You will need to create a priority list and agree on the items that have top billing. It may be the wedding attire or the flowers or the reception or the photography. Whatever your choices, make them together so there are few surprises later.

Having done this step, you will know how to budget and plan. Make a list of priorities from 1-20 with one being the most important. Begin by working with the top five, the ones you are least likely to compromise. If you go over budget on any of those, you can then “borrow” from other categories to keep your budget in balance. For example, if the location of your reception is the top priority, start there by calling the sites you prefer and book the one that matters most. You can then scale back on formal photographs or maybe choose to rent greens for decorations rather than invest in expensive floral arrangements.

You may decide that the food you wish to serve is more important than the beverages offered. Having made that decision you can then discard the idea of an open bar and have champagne poured and served by circulating waiters. That way you offer guests a lovely beverage but control the amount to be served.

If you are lucky enough to receive a cash contribution to your wedding from parents, invest it in a 3 month CD, so you can earn some interest on it before you need to pay vendors.

If possible, consider paring down the guest list. More and more couples are choosing a smaller and more intimate wedding as being more meaningful than a gathering of 300 of their “nearest and dearest”. Order all of your wedding stationery at one time, adding to the number you think you will need. Reordering for a few extras is very expensive. Pick one color ink and use it throughout.

Use seasonal blossoms – they will lower your florist bill. Add foliage to centerpieces and church arrangements to cut back onthe number of flowers needed.