I’m a celebrity bridal designer – you only need to spend on 3 main wedding day must-haves, plus my tips to save money
THE biggest day of your life can actually be budget-friendly, according to celebrity wedding dress designer Pnina Tornai.
Tornai, who has created bridal designs and bling for stars such as Amber Rose, revealed where you can save money while still shining.
MATRIMONIAL MUSTS
Even without a big budget, you don’t need to get the bridal blues.
Rather, if your pre-wedding receipts start to leave you reeling, Tornai, the self-proclaimed “fairy godmother of brides,” recommends sticking to the three most crucial components.
“At the end of the day, everyone talks about how the bride looked and what she wore,” she told The U.S. Sun.
“So I recommend investing in hair, makeup, and of course your dream dress!”
When it comes to the other moving parts of your matrimonial look, however, Tornai has tips on what to focus your attention — and your funds on.
“Of course, we would all love to have an unlimited wedding budget,” she said.
“But since that usually isn’t the case, I recommend thinking about which elements are most important to you.
“A bride who is obsessed with shoes might want to treat herself to a fabulous designer pair and select a gown with a slit to show them off,” she continued.
“A different bride might choose a pair of practical nude heels that she can wear again later, knowing that she’ll be wearing a ballgown and no one will see her shoes anyway.”
CUSTOM TIPS
The couture dress creator also has tricks for cutting costs without compromising on your dream look.
“Look for a dress that speaks to you the way it is, without customizations,” she said.
She knows firsthand just how quickly those extra details can add to your dress-choosing dread.
“Customizations add up quickly in terms of cost,” she said.
“Unfortunately, as a designer, there’s nothing I can do about that because customizing gowns requires a lot of work from the talented artisans in my atelier,” she added.
If you are expecting to gain or lose weight before your wedding, I recommend choosing a gown with a lace-up corset back
Pnina Tornai
Still, she doesn’t want you to lose hope that you can find a luxe gown for less.
“There are so many beautiful dresses out there, and I really believe that most brides can find the one that gives them butterflies just the way it is!” she said.
GOT YOUR BACK
Even Sex and the City’s Samantha, played by Kim Cattrall, put her trust in Tornai to make her wedding dress in the iconic show.
Perhaps it’s because she always has your back when it comes to a fitted-back trick that can save you big bucks.
“If you are expecting to gain or lose weight before your wedding, I recommend choosing a gown with a lace-up corset back,” she said.
“It allows for adjustment so your dress can fit you better without having to alter it last minute.
“Plus, corset backs are beautiful.”
She also advises choosing a gown to fit you “as closely as possible.”
Depending on your size, Tornai wants you to take things up a notch — or at least order a larger cup — or split size.
“This is where customizations do make sense,” she said.
A-PLUS ACCESSORIES
Having previously designed a fashion jewelry collection for Jared, she believes a little bling never hurt a bridal look.
“I am a big believer that a veil, special headpiece, or both is an absolute must!” she said.
Choose a trustworthy bridal salon that stocks plenty of gowns within your budget!
Pnina Tornai
“You don’t get many chances to wear a veil or a spectacular tiara, and you should feel like royalty on your special day,” she added.
She also thinks that every bride’s “princess” moment should include something that can be passed down.
“I love when brides get a special piece of jewelry for their day that can become an heirloom for generations to come,” she said.
“When I design for Jared, I always have that in mind — a beautiful diamond necklace or pair of earrings can be the perfect finishing touch to your bridal look,” she added.
Another perk is that you can also re-wear your wedding look.
“You can dress up something every day or wear it with special occasion outfits after your wedding,” she said.
SAY ‘I DO’
The stylist to the stars — who also designs gowns for Kleinfeld Bridal — made famous by the TLC reality show Say Yes to the Dress, says saving money can be simpler than you think.
“Choose a trustworthy bridal salon that stocks plenty of gowns within your budget!” she said.
Pnina's top three wedding day musts
The celebrity wedding dress designer says to focus on what everybody will be talking about at the end of the day – what the bride wore and how she looked.
That means spending the most on hair, makeup, and your dream dress.
If you do splurge on shoes, you might want to select a gown with a slit to show them off. You can also be practical by choosing nude heels that you can re-wear.
If you’re a bride on a budget, opt for a dress without customizations and call a bridal salon ahead of your visit to discuss gowns within your price range.
A lace-up corset back will save you big bucks on alterations in case your weight fluctuates before the big day.
She also suggests choosing a gown that fits to your body as closely as possible.
To feel extra special, a veil or headpiece is a great addition, as is a piece of jewelry that can be re-worn or passed down as a family heirloom.
“Call ahead, tell them how much you are planning to spend, and make sure they have a good selection of dresses for you,” she continued.
“A great bridal salon like Kleinfeld will have dresses at many different price points, and your consultant won’t show you gowns that cost more than you want to spend.”
I wanted every single bride around the world to find a dress from this collection that makes her heart sing.
Pnina Tornai
She also hopes to bring more magical moments to the masses with her first Love by Pnina Tornai Collection, which offers gowns ranging in price from $3,600 to $8,000.
The 50 designs will be available in salons across the US.
The dresses will feature satin and lace styles embellished with her signature pearls and crystals.
Her shorter “party dresses” will also allow every bride to dance the night away.
“I wanted every single bride around the world to find a dress from this collection that makes her heart sing,” she said.