No matter who she is, every bride wants to be stunningly beautiful on her wedding day. Some brides boast of a budget that will afford them the full regalia of diamonds and pearls to accentuate their gowns. For budget brides, the search for alternatives to create the same stunning effect can be an exercise in frustration. However, elegant jewelry options are available for budget brides, allowing them to glow with the same sparkle with a smaller price tag.

One easy option for many brides-to-be is the after Christmas clearance sales. Christmas and New Year's Eve are a time when people often get together for parties, dinners, or galas. As a result, the selection of sparkling costume jewelry in stores is increased to entice holiday shoppers to impulse buy for those holiday parties. Savvy budget brides will wait until after the holidays to stock up for both bridal and bridal party jewelry at a fraction of the retail cost.

Another option for a bride-to-be is to borrow jewelry. Does your mother or grandmother have jewelry that would add that special sentimental touch to your bridal ensemble? Do you have a cousin or close friend that was recently a bride? Borrowing a necklace or bracelet for the one day event is perfectly justifiable and will not make you, as a bride, look any less stunning. In fact, letting a friend know that you found her jewelry so beautiful that you want to borrow it for your own wedding will be a tremendous compliment to her own good taste.

A creative option is to make your own bridal jewelry. From Swarovski crystals to freshwater pearls to Czech pressed glass, handmade jewelry has become a hot trend. For those brides who do not have a crafty bone in their bodies, fear not! Jewelry making kits are available for purchase which includes step by step instructions. In addition, places such as Michael's Arts and Craft store http://www.michaels.com offers online designs and in-person classes while Fire Mountain Gem's (http://www.firemountaingems.com) Beading University offers an online beading encyclopedia, step-by-step photo instructions, and designs.

Brides who are willing to harness their creative energies into making their own jewelry can also make their bridal party jewelry. A simple yet elegant set of earrings, necklace and bracelet can be made within less than an hour in just about any color you can imagine. For an added touch, wrap a few gleaming beads on hairpins to decorate your hair or to give to your bridal party for their hairstyles.

Budget conscious brides do not have to sacrifice glamour in the search for the perfect bridal ensemble. Many options are available at affordable prices that can make you, as a bride, glow on your wedding day.

Brenda Frezell is a former budget bride, freelance writer, and avid traveller. You can find her online at http://www.shoestringbrides.com or http://www.railtripper.com