Caterer: There are some great ways to save on your reception costs. If you book me on a Saturday in June, expect to pay top dollar; after all, if you don't hire me, there will be ten other brides in line to book me for their wedding that same day. On the other hand, if you are getting married in the off-season, like mid-January, there is a good chance that your wedding will be the only one I can book, so I am going to be more flexible on pricing; if you think to ask, that is. I will also be able to give my full attention to your wedding if it is at a less busy time. If you already have your date picked out, think about changing the time of your wedding so that you can have a brunch reception instead of a dinner. You will not only save on food, but your alcohol costs will go way down.

Bridal Shop: My designer gowns come with a firm suggested retail price from the designer, so please don't ask me for a discount on your order, because it can harm my relationship with the vendor if word gets out. However, there are a few instances that I am able to give discounts without a problem, and those are at sample sales and trunk shows. It is my goal to clear out a lot of inventory during a sample sale, so I am willing to let the floor model gowns go as low as my original wholesale cost to make way in the showroom for new samples. Here is a big secret: because I have a pre-set price from the designers on gowns, I will try to make higher margins on the accessories. Everything from veils to bridal jewelry, especially popular styles like tin cup necklaces, can have a big mark up on them. If you want to cut costs, shop for your finishing touches like tin cup necklaces and tiaras online.

Wedding Stationer: The easiest way to save on stationery is to order wisely. Sometimes ordering more can actually be more cost effective in the long run; ordering 25 more invitations than you think you need as part of your initial order is going to cost less than having to order an extra batch later if you run out. On the other hand, I see brides order all sorts of things that they could do without, like wedding programs, dinner menus, and response cards. If it were me, I would skip the programs and menus altogether, because they are an unnecessary expense. Instead of a separate response card and envelope, I would simply have an R.s.v.p. line printed on the bottom of the invitation. A bonus is that you will also spend less on postage.

Florist: Order in season. There is no easier way to trim the budget for your wedding flowers than that. Also ask your florist if there are flowers with a similar look to more costly favorites, especially for the bridesmaid bouquets. If the bride is carrying an all-rose bouquet, I will often make bridesmaid bouquets that are a mixture of roses and less expensive flowers with a similar shape, such as lisianthus. Also, decide if you will really take the time to preserve your bouquet; if not, don't bother to order a separate tossing bouquet, just use the real one.

The experts know: saving money on a wedding can be done with ease if you know the insider tricks. Most people who work in the bridal industry are very happy to do their best to work within your budget, so don't be afraid to ask them for their advice. Before you know it, you too will be a pro at designing a fabulous wedding on a dime!