Top budget tips

Clever ways to keep your wedding budget costs under control...

Have a traditional wedding breakfast

What happened to the morning wedding and traditional wedding breakfast? Plan an early wedding with brunch and make a stylish exit for your honeymoon mid-afternoon. Depending on your choice of friends, hopefully guests won't drink so much alcohol at lunchtime and your menu will be lighter and less expensive than a formal dinner. Money saved.

Look for local venues

Don't knock the local church hall or community centre. Don't be snobby about your venue if you're looking to cut costs. Use your imagination and visualise the plainest of venues transformed into a wedding haven with great lighting and attractive table decorations.

Scrap the evening party

There's always a tendency to keep adding to the guest list with work colleagues from the past and even vague acquaintances, so all of a sudden you've created the need for an evening party with buffet -- a huge added expense. Instead, cut the list down, scrap the evening invites, and have an inexpensive party in a local pub or bar with all those guests after your honeymoon.

Wed out of season

Saturday weddings in summer will always be popular -- and more expensive. Be fashionably different. Think winter wedding, candlelight, red wine and evening dress. Even opt for a Friday or Sunday wedding if you think your guests won't mind taking a day off work. But avoid Christmas and special days, such as Valentine's Day or Mother's Day, when prices will be steep.

Let them eat cake!

Three heavy courses followed by a slab of rich fruit cake is all too much. Why not cut your cake before you sit down to eat (as many couple do) and serve it as pudding? A chocolate cake is particularly successful here, especially if you put ice cream, fruit coulis and chocolate sauce in the centre of each table.

Stick to a simple menu

A beautifully cooked yet simple menu is significantly better than a poor quality attempt at something fancy. Spend your budget on delicious sausages and mash, even fish and chips or cottage pie instead of a poor cut of steak. Or, if you're looking to reduce the cost of waiting staff, opt for a buffet where guests can largely help themselves.

Ask your friends to help

If your friend's brother plays in a band or your aunt makes great cakes, this is the time to call in the favours. You can also save money by approaching local colleges. Catering students could provide a great wedding breakfast, but do make sure you ask for samples first.

For more budgeting tips try our guide on Clever Ways To Save.