News, Tips & Offers delivered to your inbox.

Want the perfect wedding without the big price tag? Get the inside scoop on smart budget ideas that worked for these brides.

From Our Message Board We love our readers—and the great ideas you regularly share on our Planning & Budgeting Board. Check out what some of you are doing right now to save up for the big day: “We automatically deposit money from our paychecks into a special wedding savings account, and put in all ‘extra’ money, like my fiancé’s security deposit from his last apartment, work bonuses, tax returns and so on.” “I never thought I’d do this, but I started clipping coupons. Every Sunday my fiancé buys me two papers, and I comb them for discounts. Instead of going to a store simply because it’s close by, I make lists and travel to several retailers to get the best deals, especially ones that have ‘double coupon’ bonuses. It really adds up!” “I shop at thrift stores and yard sales for clothes and other goods. I just bought a pair of name-brand jeans for $3, and they’re not stiff, like new ones. Instead, they have that broken-in, comfy feel.” “We only eat out in restaurants once a month now. And, we bring our lunches to work—that, alone, has saved us over $30 a week.” Join the conversation: What's your best money-saving tip?

"A friend of mine, who’s a graphic designer, created our wedding programs AS A GIFT. They were beautiful—dark-gray print on light-gray speckled paper. We just paid a small fee to have the pages hole-punched at a stationery store, and then my husband and I tied them ourselves with silver tulle ribbon that the store where we registered gave us FOR FREE. We saved about $200."

"When I got married, I borrowed a veil, gloves and shoes from a friend who’d recently been wed, which saved me well over $100. There’s no rule that says you have to own everything you wear, plus this covered my ‘something borrowed.’ ”

"If your groom and groomsmen are renting formalwear, go to a store that will offer your fiancé’s tux for free with the other rentals. We did this and saved about $150.”

"I registered for gifts at the same department store where I purchased my gown. Since I received many duplicate presents, and the store only gives credit for returns, I used the credit to pay off my dress, rather than be stuck with items I didn't need. It was like getting my gown for free."

"Instead of having expensive floral centerpieces, we placed a beautiful flowering plant in a terra cotta pot on each table. This saved us almost $1000."

"In keeping with the theme of our casual beach wedding, my fiancé and I sent postcard invitations that we wrote out ourselves. We had 50 guests and probably saved at least $100 on stationery, printing and postage costs."

"We saved an enormous amount of money by having our wedding on a Wednesday morning rather than a weekend evening. Rates were 50 to 75 percent lower on everything—from our reception site to services like photography and catering."

"We held our wedding in the garden of a Victorian mansion run by a nonprofit organization. There was no site fee; they asked only for a donation. We gave $300, and figure we saved several hundred, if not several thousand, dollars, when you consider how expensive site fees at most hotels and catering halls are."