I have had several friends get married over the past couple of years and each one of them has stressed out about the cost. It seems like everything costs more than what you’d expect.Here are a few cost cutting tips I have picked up from my budget conscious friends.

Give yourself plenty of time

The best way to save money is to give yourself plenty of time to plan. I know this isn’t always possible, but if you can give yourself a year to plan you will have time to do research and find creative cost cutting alternatives to typical wedding day fare. You can craft your own programs, invitations, favors, etc.

Be a ‘hands on’ bride

Do most of the planning yourself and hire a ‘day of’ coordinator or, better yet, delegate ‘day of’ responsibilities to a trusted friend. Most of your friends will be willing and honored to help in any way they can.

When to get hitched

Check out the off season. Getting married between November and April is usually less expensive than getting married between May and October. You just need to consider the weather for your area.Check out off days. Fridays and Sundays are typically less expensive than Saturdays. One of the best weddings I went to this past year was a Sunday brunch. It was very affordable and all the guests seemed to have a great time.

Just say no to flowers

Find alternatives to flowers. I was in a wedding in December where the bridesmaids held bundles of Czech crystals instead of your typical bouquets. The centerpieces consisted of silver snow globes and candles. It was very winter wonderland and very memorable. In another wedding, the bride used origami and paper lanterns as decoration throughout the venue.

Be your own DJ

Use your iPod instead of a DJ. I have had two friends do this recently and it was a hit. They created playlists that represented their taste and the songs that meant the most to them. They had complete control over all songs that were played. One of the best things about this is that the guests didn’t have to endure the Chicken Dance or YMCA.

The dress

Take a look at sample sales for you dress or even check out online stores such as Nordstrom, Ann Taylor and J Crew. These retailers offer simple wedding dresses at more affordable prices.

Stationery that won’t break the bank

Search the internet for stationery. There are tons of wedding invitation websites available where you can find affordable save-the-date cards, invitations and thank you cards. My favorite websites are www.weddingpaperdivas.com and www.paper-source.com.

Limit the alcohol

Instead of having an open bar provide signature cocktails such as mojitos or cosmopolitans. Limit the amount of wine by selecting a couple of reds and whites to serve. You may also want to forgo the champagne toast and let everyone toast with whatever they have on hand.

Who really needs favors?

Most people don’t care about favors, so you can either omit them all together or make a donation to your favorite charity on behalf of your guests. If you feel like you must give your guest a token of appreciation go with something edible or check out www.weddingfavorites.com for some low cost options.

Remember this day is not about how much you spend or making other people happy. It is about you and your commitment. Take the time to be creative and find ways to make it personal and affordable.