We just came back from a weekend away in which the main event was the wedding of a very dear friend. Everything went wonderfully, the bride was beautiful, the groom couldn’t take his eyes off of the bride, and my husband and I had an amazing time.
Now that I am on the other end of the much-planned event, I thought I would share with you some ideas that you can apply whether you have your own wedding to attend, a child who will be going to a prom or just any event that calls for fancier clothes.
Most frugal people I know don’t necessarily have an outfit for a fancy event, so when the time comes, they scramble like crazy and may wind up spending more than they meant to spend. I know that it has happened to me.
My first piece of advice is to allow a lot of time for shopping. This way, you’ll not only be able to find something that is perfect and within your budget, but you’ll also be able to be relaxed enough to compare prices.
Since you do have that extra time, go ahead and look first for the least expensive way to get a suitable outfit. Hit the consignment stores and the clearance racks. Make sure you give everything a good looking over, though.
Next, consider items that you could borrow instead of buy. This might be a whole outfit or simply an accessory. Every little bit helps. For the wedding I mentioned, I was able to borrow a set of earrings and a bracelet to complete everything.
Finally, don’t be afraid to haggle, even at a fancy shop. Say something like, “I really like this dress but it is more than I budgeted. Are there any sales or managers specials that would bring the price down?” Most of the time, the salesperson will come up with some type of discount for you.