Beautiful weddings on a not-so-BIG-budget

During these times many people are wondering what to do about finances as the economy takes a turn for the worst, but engaged couples preparing for their nuptials can still afford a beautiful day that they would be glad to share for years to come. Here are a few ways to save on your wedding. 1. Decide What's Most Important Pick your top three priorities and allocate a little extra money for them (i.e., gown, catering, and band). 2. Cut the Guest List We know it's tough, but one of the fastest and most effective ways to lower your wedding cost is to pare down the invitees. Get out that red pen! At $100 a head, taking 10 guests off the guest list saves $1,000! Also consider the size of your wedding party: Gifts, hair, and makeup are cheaper for two than for ten. 3. Pass on Pricey Details Glamorous details on items that you're indifferent about spike costs without adding any fun to your day. As a general rule, before you sign a contract, look through the itemized list of what you're buying and, ask yourself, "Will anyone notice if we don't do this?" 4. Consider Printing Costs Having two shades of ink on your invitation might match your color scheme, but it can also add massive printing costs; square invites require extra postage. 5. Get a Smaller Car Town Cars will shuttle your wedding party to the reception just as effectively as a Hummer stretch limo. 6. Skip the Special Effects If you're happy with simple wedding pictures, pass on options like sepia tones, multiple exposures, and split frames. 7. Substitute Less Expensive Flowers Choose flowers that are in season, and pick locally grown flowers rather than blooms that need to be flown in from afar to reduce costs. 8. Simplify Your Menu Reduce the number of overall dinner courses (making three courses fabulous costs less than serving five individual courses) and keep your menu simple. Stick with the specialties of the season and region. 9. Save the Good Stuff for Later Have the caterers bring out the fancy Dom Perignon for the toast, but then switch to a less expensive champagne for the rest of the night -- no one will ever see the bottle or know the difference. 10. Pare Down the Cake Extras Order a small, fabulous cake that's exactly what you want and, in the kitchen, have several sheet cakes of the same flavor cut for your guests. (bakeries will decorate styrofoam to look like a tiered cake which will help out your wallet as well.) Forgo fondant: Buttercream frosting is tastier and less expensive.