Tips on Planning Your Dream Wedding

It's every little girl's dream-that day when she will walk down the aisle in her long white dress with a beautiful train following behind. Her hair is perfect, not one strand misplaced. Her nails perfectly groomed and her ring finger awaits the adornment of an illustrious diamond as she strolls the aisle to meet him-the man of her dreams. His smile usually makes her heart melt, but on this day it makes her eyes tear.

But there are a number of things that ruin this dream wedding for many women-- money woes, stress, disorganization, etc.. A wedding is one of the most important days in most people's lives. And aside from a home, it is also one of the largest expenses. Proper planning will help make this very important day truly a day to remember.

In reality, it is seldom that a woman can afford the wedding she has always dreamed of. USA Today reports that the average cost of a wedding with 200 guests is approximately $90,000. Seriously, that's a new car or down payment for a new home. No one wants to enter a marriage with an overwhelming wedding debt. That's definitely one way to strain the honeymoon years. The most important decision in wedding planning is deciding on a budget. If your parents are footing the bill, you need to sit with them and discuss how much money they are willing to comfortably spend on your special day. Make a list of every expense you will entail from rentals to gifts for the wedding party. To avoid leaving important details out of your budget, hire a professional wedding coordinator (another expense, of course) or keep a detailed planning guide (you can purchase one at most wedding stores). If you find that your budget will not allow for some of the important provisions, consider asking the groom's family to pay for the rehearsal dinner or reception. Most brides find that this is a big relief.

After you have a budget and have decided who will pay for what. It is time to organize the ceremony. Most brides are unwilling to change the locale of the ceremony and/or reception. Keep in mind that destination weddings are usually a lot more expensive for you and your guests. There are other ways to cut costs when necessary. Do-it-yourself is a surefire way to save money. From centerpieces to handmade favors and gifts, tapping into the creativity of you and your friends and family members will free up money to be spent in other places.

Time is also a key element in keeping costs as low as possible. Holiday season weddings are more expensive for a number of reasons. Rentals, caterers, hotel accommodations, transportation services, and even gas are more expensive around holiday time. Planning your wedding around holidays will only make your vendors richer. Who wants to give away money? The time of day you plan your ceremony for can also save you money. It is only appropriate to serve a full meal following evening weddings. For a mid-afternoon reception, plan for an hors d'oeurves or dessert only reception.

Whatever you decide, remember that this is your special day. Planning and staying on budget and organized will help you avoid stress. No wedding is perfect. And besides, it's only the first day of many wonderful years to come. Enjoy every minute of it.