The average bride will spend $1,038 on her wedding gown in 2010, according to The Wedding Report. This is of course down a bit from a few years ago, but it’s slightly up over 2009, which is a very good thing for the wedding industry. The average price of a gown is projected to increase a bit a year for the next several years, albeit slowly. This is probably because while brides are beginning to open their wallets a little wider this year they’re still a bit gun-shy because of what many of them still see as a shaky economy. This is exactly where a certified wedding and event planner steps in. It goes without saying that the most important part of planning a wedding is working out the budget, and said budget should be set in stone before a bride goes gown shopping. It’s a lot easier to fall in love with a gown that’s in her price range if she only tries on gowns in her set price range. It may sound obvious, but I think we at the Lovegevity Wedding Planning Institute can all agree that brides get stars in their eyes mighty quickly when it comes to their dream gowns!

According to online surveys of bridal couples, bridal attire accounts for 8 to 10 percent of the wedding budget. While the gown is important most brides also want to purchase shoes, jewelry and other accessories along with it, which eats into the budget even further. If you find yourself with a frugal bride who still wants to walk down the aisle in style consider these tips:

* At bridal salons every bride is likely to make a bee-line for the wedding-gown department. But many bridesmaid gowns come in white and ivory, and they’re offered for sale for a much lower price than a traditional gown - we’re talking hundreds of dollars less in many cases! No, this tip won’t work for every bride, but for the ones who are trying to get more bang for their buck this is a great idea.

* Experts all agree that brides should buy their gowns at least six months before the big day (if they have six months to spare!) This time needs to be allowed for a few reasons: mistakes, alterations, weight fluctuations and lost shipments. A portion of the budget should be set aside for these things that occur after the gown comes in. You don’t want your bride to be shocked when she gets an alterations bill that she didn’t budget for.

* Remind your bride that it’s the shape of the gown that flatters her, not the beading and lace, which can significantly push up the price. A simple gown can look gorgeous with a more intricate veil and beautiful jewelry!

* Sure, it’s fun to go to the top designer boutiques and try on everything they have to offer. And if it fits your bride’s budget that’s great. But if she’s trying to save money consider these shopping ideas:

- Thrift stores and consignment shops: You’d be amazed at what you can find at a top-quality thrift stores these days.

- eBay: Lots of brides are selling their once-worn, fabulous gowns at ridiculous discounts in an effort to recoup some of the money they spent on their weddings.

- Sample sales: If you have a bride who won’t settle for anything less than a designer gown but doesn’t have the cash for it make sure you introduce her to The Great Sample Sale. Especially take her to off-season sales. The earlier the better for the gown, like we said before, and getting an off-season piece will be even better for her pocketbook.

- Chains: Shops like David’s Bridal are always a good option for the bride who wants lots of choices but doesn’t want to spend a fortune. In addition brides may want to consider asking shops if they rent gowns, which can be a super-affordable option.

- Online retailers: If your brides has an easy-to-fit figure an online retailer may have the perfect dress, and deal, for her. And be sure to check out such sites as Craigslist, preownedweddingdresses.com and sellyourweddingdress.com.

* And last but not least see if your bride is willing to borrow a gown. We all know that wedding gowns are easily one of the most pricey keepsakes women ever buy. But in our opinion sharing a gown - even if it’s altered to suit the newest bride’s taste - is a very special thing. We love the idea of daughters wearing their mother’s - or even grandmother’s - gowns!

He’s one part basketball coach one part … wedding planner? Chris Mooney’s duties as the men’s basketball coach at Beaver College were only part of his duties. He was also known to take a timeout from practice to talk to brides! Mooney had to talk with any bride whose wedding was going to take place in the Grey Towers Castle on the campus of Beaver College, now Arcadia University, in the Philadelphia suburb of Glenside, Pa. His coaching job was part-time, but as professional, certified wedding and event planners you know that planning any wedding is a full-time job!

* Fashion alert! Urban Outfitters, the brand of young, hipster clothing loved the world over, is planning to dip its toes into the world of wedding fashion. The new line is expected to launch around Valentine’s Day 2011, just in time for all the newly engaged couples of next year. We’re not sure what this line will look like, but we expect it to be heavy on color and funk. Full lines of bridesmaid dresses and wedding jewelry are expected, too, and the entire line will be designed with the help of Anthropolgie.

Princess Diana

* It was truly a fairytale wedding. When Princess Diana wed Prince Charles all the eyes of the world were on them … and on her dress. While it was indeed a showstopper it was also a dress that very few other brides could pull off. While the marriage didn’t end up as all had planned the gown has gone down in history. Now it’s Di’s brother’s turn to wed (yes, for a third time), and he’ll be saying vows with Lady Bianca Eliot. What kind of gown do you expect for this royal wedding? What kind of gown would you suggest, considering the circumstances?

* Move over Bridezilla because this Groomzilla may give you a run for your money! In our experience brides have the opposite trouble when it comes to wedding planning: Getting their grooms to participate in the planning at all is like pulling teeth! This U.K. groom, however, took the reins and took care of all the details, much to the delight of his bride. Well, almost. The bride did choose her own gown!

As certified wedding and event planners you may think you’ve seen it all, but as stories as these prove: Think again! Do you have any stories to share? Every wedding experience is one to learn from!