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Forget going into debt. With just a few savvy money moves, you can build a big-day nest egg for the wedding of your dreams.

As your wedding day approaches, and the bills are coming due, it will be nice to know that your piggybank—whether actual or metaphorical—is full to bursting, thanks to your clever ideas and smart saving strategies. Nothing beats starting married life debt-free, and with good saving habits to boot.

Quick quiz: Now that you're engaged, do you have any idea what your dream wedding might, you know, cost? If you're fumbling with figures, don't feel too bad. Many couples are not only unsure of how much a wedding costs—keep in mind that the average price tag for a wedding today is $26,800—but also in the dark about where the money will come from.Though weddings and fantasy go together, you need to be practical—and start saving money—if you're going to avoid descending into debt.

First, you and your fiancé should get an idea of how much you have at the moment, and then consider where any possibly "free" money may be coming from, advises Joyce Scardina Becker, author of Countdown to Your Perfect Wedding (St. Martin's Press, 2006). Maybe the two of you have a few bucks set aside, or know that a plump check is on its way from a freelance project, the IRS or a bonus. It's also time to talk to Mom and Dad. Both sets. What—if anything—are they willing or able to kick in?

Now that you have a dollar figure, do some research, so you can get a grip on how much your event may cost. You can determine such things as the event-rental rate at that seaside mansion, the fees your house of worship might charge, the price range on local vendors and so on.

Little also suggests taking the "if you don't see it, it won't hurt" approach to savings. "Tell your bank to skim some money off the top of each of your paychecks and deposit it into your wedding savings account," she says. "Even $50 each per paycheck can add up to a nice sum in a year."

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