A wedding can easily be the most expensive event of your life; but it does not have to be.

Weddings are as individual as the couples getting married, however, they all have many of the same elements in common.

To throw a successful wedding you will need: a place for the ceremony and reception; food, drink, decorations, and music; someone to conduct the ceremony; and, of course, guests. Additionally, you will need clothes, flowers, a photographer, the cake and invitations.

Ten tips to save money on wedding planning include the following.

 1    Make a Guest List and Stick to It

All wedding preparations, except the person conducting the ceremony, depend on this guest list; the smaller the list, the less money involved.

The basic list includes immediate family of the bride and groom; each of their best friends; then extended family and friends; and last, but not least, co-workers. Distant relatives or business associates should be limited.

 2    Use a Budget

As an engagement ring should cost around two months in salary, a decent wedding can be presented for as little as $50 per person. This includes the costs of everything, not just the food. Keep this figure in mind to keep the costs down.

Not having a budget will mean there is an open checkbook and, thus, costs are left unchecked.

 3    Plan Your Wedding during the Off-Season

Lower costs can be realized in the off-season, and the off-days. Spring weddings on Saturdays are the most expensive.

Don’t forget outdoor weddings are dependant on the weather, so August may be hot and March may be rainy.

 4    Location is Very Important

The best locations are the ones that can do double-duty: a church with a reception area in the basement or recreation area; a temple with a gathering hall; or a home with room in the yard for the ceremony and enough space inside for the celebration.

When considering location, remember seating areas, dancing areas, bathrooms and dressing rooms, and handicap accessibility. There is also the possibility of getting extra chairs and tables from funeral homes and senior centers to help with seating.

In addition to hosting the ceremony, it is a wise idea to use the clergy of that religious facility as they know the building and are at ease in it.

If you are looking for a non-religious-based ceremony, then make sure the location, whether it is a private residence or a community building, is available and follow up a few days before the event to ensure nothing has changed.

 5    Be Cost Conscious When You Eat, Drink, and be Merry

Using a caterer should be based on your budget, the guest list, and what additional services they offer. Set up, clean up, and the providing of dinnerware should be figured into the cost comparisons between buying the food from vendors or buying from the grocery store deli departments.

This is also an excellent place to find wedding cakes, which are normally lower in cost here than at specialty bakeries.

 6    Music is a Staple for Weddings; Shop Around for the Best Deal

The music at a wedding should be based on the tastes of the couple. There are a variety of ways to provide the music, from having a high school quartet to hiring a friend to act as the “DJ” (disc jockey), to renting a band for the event.

 7    Avoid the Ugly Bridesmaid’s Dresses Scenario and Look into Renting Apparel

We have all heard horror stories about the ugly bridesmaid’s dresses that left no choice to the individual bridesmaids. The easiest way to save money in this area is to pick the colors and the basic style and let the bridesmaids buy the ones they like. This translates into ones they will wear again for other events.

As to the bride’s dress; renting is always cheaper than buying unless you find something you really like at the “low budget” bridal shops. Ebay may also provide options for purchasing a lower-cost or vintage dress; it all depends on the bride’s individual taste.

Men have it a bit easier in that they can get a discount if the whole party rents from one store, and the tuxedoes or suits can be matching.

 8    Do-it-Yourself Decorations and Invitations

Decorations and invitations can be purchased for next-to-nothing at party supply stores. If you feel you need personalized invites, use your computer with a template from a word processing program or a template available online. Even the smallest of printers can now produce excellent four-color invitations and personalized envelopes.

 9    Flowers are a Must; Comparison Shopping Can Help

What flowers are selected and where they are bought is up to the couple. Following the color scheme of the decorations, flowers can also be bought at the grocery store and arranged there as well. Florists do have some wedding specials that can be used for comparison.

       10    Choosing a Good Photographer without Breaking the Bank

Do not choose a photographer by price alone. Getting references from friends or family members is the first step; seeing the photographer’s past work is the second.

If you get a great deal on a photographer, it does not mean much if you don’t like their work or if they are rushed because they have more than one wedding to do that day. Book them early and be very clear that you do want the negatives or the digital copies.

Additional Resources

For more tips to save money on wedding planning, visit these Web sites:

Frugal Bride at http://www.frugalbride.com/frugalhintstips.html

Savvy Sugar at http://www.savvysugar.com/1523553

MoneyInstructor.com at http://www.moneyinstructor.com/art/weddingtips.asp