1. Prioritize your priorities - Is it the dress? The food? Photography? Pick your top three priorities and the three things that are least important, and budget accordingly.

2. Plus One – Don’t feel obligated to invite a date for all your single guests or all your pals at work. Cutting guest doesn’t only save money on catering, but on all other items that can quickly add up such as favours, centerpieces and invitations.

3. Save on postage – Sign up for a free wedding website to collect RSVPs or include a phone number for guests to reply to. This saves money on postage and printing costs. Not to mention it’s environmentally friendly too!

4. Think outside the box – Opt for less traditional reception. Host a cocktail and hors d'oeuvre party after an evening ceremony, a lunch after a morning ceremony or a dinner reception on a day other than Saturday. Alternatively set a date in wedding off season (October – April).

5. Happy Hour – Have wine served at the tables instead of having a bottle of red and white at each table. How many weddings have you been to where you see full bottles of open wine at the end of the night? Save money by having the wait staff pour your guest wine before dinner. Close the bar for an hour during dinner, or opt for a toonie or loonie bar. Your guests won’t mind chipping in a dollar or two for each drink and it will help with the costs of the bar, which is often a big expense at a wedding.

6. Pay now or pay later? – Ask vendors if they offer any discounts for paying in full up front. Often you can save 10% for doing this. These savings can add up.

7. Two for One – Stack favours in the center of your guest tables or have mini wedding cakes tiered as centerpieces. These will serve as guest desserts/favours and centerpieces.

8. What’s in bloom? – Ask your florist which flowers are in season and stick to these for your bouquets and other floral needs. You’ll save a lot of money by doing so.

9. Picture Perfect – Shop around for a photographer and ask if you can purchase or if a CD of your digital images are included in the package. You can save a bundle by being able to print your photos when you need and many photography shops let you create beautiful photo books.

10. Fairy Godmother to the rescue – Many brides and grooms think hiring a wedding consultant is an added expense to their budget. In reality, hiring a wedding professional can save you all kinds of money in the long run. Many of them have relationships with vendors that can get you discounts on their products and services. As well, this is their business, so they know who is out there and have already done the leg work for you, so let them recommend the vendors that meet your needs and are within your budget. As an added bonus, on your wedding day, you won’t have to worry about all the details. They will be there quarterbacking your day and ensuring it runs smoothly.