My local Michael's Craft store has tons of wedding stuff that goes on sale during August. I'm planning on scooping up decorations then. My colors are black, white, and red so I will probably buy white and paint or dye.

Thanks for the tip Tiffany!!

I have a couple locations near me and I'll have to pop my head in there very soon to cheak out the sales!

To save $ on bridesmaid dresses, I ordered mine from an etsty.com retailer. Then, for the guys, we got suite off the rack on sale at a department store, and I used this tool that helps brides pick out neckties that match Alfred Angelo dresses . Even though my girls' dresses aren't AA, I was able to use the color charts to get ties for the guys.

I'm using foamboard, yarn, jingle-bells, and felt to make a dove garland as decoration.  I found a dove template online, traced and cut out a bunch of doves from the foamboard (which look really ragged because I had to use a boxcutter.  Supposedly electric kitchen knives work really well), then I punched two holes in the center of the dove to draw the yarn through.  Then I traced and cut out slightly larger dove templates from the white felt and glued them to the foamboard (over the yarn), and used the excess to cover the ragged edges of the foamboard (and cut off any extra felt).  String a couple of jingle-bells on either end of the dove, and repeat the pattern for a dove garland!

*Tape the ends of the yarn so that it looks like a shoelace.  They will string through the doves and the bells much easier that way.

I'm going to be hanging these on the tree branches so that the bells will catch some wind and jingle throughout the ceremony/reception.  Very cheap and I'm sure it will be an eye-catcher :)

I'm also doing my own bouquets.  My mom gave me this idea when my florist decided to be a jerk.  Take some potted plants or cut flowers from your own garden or the grocery store, and a couple of nice thin vases to put your flowers it, tie the vases with a theme-appropriate ribbon, and you have your bridesmaids flowers with a nice touch.  I'll probably do the same with my bouquet.  You don't use a lot of flowers, and it looks very snazzy.

I used etsy to find gifts for my mom, bridesmaids, and flower girls - very pretty and elegant custom bracelets for $12.50 each!  I almost bought one for myself :)