Written by Lisa Leo Gold Coast, Australia

The ring is on the finger and you have said 'YES', so why has this time that is meant to be the happiest in your life suddenly become stressful?
Suddenly, you are consumed with a multitude of decisions that must be made to make your special day perfect.

Below are some hints to help you make your day special without breaking the bank (or your budget). Remember, what you don't spend on your wedding you can put toward your romantic honeymoon.

Setting a budget is the first hint. Make sure you sit down with your Fiancé (and parents if they are planning to help you pay for the wedding) and draw up a budget. Think about all the things that you most want to include in your wedding and then work out exactly how much money you can afford to spend. Once you have an itemized budget it becomes easier to plan and shop.

The Wedding Dress - Wedding Dresses don't change terribly much throughout the seasons. As such it is worth exploring the possibility of purchasing one of last seasons wedding dresses. Many bridal shops have discounted racks or discontinued lines. This can be a blessing in disguise as you can end up with something fairly original whilst at the same time not spending a fortune. Alternatively, if you know someone that is a talented sewer, you could ask him or her to make your dress for you. It is much cheaper to find a design that you like and then get someone to make it for you than it is to purchase direct from a designer. If you are really trying to cut back on your expenses, you could always hire your dress.

Invitations - It is not necessary to have your invitations printed. With the invention of the laser printer it is easy to create beautiful invitations by printing, designing and assembling them yourself. With colored card, rice paper and ribbon you can create individual invitations that don't cost the earth.

Reception Ideas - A growing alternative to the traditional is to not have a sit down three-course meal for your reception. Consider the benefits of having a cocktail reception, or buffet. Many reception halls will be able to inform you of the savings of these options. Or alternatively you can have a morning or afternoon tea. People are more interested in spending time with you rather than having a large meal.

The Cake - Consider using the cake as your dessert. Also ask your cake maker if you can have a kitchen cake. It is much cheaper to have a smaller wedding cake and then another cake in the kitchen that can then be cut up as part of the dessert or given to the guests as they leave. Your guests wont know the difference but your bank manager will.

Photography - Professional Photographers can be expensive. Therefore it is important to shop around. You will find an amazing difference in price between photographers. If you cannot afford a professional, consider using a friend or relative (friends of friends are usually more than happy to help out.) Photographers will charge you extra for attending your reception and you will have to pay for their meal. To avoid this you can put disposable cameras on the tables to make sure that you get photos of the reception. You can also request that the photographer take photos of a 'mock cutting of the cake' and 'bridal waltz' before they leave.

Another tip to ensure that you get what you want from your photographer is to give them a sample of photos that you like, style, settings, lighting etc. These can be gathered from wedding magazines and the like. This way, both you and your photographer are clear on what you want.

Bonbonniere - This can be expensive. Purchasing chocolates and/or gifts for your guests can quickly add up. Therefore you may want to consider making your gifts. You can buy a mould and make chocolates for your guests. Or consider combining your table decorations with your gifts. You can place red roses or another sort of flower in the center of the table and little cards that say 'Thank you for sharing our day, please take a flower as you leave.' The possibilities are endless.
The important thing to remember is that you can have a beautiful wedding without the stress of breaking your budget. The trick is to be creative and imaginative.