Weddings mean a large financial outlay so it is important to set budgets for each area and stick to it to ensure you don’t overspend in the long run, set and stick to the budget wherever possible and if there are areas of overspend in one area then you should compensate in other areas.

A typical wedding can cost anything from £10,000 to £20,000, you should think about spending half on the day festivities and half on the reception.

Receptions are where the couple cut their cake, take their first dance and generally celebrate their nuptials. The venue, food, drinks, music, flowers and photography are all just facets of the reception. So sit down with your list and get ready to score all the things that you definitely want to have at your wedding and then pay attention to these rules to cut the cost.

Stretch your wedding budget 
Choose a weeknight to marry your favourite wedding chapel, church or even destination as week day celebrations are much cheaper than weekends, you can even sometimes get late deals for even bigger savings. 

Who pays what? 
Traditionally Bride and family pay for church, organist, etc.; dress, veil, accessories and bridal lingerie; church and recetion arrangements, plus bouquets and corsages for bridesmaids and flower girls; all wedding photos and videos; bridesmaids luncheon; shower; all professional services, including food, drink, music and decorations; the groom ring; announcements, invitations and wedding programs, transportation to and from wedding ceremony and reception.

Groom and remuneration of the family for the marriage license and the remuneration of officiating; The holding of the groom; and farewell bouquet the bride corsage, boutonnieres for men, and corsages for mothers and grandmothers, the complete honeymoon; the rehearsal dinner; the single dinner; and the two rings of the bride.

That said, no one really goes by those guidelines any more, many couples pay for some or all of the wedding themselves and ask their families to help out where they can.

Budgeting
If you are like most people, what you want and what you can afford are two separate things. Get together with your fiance and prioritize. Determine what the most important elements of your wedding are and put your money there.

You will be amazed at how your ideas are different from your groom-to-be. Get ready for your first lesson of marital bliss. . . compromise!

No matter how much you "do-it-yourself", you'll probably still need to minimize in some areas. Be prepared for this reality.

Do not go overboard 
This is not a good idea to go over your budget or go into debt to pay for your wedding. Beginning of a married life together is a difficult transition as it is, and having a debt because of your wedding only adds to financial problems.

Saving money on alcohol 
You want to have something stronger than soda at your wedding but watch your pennies? Many people are choosing Pimms for receptions drinks instead of champagne and a rising number of couples are choosing Presecco for toasting. You don’t always have to pay the reception venue their extortionate prices for drinks but if you bring your own be prepared for potential corkage fees.

Think green
To save money on your flowers, try using more greenery that flourishes in your church arrangements or wreaths on arches, trellises, etc. Ferns and vines are both inexpensive and easy to obtain, sometimes for free!

Barter
In general, the price initially quoted for wedding services will be high. Keep this in mind and do not be afraid to Dicker. Tell them up front that you do not intend to spend much and you'll be surprised accommodation they can do rather than lose a sale.

First First 
Before beginning any planning whatsoever, make sure you know your exact budget. It's not fun to do large projects and having to cancel because you cannot afford it --- go into your planning with a specific amount in mind can save you a lot of grief.

Cheap months to marry 
From November to March are not big months of marriage --- you'll spend less money if you get married during the off-season.

The dress and More 
When you plan the budget for your wedding dress, make sure you also include the following: shoes, handbags, jewelry, lingerie, gloves, helmet / sailing, and modifications. If you only have £500 to spend on everything, you do not want to spend £450 on the dress and have nothing left for the rest of your outfit.

All Together Now 
If you can, buy your wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses in the same store ---- often there is a reduction, sometimes it will also include shoes and jewelry from the same store.

Suppliers and budgets 
To hold tight to your budget, before meeting a supplier, have a rough idea of their price range and do not meet the seller if you know they are out of your price range. When you do meet with the seller, tell them your budget up front so they can help you choose options that will stay in your budget.

Quickie Cost Cutters: Client List 
Looking for places to cut costs? A good place to start is the guest list --- you may need to face the reality of having a so-so marriage with everybody and his brother invited or the wedding you really want fewer clients. Close friends and family are usually shoo-ins, but do you really need to invite all the brothers of the fraternity of your university Dad? Unless your parents foot the entire bill, try to keep customers in the "must have" category.