Be a Thrifty Bride!

A lot of time and money often goes into a wedding. A lot of the items get used once then either stored away or even thrown away. Well, there is now a growing trend for brides and even the wedding party: Recycle! Its not only more affordable but you can score some great deals on items you know have only been used once. :) And once you've said "I do," and the party is over, head on over to sell all your stuff to a bride in need. Why not go into your marriage with a little cash on hand? It's a win/win situation for everyone!

Here are some great sites to start with, either buying or selling:

Of course Craigslist, its free and millions of people know about and use it.

Ebay is also great. If you are selling and want to reach all Ebay users (which means more customers), then you will have to pay to post your ad. And if you are buying, its nice to have a wider selection from all over instead of just locally (but shipping charges may make it more expensive unless you find the right deal). If you want to just post a local ad (like Craigslist) they now offer a FREE classified section as well.

Here are some wedding specific websites:

Recycled Bride

Wore It Once

Bravo Bride

Local Wedding Classifieds (This one is still a small site that is similar to Craigslist, and only has a few cities listed for now)

Another great place to look is your local newspaper classifieds.

You can also check your local thrift/resale stores. Garage sales may also have items you are looking for. Or if you must go to the bridal stores, make sure you ask about their sales/clearance/specials- it is possible to find a good deal for brand new items as well!

Also, always ask friends or family for any items they may have. You never know who might have some decorations, dresses, fabric, candles, shoes, etc laying around just waiting to be borrowed or bought!
You can always post what you're looking for on Facebook/Myspace/Twitter. It's amazing how much free stuff you can score from just your friends and family!

Don't be ashamed either! Lots of people do it, and if anything it makes you look smart by saving money on a one-time event. Besides, people won't even be able to tell you paid cheap or not at all for the items. Unless of course you want to brag about it! I know I would! :)