By Michael Pearce

I'm sure you have seen the Steve Martin film, "Father of the Bride" where his daughter's wedding gets out of control, with Wedding Planners and Ice Sculptors etc.

It is not as ludicrous as it at first glance appears, as many weddings have spiralled out of control and there is a rule of thumb: "The More You Spend on a Wedding, the Tackier it gets". Of course, this is not always the case, but there is a growing trend towards Budget Weddings, and rightly so.

Spending your life savings on your big day is not just crazy, it is insanely idiotic. Wouldn't you rather have money to put down on a house and furnish it, or to pay for your honeymoon? In fact, the down payment for a house or mortgage is far more beneficial for your future happiness.

You can have elegant, beautiful weddings and receptions without having to go broke in the process. Today's couples know that weddings on a budget just make more sense than spending like crazy. That and the days when the bride's parents pay for everything is just about over. Nowadays couples are often spending their own money on the wedding as many of them live together long before the wedding day.

Budget weddings don't have to mean that you have to give up on style or sentimentality. It means using your imagination, and using your own hands or the help of friends and family rather than paying through the nose for professionals. You can save some money without skimping on any of the good stuff. You don't have to do what everyone else is doing to make your day special. There are so many ideas that can make your wedding a great deal cheaper in the long run.

Some of these ideas include:

· Buying your dress secondhand

· Having friends and family make your food and cake for you in lieu of a wedding gift

· Using an MP3 player instead of hiring a DJ

· Having your reception at home with only close friends and family

· Not inviting the entire universe to your wedding.

There are just so many things that you can do to make your wedding days a bit cheaper that this article alone cannot cover them all. Brainstorm and use your imagination to find more ways to plan your budget wedding. You can have your wedding outdoors, in your garden, or ask a family member if they can host your reception. Have theme based weddings that can be easy to create etc. Theme weddings always take a lot of the cost out of throwing a big and expensive wedding and they are always a lot of fun for everyone that is involved.

In conclusion, there are many ways to plan a budget wedding. Careful thought and careful selection of services you purchase and guests you invite should be at the forefront of your mind. Trim the guest list to include only friends and family that are close to you. This is difficult to do but sometimes it is necessary if the cost per guest is going to break your budget. Think about it like this; you can simply cross off the names on the list of guests who might feel obligated to come to the wedding if they are invited, but would not be upset in the least if they are not asked to attend. Invite only the people who are important to you and your parents, rather than everyone you know. This is the most cost-saving thing you can do in planning your budget wedding.

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