Dollars & Sense

1. Host a bridal-party spa day at a cosmetology institute. Cut costs dramatically by having facials, manicures, and pedicures done at a cosmetology school. There is almost always an instructor who signs off on the work done by the students, so you don't have to fear botched highlights. Make sure to reserve at least a month in advance.

2. Do your own invitation assembly. "I often do the design of invitations and the stationery set and have them professionally printed, and then the brides put them together," says Julie Dixon, owner of DB Card Studio in Lakeville. "You can still get a custom invitation but save hundreds of dollars if you do the labor."

3. Create personalized CDs as wedding favors. Put your tech-savvy to good use by creating customized CDs for your guests that feature your favorite songs and a CD label with your photo.

4. Buy in bulk. Save on candles, centerpiece items, napkins, and even paper for your invitations (if you're a do-it-yourselfer) by buying in mass quantities.

5. Select a simple bouquet. "Choosing fewer varieties of flowers saves money because I don't have to order as many bunches. It's easier to purchase, and it helps me pass the savings on to the bride. The simplest look can be the most beautiful," says Paula Flom, owner of Laurel Street Flowers in St. Paul.

6. Minimize flowers/decorations at the church or ceremony site. On your wedding day, guests spend the least amount of time at the ceremony, so nix the elaborate, expensive floral arrangements and décor at your ceremony site and use the money you save elsewhere.

7. Curb your drinking. If you and your fiancé aren't big drinkers or if you don't think alcohol is important to your guests, consider nixing the bar or only opening the bar during cocktail hour. You can still serve an inexpensive wine with dinner for significant savings.

8. Plan ahead. As you delve deeper into the planning process, it's easy to get distracted by every shiny object you see in a bridal magazine. Make a list of what is the most important to you and refer to it often to avoid dropping hundreds of dollars on something you really didn't want or need.

9. Buy bridesmaid gowns during the holiday season. If you go to a department store and shop in the evening-gown section around the holidays, you'll likely find a dazzling array of dresses that are stocked for the season. You may just save a few dollars buying a regular cocktail gown than something that's marked up because it has the wedding label attached to it.

10. Cut down on catering costs. Go for three courses at your dinner instead of five. Additionally, choose vegetables that are in season and entrees from the region. (That is, you're going to pay quite a bit more for fresh seafood at a Minnesota reception.)

11. Recruit, recruit, recruit! Does your brother-in-law have a vintage Mustang in which you and your new husband can ride? Does a co-worker make wedding cakes on the side and is she willing to give you a discount? Could you use your grandparents' wedding-cake topper? By simply networking and asking around, you'll be amazed to find out the ways people are willing to help you achieve your dream wedding. Plus, the sentimentality involved is something money can't buy.

12. Save on postage. At first glance, buying stamps for invitations doesn't seem to be a big budget-breaker. But consider this: A heavy or oversized invitation will cost 58 cents. Add 41 cents for the reply and another 41 cents for the thank-you card, and you're spending $1.40 per invitation. At 200 invitations, that's $280. Instead, keep your invitations small enough for one stamp, and turn the reply into a postcard, which will cost you 26 cents apiece.

13. Have fewer attendants. A smaller bridal party means saving on the gowns and tuxedo rentals (assuming you're picking up those costs), the thank-you gifts you purchase for them for being in your wedding, and the rehearsal dinner.

14. Get married on the city's outskirts. If you choose a small town near the Twin Cities to hold your wedding, chances are you can find flowers, venues, and caterers at reduced rates without sacrificing proximity to the metro area.

15. Dress the groom for free. There is such a thing as a free tux. Simply shop around to different tuxedo-rental studios and inquire if the groom's tux is free with the groomsmen's rentals.

16. Ask about hidden photography costs. "Make sure that the particular vendor is really offering everything the bride and groom are wanting without any hidden costs," says Lisa Jaster, studio manager at the Photographer's Guild in St. Paul. "Ask if there are other miscellaneous charges. For instance, our packages include time, proofs, and albums. Some will include time but anything over that is extra, and proofs might not be included."

17. Pick Friday for your wedding. "There are twenty-six Saturdays from the end of April through October when brides of Minnesota love to get married. Subsequently, those are the most expensive days to get married," says Dan Thompson, owner of Midwest Sound and Light Shows in St. Paul. "There are twenty-six more Saturdays during the year and lots of Fridays. You get the exact same service for a steep discount."

18. Trim the guest list. One of the biggest stresses in wedding planning is creating a guest list. Many brides feel obligated to invite everyone they've known since elementary school. Try to narrow down your list. Ask yourself if you can realistically spend any time with all 350 people on your list anyway.

19. Save on floral expenses by planning your wedding far from a major holiday. Easter, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, and Christmas are popular holidays to buy flowers. Because the demand is higher, so too is the price.

20. Ask your caterer for children's plates. You may be surprised to find out that some caterers will charge less for your young guests because they won't eat as much as the adults. Also, some caterers will have a special kid's menu separate from the adults' offerings. When shopping around for a caterer, be sure to ask for these potential cost-saving options.

21. Ask your vendors what additional savings or free upgrades they can provide. You may not come away with hundreds in savings, but it never hurts to ask.