Start with the absolute list first. And build from it. You also need to give a max number. So if the list goes overboard, trim it down. Even money is not a problem, can you possibly invite several hundred people to your wedding and spend time with each one? So someone will be left out. When the budget is tight, just stick to a small family wedding. You probably can get by with a guest list of fifty that way.

Many brides have come up with creative ideas that help they trim the budget and yet still have this beautifully designed cake. Number one, you don’t need to hire a professional cake decorator. At least not the ones that have a shop or store. Because they have markups. Find a freelancer who doesn’t own a shop will cost you much less. Number two, does anyone in your family decorate cakes? What about your friends? People in your church or other communities that you belong to? Let the word out and people will help.

Number three, get a quote from your grocery store. Now the bigger grocery stores all offer bakery services. Their prices are usually reasonable. You can also go for a non wedding cake and finish the touch up yourself. There are many ways to save on the wedding cake, don’t limit yourself to the most convenient places.

There are many great freelance wedding photographers who work from their homes. They will be able to reduce the fees since they don’t have to pay for an office. Also select your wedding day on any day except Saturday. If you’re getting married in high season such as June, the Saturdays will be busy for the photographers and they will be less likely to cut a deal with you. Another option is to only have the photographer take formal photos during the ceremony. The the rest of the photos can be taken by your family and friends. I have seen many brides choose this option. At least the videos can be done by a friend.

Keep in mind that budgeting is the best way to save for a wedding. Purchase a wedding planner as soon as the big day is set so you can ample time to pull everything together.

3 tips to pay off your wedding debt for a debt free future:

1. If you have default on your payment and incurred overwhelming credit card debt then you should seriously work on paying off the owed amount. Make sure that you pay little more than the minimum balance so that you can pay off your debts effortlessly. Prepare a budget to save extra money and use it towards paying off your debt. Prepare a list of the debt you owe to the creditors according to the descending order of the interest rate. Once you paid off the debt on top of the list move on to the next debt and continue the process until you completely eliminate your debts. You can also negotiate with the credit card companies to lower the interest rate on the principal balance.

2. You can negotiate with the photographers to lower the package if you have not paid yet. You can ask the photographer to provide you an online digital copy of the photographs. This will help you save expenses on the album cover. When you are working on paying off your debt make sure that you reduce your expenses to eliminate your debt. If you have extra sealed packages of napkins, decorating materials or other items you bought can be reimbursed by returning it to the store.

3. The couples should prepare a stringent budget plan in order to stay within their means. When you are working on paying off your debt then make sure you curb your expenses otherwise it might lead further into debt. Unless you pay off your debt avoid going for dinner in posh restaurants. Try to cook sumptuous dinner at home instead of dinning out. Remember that frugal living can help you overcome this stressful financial situation. You can save considerable amount of money by using coupons in the departmental store while buying things for daily use.

But of course you’d like to have more guests at the ceremony. So decide which one is more important to you. There’s also another idea to cut down costs is to have the ceremony and reception in one place. Some churches will let you use their facilities to have the reception. A reception of that style will cut down the cost dramatically.

To trim down the guest list, you need to remember that it’s your wedding. So build the guest list around you and your fiancee. Both side’s parents will have some important people to invite, but you don’t need to invite your mother-in-law’s best friend.

It depends on how much time you have until the big day. If you just got engaged and the wedding is two years away, you’re going to save a lot. Get your fiancé,  family, and everyone who would like to help involved in this. Just loose changes.

The sooner you start and the more people who are willing to help, the faster and more you will save. Instead of doing a bridal shower, why not get your close friends involved in creating saving jars? Let us know how much you are able to save by the big day!

Market goes up and goes down. But wedding is once in a lifetime. That being said, it doesn’t mean you should cash in all 401K and stocks, plan, plan ahead. Have a budget and talk to your parents and see how much they can provide. Although most families have been hit hard during the recession, many parents have saved just for your big day. The rule is to cut back on the wedding expenses as much as possible. There are many ways to cut back, such as flowers, invitations, receptions. Instead of a full reception in a hotel, have it in a less expensive venue.

Very few people will notice the little extras on the envelops and the bows and fancy paper. Go for the classic looks but choose high quality papers. You want to look like you’re on a small budget. You can get the invitations kits from the stores and print them out yourself. The kits usually come with the software and the papers and envelops. They look classic and you have several fonts to choose from. There’s not much you can do to save on postage unless you want to do an online RSVP.

If you have guests coming from out of town, Sundays are good for everyone. Choose a national park or local park for your venue. It’s cost effective and it’s beautiful. By saving money on the location, you can spend more on the photography. The recession has made many brides rethink their wedding location. Park weddings are more popular than before. Many local parks have gazebos for the reception which can save your tons of money. In most cases, the parks charge a reasonable fee which can be cheaper than your wedding dress. Call around and talk to park offices.

Plan your wedding in summer when flowers are the least expensive. Only use flowers that are in season. You don’t really need a florist for the flowers. Buy and arrange them yourself. Get your sister, friends, and mom to help. But flowers in bulk from the growers. If you really want a winter wedding, plan a church wedding around Christmas so the church will be decorated already.

Flowers are beautiful anyway, so buy in quantity, not quality. Don’t go for the most expensive flowers. Get lots of inexpensive ones in the less noticeable areas.