Have the Wedding of Your Dreams Without Breaking Your Bank Account

Save the dates and invitations set the tone for your wedding. For the environmentally conscious, sites like Paperless Post or Evite allow you to send beautiful invites and track RSVPs digitally. If you are not totally in favor of going completely electronic, there are ways to keep the costs down. Remember, it is your special day. Your guests will likely be tossing the invites out after the wedding (or even after they open them)! Online invitation sites like Wedding Paper Divas and Minted have made it extremely easy to have gorgeous invitations without busting your budget.

It seems obvious, but the more guests you have, the more money you'll spend. Narrow your guest list to the people closest to you. Don't invite distant family members or acquaintances out of guilt or pressure from family or friends.

Favors have become a thoughtful way to say thank you to your guests. But when was the last time you kept a favor or even remember what you received? Your guests don't need an item that is only going to collect dust or be thrown away. Your money is far better served to enhance guest experience. Give your guests a local treat that they will appreciate the next morning or make a donation to your favorite charity in their names.

The bigger the party, the bigger the expense! You don't need to have your 10 closest friends in your bridal party for them to still feel like they're a part of your big day. Plus, that is a lot of different and competing opinions! From the glam squad, flowers, thank-you gifts, and rehearsal dinner guests to meals the day of, the costs exponentially add up to service your wedding party. Find other ways to show them they are special to you leading up to the wedding and on the day of.

Flowers add beauty to any joyful event. Keep in mind that you don't have to be extravagant to create elegance. True elegance lies in simplicity. Let your florist select the flowers, preferably local and in-season, that make the most sense based on your budget. Also, ask the florist how to repurpose the flowers from the ceremony for the reception. Another option to add romance to the room at a fraction of the cost: fill the room with a variety of candles.

The cake is usually for the visual effect. Most of your guests don't eat the cake because they'd rather hit the dance floor. The general rule of thumb is to have cake for 60 percent of your guests. Opt for a cake that isn't extravagant with layers and handcrafted decor. A great alternative to cake is to have a variety of desserts and baked goods to create an amazing display and let your guests choose their sweet treat at the end of the night.