Are you caught up in the all-consuming stress of wedding planning?

Of course, you are!

It’s an important day, and you want it to be perfect.

But that doesn’t mean you should empty your savings account. After all, going broke is no way to celebrate new beginnings.

We’ve collected our top ten suggestions for couples looking to save money but still put on an unforgettable celebration.

No time to waste—let’s dive right in!

Most of us want to look more beautiful than ever on our wedding day.

This often leads to hiring professionals to help the bride get ready. And that’s going to cost hundreds of dollars!

Here’s what you may not know: It’s extremely common for brides to end up unsatisfied with how their professionally-done look turns out on the big day.

The last thing you want is to not feel like yourself.

There’s no reason you (or a talented friend or family member) can’t be the head of your bridal beauty squad!

As long as you leave plenty of time before the ceremony and enough time to practice in the months before the wedding, your look will turn out just how you imagined it!

Plus, you can schedule as many practice sessions as you’d like—without having to pay for each one.

A quick google search will show you countless examples of brides looking flawless in pre-owned wedding gowns that've been tailored to fit like a glove.

First, ask about the wedding dresses that are already in the family.

When you discover your mother’s, aunt’s, or grandmother’s wedding gowns, you just might fall in love!

With a few alterations (and updates, if necessary), it will look like it was made for you.

What a special way to use a family heirloom that would otherwise never see the light of day!

If you don’t strike gold in your grandmother’s closet, you can still save big on your wedding attire.

Websites like tradesy.com and preownedweddingdresses.com are great places to start looking for barely used or new bridal dresses at a discount. None of your guests will know the difference!

When it comes to picking out invitations, don’t get too frilly. After all, they’ll just get thrown away!

Choose something simple and classic.

If you want to add a more personal touch, just print out a small photo of the two of you to add to the envelope.

Another way to cut costs is to have your guests RSVP via email. Not only is this easier to keep track of, but it also eliminates the need to pay for more stamps and stationary.

This is a tough one for some people. But it can be your #1 money-saver.

Some couples have a huge group of close friends and family, and having everyone there is what’s most important to them.

If that’s you, you might choose a very casual reception over a smaller guest list.

But if you’d rather save money by having a smaller wedding, make this a priority!

Don’t feel obligated to invite distant relatives or close friends of your parents that you haven’t spoken to within years.

At the end of the day, most people completely understand that large weddings aren’t for everyone.

Whether you’re trimming the guestlist for financial reasons or because you prefer a more intimate celebration, there’s no reason to feel guilty for making those cuts!

Can’t stop staring at photos of dreamy bridal bouquets?

Professional florists do a beautiful job putting together arrangements, corsages, boutonnieres, centerpiece arrangements, and more.

Unsurprisingly, they charge top dollar for their craft!  

Your bundle of blooms alone could easily cost you around $150. And for each piece of flowery decor you add, that number gets higher and higher until it reaches the thousands.

If you’re dedicated to cutting costs but still want an elegant celebration, you’ll do this part yourself.

Make an order from a wholesale florist and get together with the girls. Putting bouquets together is a super fun group activity!

There’s plenty of material online about how to properly wrap and secure bouquets and boutonnieres.

You could go even more low-key by using grocery store flowers or flowers from a friend’s garden.

Just make sure you (or whoever’s in charge) have plenty of space in the fridge to keep them fresh until the ceremony!

If you can’t afford a fancy venue, don’t even stress about it.

You’d be shocked to see how much the smallest details can transform a simple room. Focus on what you can do with space!

Use candles and string lights to create mood lighting in your reception space. Scatter a few flower petals on each table and string up polaroid photos of the two of you.

Choosing the perfect music to set the mood also goes a long way! (More on that in a bit.)

If your ceremony and reception are in separate venues, try to use the same decor for both locations. Just arrange for everything to be transferred immediately after the ceremony ends!

It’s no wonder why most couples are willing to spend when it comes to photography. Your wedding photos last forever!

That said, a budget is a budget.

If you don’t want to compromise on photo quality, consider booking the photographer at their hourly rate.

That way, you can choose to have professional photos of only the parts of the wedding that matter most to you.

For all other moments, encourage your guests to take lots of pictures and share them on social media!

You can make this even more enticing by coming up with the perfect punny wedding hashtag.

Gone are the days when a bonafide DJ is on the list of wedding must-haves.

Thanks to accessible technology and unlimited music streaming services, it’s not hard to provide this service yourself.

Rent or borrow quality speakers, and compile a killer playlist on a premium streaming service.

The next step is to hire a friend to be in charge of supervising the music for the event for a fraction of the cost of hiring a DJ.

Pro tip: make several playlists so there’s one for each phase of the event: ceremony, reception, dancing, and any other moment that calls for a specific set of songs.

This way, you have complete control over what music plays, and when. You can even add to the fun by letting your guests make song requests!

If your income level grows in the years to come, there will be plenty of excuses to buy a pricey ring or two for relationship milestones like anniversaries.

But for the time being, there’s no need to break your budget for an overpriced ring when you can get something just as beautiful for far less.

The very best weddings have these three things in common: a festive atmosphere, plenty of food, and a radiantly happy couple.

Don’t fall for the idea that you have to spend tens of thousands to pull this off!

It’s all about deciding what matters most to you. Then you’ll know where to spend, and where to save.

Remember that you don’t owe your guests a luxury experience or a gourmet meal. Your only job is to show them love and hospitality—and to get yourself married!