Tips on planning a wedding and budget cutting tips?

I don’t see the point in having a wedding planner if you’re an organized person. I’m into spreadsheets so I very easily planned a wedding for 100 guests in only 8 mos. Use weddingwire.com and find lots of vendors and then you can get quotes from lots to get the best prices. I also used dollartree.com and etsy.com.
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im not planning anymore, but when i was i had a friend who had just got married help me. if you arent to worried about have PERFECT pics…get someone you know to take pics for you. pictures are one of the most expensive things in the wedding.
also for flowers…dont flood the church or wherever or even the reception hall with a bunch. just do like 2 -3 bigger ones in the church and then have them taken to the reception hall…that helps a lot as well! try looking into florests. you can probably fine interesting flowers that are gorgeous that dont cost a fortune like roses.
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I did all of my own planning, mainly because I am a control freak. In hindsight, it would have been AWESOME to have someone to do the legwork for me though! However, it was not hard. Planning a wedding is not difficult unless you make it that way. Websites like The Knot and Weddng Wire are great resources for getting started! Look for a checklist, establish your budget and make your own schedule of what YOU want done and when.

As for budget, a smaller guest list, local venue and DIY projects are ways to cut expenses. Off Beat Bride (www.offbeatbride.com) has a lot of DIY advice and ideas.

Good luck!
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A budget is part of a plan based on how much you can afford to spend. You will need to be a good comparison shopper so you can get the best stuff at the best price but the budget is not negotiable. You have this much to spend so you figure out how to get what you want without going over it. It is called self control and creativity.
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I don’t think normal people really have wedding planners. Everyone I know (including myself) has done all the planning on their own.

The best budgeting advice I can give you would be, for the most part, to stay away from magazines, websites, chat-rooms, message boards and anything else that’s going to tell you that you HAVE to have something. If you decide you have your heart set on a cocktail hour with fancy passed appetizers and then suddenly realize you don’t have the budget for it, the next thought in your head is going to be "but it’s my wedding and it’s only this once. Maybe I can just get a loan or something." The same thing can be said for a photo booth, crystals hanging from flower arrangements, chair covers, a DJ – the list goes on and on. If you want to stay on budget remember that there’s nothing you HAVE to have. It doesn’t work that way.

Adjust your expectations. I’m not saying that you need to adjust them to the point where you hate everything you end up with, but something is going to have to give. If you want the fancy photographer, you aren’t going to get your surf and turf dinner. If you want the crystal flower arrangements, you may not get a DJ and just have to rent speakers and ask a friend to DJ your iTunes. It’s a constant give and take process. The second anyone tries to get to justify spending more money because "it’s your day and it only happens once" just walk away because, at that moment, they do not have your best interests at heart. I don’t care if it’s your mother, that statement should be an immediate red flag.

The fact that my wedding absolutely took over my life was shocking and infuriating. But that’s just sort of the way it goes. No matter how much you hate it and fight it at some point it’s going to become the thing you spend the majority of your time thinking about. It’s completely annoying but it’s the nature of the beast. Ask for help when you need it. Don’t get sucked into the wedding-industrial complex of fake ‘perfection’. It’s never ever ever ever going to be perfect. Ever. Expect things to go wrong and roll with the punches.
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Don’t pay a wedding planner; that’s my first tip.

My husband and I were married at a relative’s home, which saved money. We served a buffet meal and offered only wine and beer for drinks — no hard liquor. We put small, modest, tasteful floral arrangements on the tables, where our guests found their own seats — no placecards required. And no one needs favors; they are superfluous. You also don’t need napkins with your names on them or anything similar.

We hired a string trio from the local music school to do the wedding music; they were very inexpensive.

I bought my dress at a boutique, where it cost far less than it would have if I’d found it at a bridal salon, though it looked like a wedding dress. Go to something like J Crew’s wedding collection and look at the less expensive dresses.

And you don’t need to take an expensive island or European honeymoon. Use the money for something substantive that will last.
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I’m planning everything myself. (First unnecessary expense cut. Saves a couple hundreds.)

Figure out your levels of importance. Ex: How important are the flowers to you? Photos? etc.

Some ways to cut costs:

1. Is a big fancy cake that important?
Perhaps you could have a sheet cake for the guests and a small tiered cake for the cutting ceremony OR cupcakes instead.

2. Is riding in the limo that important?
Perhaps you could just have a family member or friend drive you to the wedding in their car.

3. Are photos and a video that important?
Perhaps you only need one of them or neither of them.

4. Is champagne/alcohol that important?
Perhaps you could toast w/ sparkling cider instead.
Perhaps you could just serve beer and soda instead.

I decided:

1. I’m having the ceremony and the reception held at the same place.
So, I’m only pay ‘ 1′ rental fee.

2. I don’t need a photographer and a videographer.
So, I’m cutting out the videography.

3. I’m not that into flowers.
So, I’m having non-floral boutonnieres made for all the men and the bouquets
will be used as decor during the reception.

4. I talked to friends and family and found people that are offering to provide their
services to me as their wedding gift (dj, make-up/hair-dresser, cake, limo, etc).
So, I’m just giving them tips; (showing my appreciation and thanks)
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