With the costs of staging a wedding steadily rising, it only makes sense to take control of your celebration. The most valuable move a bride can make is to enlist creative and willing friends and family to assist. Sharing the work can be a wonderful bonding experience and will lessen the stress.

Money Saving Tips:

Catering: Purchase everything possible at a discount warehouse. Enlist some agreeable friends, even family members, to prepare the food and act as servers.

The Cake: Everyone knows someone who bakes and decorates cakes. They would most likely charge much less than a store bought cake.

Flowers and Dcor: Watch for craft store sales well in advance of the big day and stock up on silk flowers, tulle, lace, anything you may need. Invite the girls over and make a day of it! Assemble arrangements, bouquets, whatever you need. You are only limited by your creativity.

A Note: Dont scrimp on the brides bouquet and the grooms boutonniere must be fresh!

Rent the wedding dress. The bride will only wear it for a few hours and then store it away. Renting will save a lot of cash.

An Important Note: Never skimp on the cost of a good photographer. Photos of the wedding can only be taken once and you will want these to be of very good quality that will last a lifetime.

These ideas are merely a starting point. Use creativity and be amazed at how much money can be saved!