When it comes to shopping small and supporting local businesses, we often think about the charming coffee shops, trendy boutiques, and delicious restaurants in our neighborhoods. However, don't overlook the opportunity to infuse your wedding with unique decor, fun wedding outfits, and affordable gifts by exploring small shops and artisans!
Our ultimate wedding gift guide to shopping small for your wedding will help you find thoughtful wedding gift ideas, unique wedding outfits for the bride and groom, and unforgettable wedding decor - all while supporting local creators and small business owners. Whether you're looking for personalized wedding favors, handcrafted decor, a stylish wedding outfit for your bridal shower, wondering what to wear to your rehearsal dinner, or one-of-a-kind bridal party gifts, shopping small can make your special day even more memorable.
From gifts to decor, there are so many special details that you need to buy for your wedding so why not support small businesses along the way?! In today's wedding planning advice post, we're talking about all the different elements and details that you can get for your wedding and how you can support small businesses at the same time.
Related: How to Shop Small for Your Wedding
It's a wedding planning win-win!
We have a wedding planning advice filled with information and advice on how to shop small for your wedding. Be sure to read through that post for a thorough look at the reasons why to shop small for your wedding, plus five tips on how to do so!
Spoiler alert, most wedding vendors, like your photographer and wedding planner, are small businesses, so simply by having a wedding you are supporting small businesses.
Shopping small for your wedding can cover just about anything you're spending money on for your wedding. That includes your wedding dress, your venue or location, your reception and ceremony decor and so much more. Even services! Choosing vendors that are smaller businesses is a great way to shop small! Again, for all those tips, check out our how to shop small for your wedding post!
For this Garter Girl Loves post, we're sharing with you where to shop small for your wedding. From wedding engagement, through planning, to your wedding day and even your honeymoon, Etsy is an ideal marketplace to connect you with lots and lots of small businesses offering the perfect items for you.
Etsy! Yes, Etsy is the PERFECT way for you to shop small. Etsy is an online marketplace that makes shopping easy for you as a customer. Offering a platform for their makers and sellers to sell their items, you are able to easily shop through hundreds/thousands of small shops.
There is no warehouse for Etsy - when you shop via Etsy you are shopping directly with the seller, aka the small shop. By shopping with them you're directly supporting them, their business, their employees and their family. It's a win - win! A purchase you love that also makes you feel good and supports a small business!
Shopping on Etsy is easy! There's a search bar at the top for you to search for the specific item you're looking for. Search results will appear and you can browse through the millions of product listings on Etsy. Use the filter options to narrow down the search results and find the perfect item for you.
Plus, Etsy offers a Wedding & Party shopping page offering suggested popular items. On the left, you'll find filters again for the results and links to separate categories like Invitations & Paper, Wedding Decorations, Wedding Accessories and Wedding Clothing.
It's time to get shopping small for your wedding!
Just got engaged? Congratulations! Now comes the fun part—planning every memorable detail of your journey from wedding engagement to honeymoon. Supporting small businesses for wedding essentials brings a unique, personal touch to your celebration, and platforms like Etsy offer everything from engagement party decor to personalized keepsakes.
Related: Wedding Engagement Party Decor & Planning Tips
Discover our top picks from Etsy and smaller retailers for wedding engagement ideas, decor inspiration, and unique gifts that add charm to each step of your special journey by shopping small.
Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) experiences in life, but the good news is that you don't have to go it alone - or turn to big-box stores for everything you need! When you shop small, you not only support local artisans and small businesses, but you also find unique, personalized touches that can make your wedding day feel even more special.
We've handpicked a selection of wedding planning essentials - from custom labels and wedding budget planners to bridal journals and guides and bridal shopping printables - that will help you stay organized, inspired, and on track as you navigate the wedding planning journey.
Related: Wedding Planning Spreadsheets & Tools to Help Brides
Whether you’re looking to add a personal touch to your wedding invites or need a little extra help with budgeting, these small businesses have the tools and creativity to make your wedding day everything you've dreamed of. Let's dive into our top picks for wedding planning essentials from small businesses!
Planning your wedding invitations, day-of wedding paper goods, and wedding signs is an exciting step in creating the perfect atmosphere for your big day. By choosing to shop from small businesses, you not only find unique, personalized designs but also support local artisans and creators who pour heart and passion into every piece.
From elegant wedding invitations to custom signs and detailed menus, small businesses offer beautiful, thoughtful details and decor options that make a lasting impression on your guests.
Related: Unique Wedding Day of Paper Goods and Must Have Signs
Here's our top picks to help you shop small for your wedding invitations, day of the wedding paper goods and wedding signs, and embrace this opportunity to add a unique touch to your wedding while championing talented creators.
Planning the perfect bridesmaid proposal, bridesmaids’ gifts, bridal party t shirts and and helping them find the perfect bridesmaid dress to wear to your wedding can be both meaningful and stylish when you choose to shop from small businesses. In this how to shop small for your wedding guide, we’re sharing our top picks for unique and thoughtful bridesmaid gifts, as well as beautifully crafted attire options that support independent artisans and local businesses.
Related: Shop Ultimate Bridesmaid Outfit Planner & Mood Board Bundle
By choosing these small business finds, you’ll create a memorable experience for your bridesmaids while making a positive impact on the small businesses that we all want to support.
Looking for unique, stylish, and meaningful ways to outfit your groomsmen while supporting small businesses? Plus, do you need amazing and super thoughtful gift ideas for your groomsmen that they haven't gotten already from other wedding's they've been in, or worse - that they won't throw in the trash!
In this this section on how to shop small for your wedding, we’ve curated our top picks for the best places to shop for groomsmen gifts, groomsmen boutonniere ideas and groomsmen outfit ideas from small businesses that prioritize quality and individuality.
Related: How to DIY Embroider the Cuffs of Button Down Shirt
From custom male wedding party accessories to thoughtfully crafted clothing, discover the perfect pieces that let your groomsmen stand out while championing local talent and craftsmanship. Plus our top picks for groomsmen gifts from small businesses...
Planning the perfect bridal look means finding pieces that make you feel truly special on your wedding day. To help you shop unique, high-quality bridal outfits and bridal accessories, we’ve gathered our top picks for where to shop for wedding attire for the bride, all from small businesses. And don't forget to get our bridal fashion budget spreadsheet so you can keep track of it all and stay on budget for your wedding.
Related: Shop Now for the Best Bridal Outfit Mood Board Organizer
Discover stunning bridal outfits, accessories, bridal veils, bridal gloves and everything brides need to create your dream bridal look — all while supporting talented, independent creators.
Related: How to Save Money on Bridal Outfits
Here’s how to shop thoughtfully for bridal attire, from beautiful wedding dresses to unforgettable bridal accessories, while supporting small businesses.
That's it! It's so easy to shop small for your wedding and Etsy has all the items you need from beginning to end!
If you're looking for more info about shopping small for your wedding, we have another post filled with all the info you need!
Don't forget, we have so much helpful and practical wedding planning advice on our blog. Whether it's with our our tips or our wedding heirlooms, our main goal in life is to share our expertise and help you have a joyful and stress-free wedding planning experience. You can shop our wedding garters and bridal accessories anytime.
With love,
The Garter Girl
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