100 million price tag, for which his parents constructed a 20,000 seat stadium.

However, money isn’t all that’s being wasted when it comes to matrimony. According to statistics produced in the United States, standard weddings produce an average of 62 tons of carbon dioxide and up to 600 pounds of garbage.

From invitations and bouquets to food and entertainment, tying the knot can cost couples a hefty chunk of change. However, some brides are making it their mission to reduce the cost, to their wallets and to the environment.

On the average week, bride-to-be Karen Rawlings spends 3 to 5 hours focusing on wedding plans. The 29-year-old school teacher’s low-key nuptials, will take place in July.

To Rawlings and fiancé Darren Kirk, being creative when it comes to costs for their big day just makes sense.

“From what I have seen, most people put lots of money into their wedding. We have saved lots by doing things ourselves,” says Rawlings. “We are also borrowing a lot, including tables and chairs. Most of the decor is DIY.”

An aunt performing photography services, a cousin providing the venue, and a sister-in-law creating the cake, proves this couple’s simplistic day will be more about family than competing with William and Kate.

As the planning process continues, Rawlings says inspiration comes from infusing their individuality into the event.

“We are having many of the traditional things included; something borrowed and old from both my grandmothers, parents walking me down the aisle, and no seeing each other before the wedding,” she explains. “We’re also having some very non-traditional things as well.  I have one girl and my two brothers standing up with me, while Darren has one guy and his two sisters.”

Staying true to their personalities, the couple has created a theme combining rustic vintage elements and environmentally friendly features. As appreciators of nature, Rawlings is planning the event using as many green aspects as possible.

“We are getting married along a small lake and having guests throw bird seed after the ceremony instead of bubbles, confetti or rice,” says Rawlings. “I designed our invitations on the computer and am printing them out on plantable paper so our guests can plant them if they wish and they grow into a wildflower bouquet. We are also rsvp’ing via email or phone.”

Respecting and repaying the environment, is a reoccurring theme all the way down to the event’s decor. The couple is growing their own flowers for the ceremony to reduce transportation emissions and chemicals involved in purchasing from a florist. 

Rawlings’ chosen wedding favours are trees that guests can take home and plant. Decorations at the ceremony and reception spaces incorporate old mason jars gathered from the couple’s local recycling depot. Centerpieces at the reception venue are made from refurbished picture frames.

”They will contain pictures of family and friends who will be there, and old wedding pictures of our parents and grandparents in sepia printed on vellum paper so the pictures are lit up during the evening.”

Staying true to the simple, low maintenance vibe when it came to her attire, Rawlings has opted for a bridesmaid dress in an ivory tone. A much different approach compared to brides who venture south to dress meccas like Kleinfeld, spending upwards of $10,000 on bridal designers such as Pnina Tornai.

 However, thanks to ex-spa manager Laurie Lardeur, scoring designer dresses on a budget just got a whole lot easier for brides.

Dream Dresses is a newly-formed company based out of Calgary that travels to cities across Alberta and Saskatchewan with a stock of designer dresses. On March 3, the company held their first sale in the city at the Lethbridge Lodge, which produced a line-up of 60 women before the doors were opened.  

Holding their first sale last November, Lardeur and her entrepreneur-sprited boyfriend saw the opportunity when a bridal salon in New York went out of business. The pair took a risk and purchased the store’s 300 sample gowns before setting eyes on them, a gamble which Lardeur believes is already paying off.

 “We’ve found that designer gowns are typically marked up ridiculous amounts.  We help those who can’t afford designer gowns by providing very high quality dresses for a better price,” she explains. “It’s such a good experience. I have people come up to me all the time and hugging me, because they’re so happy. A lot of brides aren’t looking for designer, but they’re just so happy they have found a gorgeous dress at a great price.”

Dream Dresses generally see 250 – 300 brides at each of their sales, which take place every two weeks. The gowns originally priced upwards of $3,000, are available to brides for $350 – $500.

“We don’t all care to pay Holt Renfrew prices,” smiles Lardeur.

For more information on Dress Dresses and to find out future sales locations, visit www.dreamdresses.ca.

From saving money on the dress to reducing the event’s environmental impact, there are all sorts of ways brides can cut back on their big day without sacrificing character.

“The thing I have found about wedding planning is if you see or think of something you would like to do, look around. Everything wedding is completely priced up,” recommends Rawlings. “I don’t think a wedding should turn into something that isn’t you. It is a time when you can express your style and personality. Generic can be beautiful, but might not be something you will look back at and be happy with.”

Striking a balance between planning an event reflective of their personalities and keeping costs low both financially and environmentally, guides Rawlings and fiancé during the process.

“Any big event is going to leave an ecological footprint on our earth, but there are definite ways it can be cut back. Throughout our planning, we have addressed as many of these ways as we could,” she explains. “I don’t want to have the same price tag on my wedding as someone who’s putting a down payment on a new home.”

As the date draws nearer, Rawlings passes on her nearly acquired wisdom on wedding planning to future brides.

“Enjoy this time. I hear of brides who are planning a wedding and are stressed out and not enjoying life. My advice is to love every minute of planning, and enjoy this short stage in your life.”