Everyone getting married wants their day to be special. I'm here to tell you that it can be, even with a small budget. When I got married, just over ten years ago, my budget was very modest - $3500.00 to be exact (for 50 people). Today, I could still do a fabulous wedding for that amount by following some simple tips I knew then and have learned since. The most important thing to accomplish is deciding with your spouse-to-be (and parents if they're paying for your wedding) what you are willing to spend the most money on and what you are willing to compromise on or forego, if necessary. Then set a reasonable budget for the entire event. Once that is done, try some of these tried and true tips to make your special day stand out with out costing your life savings.

1. Be Your Own Wedding Coordinator - You don't have to hire someone to plan your wedding - plenty of help exists for those who want to go it alone. Some bridal registries even offer wedding planner books for the bride-to-be, but you can do your own in a notebook along with dividers for each section of the wedding. Make sure to keep your budget in the front so you always know what you are willing to spend on each portion.

2. Avoid Peak Wedding Months - Don't get married between May and August and you can save a fortune. Also, avoid the Saturday rush if at all possible. I was married on a Friday night in March amidst soft candle light and it was perfect.

3. The Wedding Dress - I bought mine from a local wedding dress outlet shop instead of going to a retail shop or custom designer. This is becoming a popular way to save money. Also, many cities host bridal fairs that show off the latest designs and offer discounts. Even better, if you know someone who sews, you can always get a pattern and have the dress made.

4. Location - This may be something of importance or may not matter to you. Churches are an obvious choice for many, but parks, beaches, backyards, botanical gardens and historical homes are other options you have. We were married in a 100-year-old house that was beautifully decorated for just such occasions.

5. All Inclusive - This is another terrific option, one that I used with my wedding. Many locations that specialize in weddings offer package deals that can include food, music, photography, videography and flowers. I negotiated and got a package that included part of the above since I didn't want a video and had my own florist.

6. Food - Depending on where you have your reception, you may be able to do the food yourself. Mine was included in the package, but I could have easily done it myself. It included croissant sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, and of course, the wedding cake. The wedding cake was contracted out to a caterer, but the rest was easily done by the family who owned the house I was married in. Depending on the time of day or evening will depend on what you want to feed your guests, so plan accordingly.

7. Music - A band or DJ is usually customary at the reception. Shop around when it comes to music. Let your fingers do the walking as they say - pull out the yellow pages and compare prices.

8. Flowers - This can be very easy to do yourself. Many wholesale flower shops exist that will allow you to buy flowers in bulk. Pick flowers that are in season to help save costs as well. You don't need to have elaborate arrangements - glass vases with flowers can be just as elegant by setting the vases on mirrors. Also, the bouquets can simply be a spray of flowers tied with ribbons.

9. Invitations - If you have a nice printer, you can actually make your own invitations. Another budget saving idea is to buy plain cards and write your invitations by hand. Or, if you know someone who is into scrapbooking, they may be willing to help you make invitations or give you some creative ideas for your own. Do check out the prices of local printers though, you may just find they aren't as expensive as you think.

10. Photography/Videography - This can become quite costly if you're on a tight budget. One great trick is to give each guest table a disposable camera and let them take candid shots of the wedding, then save the photographer for the formal shots. Try hiring someone from the local art school as they can be quite talented and less expensive than a professional.

When you're doing a wedding on a budget it helps to have everyone involved. Enlist friends and family members to assist in any way possible. Many have hidden talents and will even give you items you can use for the wedding. You'd be amazed at what people are willing to do to help ensure your day is fabulous! So go ahead, start planning your wedding today!

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Prye.Com/ which is a site for Wedding Invitations.

Terry J. Coyier is a 37-year-old college student studying for an Associates of Applied Sciences degree. She is also a freelance writer who writes on a variety of topics. She lives with her son in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Coyier