Don't worry if you cannot have your dream wedding due to a small wedding budget. Here are a few wedding budget tips that may help you stay within budget yet still have a beautiful wedding.

Do it yourself:
If you can’t afford the luxury of a professional wedding recruit friends and family to help with certain tasks. One of your friends may not be able to afford a gift for you, appointing them as a wedding coordinator could be there gift to you. Bridesmaids, the maid of honour and mothers can all help with creating table centre pieces, contacting vendors, making appointments and decorating. If someone in the family is a great baker ask them to bake the wedding cake or cook hors-d’oeuvres for the wedding reception.

Guest lists:
Weddings are a joyous time yet many couples find themselves stressing over whom to invite and whom not to upset. For every person that gets invited to the wedding the cost of the invitations and food rises. Create a master guest list and weed it down from there. Not inviting children, neighbours, past and present co-workers and employers are some ways to weed down the guest list to a reasonable and affordable number.

Invitations:
Keep invitations simple. The more detail that is on the invitation, the higher the price will be. Consider printing invitations using a home printer or purchasing them through a stationary store, party store or an online retailer. Instead of including a reply card, have guests reply online or  via phone.

Avoid holidays and popular months:
Many wedding vendors, hotels, churches and reception locations offer ‘off season’ discount rates. By having a wedding during the slow months couples will be able to make reservations for the day they wish to have.

Wedding attire:
Consider purchasing a used wedding gown or renting a gown and bridesmaid's dresses. Try department stores that sell discounted designer dresses and gowns or take advantage of sample sales.

Food:
Depending on your guest list, catering a wedding can be a very expensive ordeal. Consider having a buffet or hors d'oeuvres instead of a sit-down dinner and possibly a cash bar or at least close the bar during dinner. Many couples save money by having a limited selection of wines and beers which can be brought at bulk rates months before the event. Depending on where the reception is held, having guests pay for top shelf liquor and spirits instead of having an open bar policy will save you money.

Wedding cakes:
This is one wedding budget tip that is often overlooked. Everyone wants the wedding cake of their dreams, but wedding cakes can be very expensive. To cut back on costs order one small wedding cake decorated in full detail and then have flat sheet cakes made in the same flavour as the wedding cake to feed the guests.

Flowers & Decorations:
Flowers are one expense that can add up quickly. Choose flowers that are in season and consider using more greens than flowers wherever possible. Wedding decorations can also be expensive. One option is to get married around a holiday such as Christmas, many churches and reception venues are already decorated for the holiday, this will greatly reduce the amount of decorations that need to be purchased.

Wedding bands:
Keep the wedding bands simple and consider alternative metals. You can always add stones on anniversaries!  Many couples also choose to use the same jeweller as they did for their engagement rings. By doing this the jeweller may offer discounts or at least be more open to offering discounts for repeat business.

Honeymoons:
Honeymoons are a wonderful way for a couple to celebrate their wedding and new life as a married couple. If you are planning on a Honeymoon make reservations months in advance and if possible during off peak times. One way to save money is to have your Honeymoon at the same location you get married. This option allows you the possibility of bulk deals on flights and discounted hotel rates. Choosing to get married and celebrate your Honeymoon in one location means everyone gets a holiday and you don’t have to leave for another destination.