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What bride hasn't fantasized about her future wedding? We daydream about extravagant dresses, delicious cuisine, flowing drinks, dazzling rings...but the thought of paying all of this off afterwards is enough to ground us back to reality. However, with some creativity and time, you can slash costs without sacrificing your overall wedding style. Here are some saving shortcuts that my fiancé Corey and I (or other couples we know) have successfully used.

1. Do yourself a favor and skip favors.

Giving out favors is a wedding tradition, but it's one that Corey and I are likely skipping. When I look back at every wedding I've ever been to, I don't recall bringing home a single favor (and that doesn't mean the bride and groom didn't offer them). Say goodbye to cheesy tchotchkes—we promise your guests won't miss them!

2. Rethink your entrées.

Everyone looks forward to the wedding meal, but don't feel pressured to shell out for notoriously decadent (and pricey) fare. I learned in a recent issue of BG that serving a combination platter with two different dishes can help couples save more than 40 percent on catering costs. 

Photo Credit: iStock

3. Invite Mother Nature to the party.

Choose an under-the-radar locale to say your vows. Parks, wineries and historic homes with gardens can be surprisingly affordable and serve as memorable, gorgeous backdrops for your wedding day.

There are many reasons to choose black dresses for your bridesmaids: The shade is universally flattering (and slimming), there's a good chance your girls will actually wear the dress again after the wedding, and your 'maids may even be able to wear something they already own (if you don't mind that all of the gowns aren't a precise match). 

Photo Credit: Facebook

Facebook creator and CEO Mark Zuckerberg made his most personal investment yet this past Saturday when he married Priscilla Chan, his college sweetheart of nine years. Naturally, the news was posted immediately to his timeline, where 1,066,803 well-wishers (and counting) have "liked" it so far. The Internet ingenue's new marital status was revealed just 24 hours after he rolled out the IPO, one of the most highly anticipated in Wall Street history.

Although the mogul is now worth an estimated $19 billion, the low-key couple chose an intimate backyard celebration in their Palo Alto home, catching guests off-guard, who thought they were there for Dr. Chan's graduation party (she received her pediatrics degree from University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine on May 14).

The bride's choice of wedding gown was also surprisingly affordable: The First Lady of Facebook walked down the aisle in a laser-cut floral dress by Claire Pettibone, which cost just under $5,000 (visit clairepettibone.com for similar styles). The illusion jewel neckline was one of the biggest bridal trends we spotted on the NYC runways this season—it perfectly embodies the power couple's refined elegance. 

Photos courtesy of designer

The Pinterest phenomenon has revolutionalized the way we plan our weddings. Brides like myself use it to store hundreds of inspirational photos and get other brides' feedback instantly. comScore reports that the site has grown from under 1 million users in May of last year to about 20 million this April! This led us to wonder—what are the top-shared photos of all time? That's where Repinly comes in: a new Pinterest directly that measures the most popular pins, boards, topics, and influential followers.

Missed our live Facebook chat yesterday with David Tutera? BG fans all the way from Mississippi to the Philippines joined together to talk one-on-one with our July/August cover star! 

For one hour, they were on a first-name basis with David, submitting hundreds of their most pressing wedding questions —from emergencies ("I was laid off from my job") to style queries ("Are cowboy boots okay?") — until he jetted off to meet with a new client and tape an episode of My Fair Wedding, now in season six. Brides, moms, and single fans were all grateful for the advice: "Thank you soo much, seeing the 'David Tutera replied to your comment' status notification just now made my day! ♥ you!" said Laura DeDene. 

Here's what we learned:

1. No wedding theme is too far-fetched.

1. Facebook fan Spirit Renee asks: "My fiancé loves Skittles, so I decided I want to have a Skittles wedding. I want my main cake to have layers of the candy in different colors, then I want individual cakes that taste just like the color being shown (e.g. grape-flavored for purple candies, lemon-flavored for yellow candies, etc). How can I make my wedding beautiful? I want it to shine!"

David answers: "Incorporate lots and lots of color. You want to make sure that the candies are just an accent and don't overtake the look of the entire wedding, but you can still have fun with this. Try having bridesmaid bouquets in one bold color. You sound just as sweet as candies, have fun!"

Lately, we've seen so many gorgeous photos of brides and grooms at sunset. We love how these pictures take advantage of the beauty of nature and transform a regular photo into a work of art.

How do you capture the perfect shot? Timing is everything! Visit sunrisesunset.com to find out approximately when the sun will be setting in your area on your wedding date. Then, inform your photographer of your plans so that he or she can keep an eye on the time for you.

Here, a few of our favorites:

Photo Credit: Ashley Maudlin Photography

Photo Credit: Nate & Jenna Photography 

Photo Credit: Amanda Marie Photography

One thing you may not fully appreciate before the big day—you will be standing a lot. From the time we started taking pictures until after the first dance, I was on my feet in my brand new heels... and my feet were screaming for some relief.

If you're looking for something super comfy to change into at your reception that's more fun than a pair of flats, check out the new UGG Australia "I Do" capsule collection, now available for pre-orders:

The collection includes a jeweled boot with a Swarovski crystal button ($190):

A sparkly sequin boot ($225):

I always get excited when a new issue hits the newsstands, and can’t wait to tell you all about it. But I’m probably most excited about this particular issue because David Tutera, the breakout star of WEtv’s “My Fair Wedding” and a regular Bridal Guide contributor, is on the cover!

This is, in fact, the first time we have featured a male celebrity on our cover, as well as more than one bride, and I hope you love it as much as we do. I first met David more than a dozen years ago when he created a gorgeous “Moroccan-themed” wedding that appeared in our July/August 2000 issue.

My bridal shower was truly one of the happiest and most beautiful days of my life. It was hosted by my mother, Joan, and sisters, Lisa and Laura, on April 29th at a local country club. I spent the afternoon surrounded by my closest friends and family members. I had some amazing food, played hilarious games and enjoyed opening everyone's thoughtful presents.

My top three highlights of the day included:

Not too long ago, reception tables were identified with big black numbers on white cards. The look was plain, simple and, well, a bit boring until brides decided to personalize their weddings and make a unique statement with each detail, including the table cards. Now, you’ll see reception tables bearing the names of cities and places that have a special meaning to the couple. Or they might be named after the couples’ favorite bands, composers, movies or even food.

Recently, I came across a genius table card that was created by Leslye Wood for her own son’s wedding. Her “Love Letters” consist of 26 cards, one for each letter of the alphabet, and each card features six words about love and marriage. ($125 plus shipping for 26 cards). You can, of course, personalize with custom words that have a special meaning to you as a couple.
The cards look fantastic on the reception tables and will probably inspire guests to come up with more pithy words of their own.
And if you don’t have 26 tables at your reception, display the rest of the cards on the guest book table or bar: