Planning a wedding can feel like a full time job. You can spend anywhere from $10,000, $20,000 and up, depending on how elaborate the wedding. Most weddings are planned within a timeline of one to two years. Refer to wedding books and magazines to ensure that you have covered all wedding planning details. Make a comprehensive list of all items for your wedding. Next, figure out how much money you have for the wedding. Estimate how much to spend on each item on your list. Here are a few things to consider in terms of keeping the cost down on some of the major wedding expenses.
WEDDING VENUE
Book the venue as early as possible to ensure the date you want is available. The cost of the wedding venue can vary based on the ceremony and reception being in the same or different locations, and if wedding will be indoors or outdoors. Avoid popular days (i.e. Saturdays) or holidays (i.e. Valentine’s Day), in which the costs will most likely be higher. Read all contracts regarding deposit and full payments. Be very clear on what is included and what is not (i.e. food, DJ or band). Do a price comparison of the venues and what they offer to determine if you are getting the best value for your dollar. Negotiate costs and services.
WEDDING ATTIRE
Decide on the color scheme for your wedding and bridal party. The rings, jewelry accessories, shoes, hair and make-up are items that can be attended to later. Stay alert for wedding events/expos, and bridal gown and suit/tuxedo sales. Get bridal party and groomsmen fitted for their outfits as early as possible.
WEDDING MENU & CAKE
Price will be determined based on the type of meal served (i.e. catered, buffet, sit down dinner, or a home cooked meal prepared by family and friends).  If the wedding takes place in a hotel, the meal might come as a package deal. Most vendors will quote the meal based on cost per person, type of meal and number of courses served. Reduce the cost by the number of food selections for cocktail reception and main meal. Limit open bar, serving liquor can be costly.
Cake- Create wedding cakes out of cupcakes. Another idea is to have a dessert bar offering a variety of desserts from cookies, and brownies, to mini cakes. You can also have a small wedding cake for show as the centerpiece, then arrange slices of sheet cake around it. Consider someone you know who enjoys cake decorating and utilize their expertise. Find vendors at wedding expos to design your cake.
WEDDING VENUE DECORATIONS
How do you plan to decorate your main wedding venue? Will you have centerpieces, fresh flowers, a  wedding theme? All these questions will determine how much you spend. Consider hiring an event planner to focus on the wedding venue and decorations. Again, compare the cost of the event planner and the details they will cover to do it yourself which will require your time.
WEDDING INVITATIONS AND FAVORS
As soon as the date is in place and venue is secured, start sending out the invitations. Take advantage of the internet. Create wedding invitations on line, or through evite, and have your invitations e-mailed. Allow guests to RSVP via e-mail as well. The e-mail alternative will cut down your postage mailing bill tremendously. Another advantage, you can always re-send the invite as a way of sending reminders for guests to RSVP.
Party favors- Craft stores are full of ideas for wedding favors. Low cost ideas can include candy in decorative packaging, or a music CD of love songs with a label announcing the name of the couple and the wedding date. Enlist the help of family and friends, and have a favor making party.
PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEO
What better way to remember your beautiful moment than with pictures and/video. Ask the photographer or video person in the family /friends to take care of all the pictures or videos from the wedding to the reception to the after party. You can also hire a photographer/video person to capture important moments of the wedding day (i.e. exchange of vows) then provide disposable cameras and let your guests take the rest of the pictures. After the wedding, have everyone share their pictures with you.
Although planning a wedding can be stressful, try to make it fun. Start early and map out a time line of when each tasks needs to start, what each task requires, when down payments are needed, when each task needs to be completed, and who is responsible for each task ? By following your time line, and sticking to your budget, this will help to keep you organized, making your wedding affordable.
REMEMBER… Stay within your BUDGET, keep things AFFORDABLE and most of all, have FUN planning your very special day…CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!