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| 7 ways to save on an off-season
wedding |
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7. Shop
year-round for bargains on wedding gowns and rings.
While bridal gown sales don't hinge around wedding off-seasons,
they do go on sale during certain times of the year. When new arrivals
come in, for instance, some bridal salons put their sample gowns
on sale to make room for the latest styles. To get a piece of the
bargain pie, call the bridal salons in your area and ask when the
next end-of-season sale commences, says Cambria. "Many places
will send you a postcard or e-mail to alert you of their upcoming
special sales events."
Also think outside the bridal shop. Hit the department
stores in January through March for discounts on dresses, holiday
gowns and prom dresses that work as both bridal and bridesmaid dresses,
says Naylor.
"The complex process of buying wedding and engagement
rings goes more smoothly when there's less of a frenzy," says
John Dickinson, a market expert for online diamond retailer James
Allen. For less stress, shop during the off-season. The demand
for rings soars during the holiday months of October, November and
December, when engagement and bridal jewelry sales peak for
James Allen. While price remains a consideration, "You
want to be able to sit down and talk with someone."
Since ring prices fluctuate year-round with the market,
take your time ring shopping at different retailers and comparing
diamond
grading, he says. When deciding on a diamond ring, use magnification
to better see it, have all grading specifics typed or written down
when you make the purchase (if there's no grading report), and inquire
about the ring's return policy. If the retailer becomes evasive
or refuses you at any time, "then it's not a place you want
to be doing business with."
Ladies wedding rings retail for $200 to $4,300 at James Allen,
while men's wedding bands retail for $500 to $16,000.
A real wedding story
Aside from saving money, the real concern remains: Can you have
your dream wedding in the off-season?
According to Aimee Bennett, who wed her husband in
January 2004 in Denver, you certainly can. A mere $10,000 bought
the couple a formal church wedding and golf club dinner reception
for 160 guests -- a sum that at half the national average for weddings,
covered everything from the apparel and alterations to the cleanup
and thank-you cards.
While January might sound to some like a chilly time
for a wedding, Bennett said their wedding day occurred during a
pretty mild month in terms of weather. The wedding party wore coats
and shawls when walking outside, "but nothing special."
In case of a snowstorm, the couple arranged for the priest to get
there a few days early. "We took our chances, of course, because
you could have a snowstorm at any time. But since it's so dry here,
things melt (or evaporate) quickly, and generally, snow one day
is gone the next. Between that, snow removal, and a great airport
that can handle all kinds of conditions, we felt OK about the nearly
50 people who traveled from out of town to be here."
Asked whether she was satisfied with her off-season wedding, she
raved about her timely choice. Business-deprived vendors gave her
more attention and served her faster. The slower season also resulted
in a more exclusive anniversary date.
"January is actually an ideal time of the year
because nothing else is going on. Our anniversary never competes
with other holidays, summer busyness, or other events. During what
can often be a 'down' time of the year, we can focus on ourselves
and our marriage, and have a wonderful reason to celebrate."
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