How to Plan Your Wedding on a Budget

Most brides are looking for ways to save on their wedding, especially in an economy like today's. The following ideas will help keep your wedding within budget without sacrificing style and quality.

Be realistic. Some things matter and some don't. Consider your wedding dress. While it is a very important part of the day, it is a one-time use item. Brides can regret spending 20% of their wedding budget on a dress after they realize it will go out of style, take up room and never be worn again. Buying a dress is not a bad thing- regretting paying too much is miserable. Consider altering a dress that you can find on sale or even in the "formal dress" section of a retail store like Dillard's or Nordstrom. Renting a dress is also a very cost effective option for a one-time use item. You can also rent accessories to your dress. A lot of wedding dress rental shops will offer slips, petticoats, veils, gloves and even jewelry.

Consider the day of the week and time of year. A lot of vendors including reception venues will offer a discount for "off season" (October-April) or an "off" day of the week (Mon.-Thurs.). This could save up to 50% if you can consider having your wedding in these "off" times.

Check out unlikely and unique locations. A secluded city park could make for a very charming setting. Park reservation fees are anywhere from $25-$100. An attractive school or library could be the perfect idea for a romantic atmosphere and offer pricing between $100-$800. Think outside the box when it comes to a location and you will save, as well as make your wedding out of the ordinary.

Think about valet/hosting companies. There are many valet/hosting companies that can give you that expensive looking event for so much less. These companies specialize in everything from set up and take down to serving, bussing and re-stocking food and beverage. Most brides think they need to hire a full service catering company, a luxurious venue or a pricey coordinator to get all details covered. The truth is, these hosting companies like Cherish Events (http://www.cherishevents.com) can give you that catered, hosted, full service wedding wherever you want. You could have a reception in the park and hire a company to purchase bulk foods at Costco or Sam's Club and serve them on fancy trays, making sure everything looks good and everything is running smoothly. These companies can also take care of set up and take down so you don't have to worry about asking family or friends to stress over it. A hosting company charges anywhere from $25-$50 per hour.

When it comes to saving money on your wedding, it's about getting creative. Many brides get stuck in thinking they have to do what is usual, but don't be afraid to look outside the typical wedding ideas and make it your own.