Ask any bride-to-be to name the biggest difficulty of wedding planning, and one answer will come up more than any other: planning a wedding on a budget.

There’s no denying the fact that weddings are costly – the average cost of a wedding in the US is $26,645. Anyone who has been through the task of planning a wedding knows that expenses can all too easily pile up. Even when you’re trying to be conservative with spending, the next thing you know you’re desperately trying to reel in your bloated budget. So what is the best way to ensure you stick to your wedding budget – whether it’s $2000 or $20,000?

We asked top wedding planners, budgeting experts, and brides to share their best wedding ideas on a budget so you can shed hundreds – if not thousands – off your total expenses.

Simply use the table of contents below to go directly to the category you would like to save money in, or browse all 60+ of our tips to learn how to throw the most magnificent wedding (which doesn’t blow your budget!).

1. Create a budget early

I advise couples to find what parts of the wedding they individually care about and divide duties that way. They need to sit down and get through a budget, listing what parts are most important first and then go through all of the budget items. Be sure to include all of the little things as they add up e.g. jewelry, flights, hotel rooms, wedding party gifts, etc. Then try to stick to that budget as much as possible as it helps to take some emotion out of the planning. Instead of saying you can’t afford something, you can say we have budgeted for this amount for X item.

2. Monitor your budget

It’s also crucial to ensure you’re sticking to your savings goals so you can actually afford what you’ve set as your budget. A good way to do this is to monitor your progress regularly and recalculate your overall budget based on what you’re putting away each month. For example, if your goal is $1,000 a month, but you’re actually setting aside $500, you’ll have $6,000 after a year instead of $12,000. This will give you the chance to improve your savings efforts or recalculate your budget based on your amended total.

3. Shop outside bridal stores and websites

One thing that helped my husband and I save money was to avoid shopping for “wedding” specific products. We found that whenever the word “wedding”, “bridal”, or “honeymoon” was associated with an item, it cost more than similar non-wedding items. Other than my wedding dress and veil, we purchased our shoes, clothing, flowers, jewelry, and decorations outside of bridal stores or online wedding sites. We often found identical items for 25% to 50% of the price of items listed for weddings.

4. Remember what’s important

Keep to the details that represent the bride and groom, their family, heritage, traditions and budget. It is easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you need to have a million favors and tiny details. Those little things add up and are not what your guests remember. They remember the environment that was created and the time with friends. If you go way beyond your budget and it does not reflect who the bride and groom are, the guests will know it and feel it.

5. Research thoroughly

Do some research and compare whether a venue’s ‘wedding package’ will actually save you money. For example, many venues hire a florist to create the centerpieces and then mark up the price when offering them to you. It might be well worthwhile to hire your own florist. In addition, some deals sound too good to be true, and most of the time you end up spending more money in the long run. Save money, but be a wise and smart shopper in making decisions for your wedding needs.

6. Keep an eye out for bargains

Hold off on buying any non time-sensitive purchases, so you have the best chance to buy at a discounted price. Purchases which can be bought year-round, like thank you presents to your bridal party and reception decorations, often boast big discounts during sale periods.

7. Approach friends, family, co-workers, and their contacts

Do you have an artsy friend you could get crafty with to design your own wedding invites? Do you know anyone who owns property that you might be able to use as a potential venue? Perhaps you know a handy sewer willing to make your veil and save you hundreds buying one. Start asking around early – your inner circle might be able to connect you to others who’re able to hook you up with discounts and deals to help you save a buck on anything and everything wedding related.

8. Dig Google results deeper

We often don’t look beyond the first page of Google search results and the most popular wedding blogs. We get a false impression that the best are already there, but not all good professionals master SEO and PR. In the second or even third page of results, you can find many great companies, designers, how-to guides, and venues that will steal your heart and save you money.

9. Let a loved one do the honors

Ask a loved one to officiate. Your family & friends know you best, and the honor of pronouncing you married will surely be an honor. The fees associated with becoming ordained are often much less expensive than hiring a professional service. Just make sure you check the marriage laws of the state in which you will be saying “I do” to ensure that your vows are legally binding.

10. DIY where you can

Find wedding DIY inspo from Pinterest and handicraft blogs. There are countless DIY wedding ideas which are both simple and inexpensive. What’s more, adding some homemade, but professional-looking creations to your wedding adds a more personal touch. You may surprise yourself what you come up with!

11. Use your credit card wisely

Many credit cards allow you to accumulate points each time you make a purchase. Once you collect enough points, they can be traded in for items, and even holidays. While it may not be an immediate saving, if you charge wedding-related items and services to your card, along with your normal daily expenses, you may be able to see the rewards of your savviness in the not too distant future.

12. Work out the cost per person

Figure out what the per person cost is. This will help you work out what is more important – more guests and less things, or less guests and more things. Couples have to break down each part of their wedding and start to construct it piece by piece. That is the only way to keep everyone on the right track and to help find common ground.

13. Consider hiring a wedding planner

Hire a wedding planner! Although there is a cost to hiring a professional wedding planner, they often have preferred vendor discounts from cake bakers, rental companies, and florists (and many other vendors). You’ll save some money elsewhere and save yourself the headache of coordinating all the details on your own.

14. Extend your engagement

A longer engagement equals more time to save. If you give yourself longer to plan the wedding, not only will you save yourself stress, you will also be able to take advantage of many discounts that are only offered at certain times. Extra time allows you to conduct more research on the best deals and make payments for your wedding in smaller increments.

15. Have a weekday wedding

Many vendors, are willing to offer brides a discount if their wedding is on a weekday. Not only are you making it easier on them, you’re also offering them the ability to make some money on a day they normally wouldn’t be executing an event. The same goes for off-season dates. If your wedding date is during a less-desireable time, such as January, you might be able to score a discount as that is considered an off-season date.

16. Have an off-peak season wedding

Avoiding peak wedding season also means avoiding a lot of the cost. Choosing a November or March wedding can save you big time. In most places, the weather will still be nice but you will be able to secure discounted rates on everything from the venue to the flowers. Also, consider having your wedding on an off day of the week, such as a Sunday afternoon. The rates versus a Saturday night are drastically different.

17. Rent your dresses

Nine out of ten bridesmaids never wear their dresses again so to be able to rent versus buy dresses is a huge money saver. Vow To Be Chic is the first and only designer bridesmaid rental service. We also offers brides a collection of ‘little white dresses’ to rent.These dresses are perfect for all pre-wedding festivities (engagement parties, rehearsal dinners and bridal showers) and help cut costs since these dresses will likely only be worn for their specific occasion.

18. Buy budget and DIY

I bought a very simple $150 dress from David’s Bridal because we had a $50 off coupon from a bridal show. My mom added a rhinestone headband from Claire’s to the bodice to give it some bling and I got alterations done at a local place which also saved me money.

19. Go second-hand

If you recently tried on a new gown that you fell in love with, check out used bridal gown classifieds to see if someone is selling that same style at your size, or bigger at second-hand dress sites. Keep in mind, an experienced seamstress can usually tailor those dresses as long as it’s within a few sizes. This will save you anywhere from 30 to 50% off regular retail price!

20. Hold your events in the same venue

Consider having events in addition to your wedding at the venue. Many wedding venues will offer lower rates for rooms used for a rehearsal dinner or bridal shower if you are using them for your big day. There are even deals that include these events when you book your wedding. You’ll get to show off your beautiful venue while saving money!