So while some people are fortunate enough to spend tens - if not, hundreds - of thousands on their wedding day, most people will have a budget considerably less than this. And for some it has to be done as cheaply as possible, especially given the pressures of the credit crunch.

Just because you have to keep control on the budget does not necessarily mean that you cannot achieve the wedding you desire - you might just need to invest a little extra time and effort to make sure you are maximizing the value of what you do have to spend. You will probably find that most close family members will have their own ideas of what you should be doing (and some of them will waste no time in telling you about them!), but remember that this is your day and you and your partner are going to be the ones who are paying for it all.

Accepting contributions to your wedding budget from other people can be a good thing, but be careful because some people might think that this gives them the right to dictate what your wedding day will be like. It's important for everyone to remember that it is your day - an no one else's. Don't get caught in this trap - if the money comes with a proviso you may be wiser to turn it down.

The main rule to remember is that almost every wedding related service or product can be bought cheaper if you look elsewhere. About the only area this doesn't apply to would be the costs for the church or registry office, and the marriage licence.

Once you start planning your wedding, jot down the things that you would love to have on the day; those things that would really make the day extra special for you. Make another list of the other things you need to include, such as a wedding photographer, wedding cake, wedding dress and so on, and a third list of optional items, or items that you could cut back to basics on (such as wedding favours perhaps).

By doing this you will be able to work out how far your own budget will stretch, and this will make it much easier to make sure the money goes exactly where it should go, instead of being wasted on things that you aren't particularly worried about.

It is very easy to swept up in the excitement of planning your wedding and to spend just that little bit more on each and every item... but this can all add up really quickly and your costs can spiral out of control if you are not careful.