What facets of your wedding are most important to you? Focus on areas that make your heart skip a beat, and you'll feel Great about planning the rest of your wedding. According to a survey conducted by St. Louis Bride and Groom magazine, 81 percent of guests say the entertainment is the most memorable part of a wedding. One of the simplest ways to save can also be one of the loveliest. Let potted flowering plants -- whichever ones are in season -- act as both living centerpieces and favours that guests can take home. Whoever decided that June and September brides were the best. The months that are off season, can save you thousands. March through May and October through December can save you a bunch! Just remember, in places such as Florida or the Bahamas, summer is the off-peak season. And in Europe where many places do not have air conditioning the Spring and Fall would be a better time to travel. Pick a venue that has Great ambience," suggests Abby Larson of wedding blog Style Me Pretty. " Restaurants can be one option. They have gorgeous tables and chairs, and the decor is often easy to fall in love with. You'll save an absolute bundle. Or you could try a Wedding Barn or a Beach Wedding. Save money by spending it on a planner? It sounds counterintuitive. Wedding planners 1) are not shy when it comes to negotiation 2) Have years of experience working with brides on budgets 3) Have working relationships with vendors Going with thermography instead of engraving can cut your stationery budget in half. The processes are different, but the look (raised ink) is nearly identical. On average, 100 engraved invites will cost $500, with thermography, you'll get the same for $229. Buy shoes that you'll actually wear again after the wedding -- something you likely won't do with white heels. Cutting out the middleman by calling on a grower will allow you to cut your cost in half. Most will deliver them for a small fee. Blue Dragonfly Cut Flower Farm Clayton NC or Fernrock Farm Hillsborough NC Instead of giving bridesmaids costly bouquets to carry, use a wrist corsage. Save on your centerpieces by creating beautiful arrangements without flowers. Suspending votives from branches is very popular right now! When it comes to your ceremony site, you don't need to deck the guest-book table and every chair with flowers. Get the most bloom for your buck by asking your florist to design two lush flower arrangements which will direct everyone's eyes to the bride and groom. Choosing bigger buds means you'll need fewer stems. In "Wedding Chic: The Savvy Bride's Guide to Getting More While Spending Less" (Perigee Trade, 2005), author Nina Willdorf recommends blooms such as gladiolus, and 'Stargazer' lilies, which easily fill a room. Stay with seasonal and local flowers. Anemones for winter and tulips for the spring. You can find everything from fabric, trim and glassware on eBay, Etsy, or Craigslist, or at a local flea market, for half the price. Or try an estate auction! Use one shade of ink which means big savings! Notes Denise Vivaldo, a caterer and author of "Do It for Less! Weddings: How to Create Your Dream Wedding Without Breaking the Bank" (Sellers Publishing, 2008), "Color is cheap, and it can become your theme." All it takes is a home printer or a trip to Staples to thread that logo through every element of your wedding, from invitations and favours to programs and banners. "It's a great way to make it look like you spent thousands on the details," says Abby Larson of wedding blog Style Me Pretty. A lot of my clients are opting for no printed program," says San Francisco wedding planner Pamela Fishman Cianci, owner of Outlined Productions. "It's an extra cost and extra stress, and it's unnecessary. The most important words are the vows, and those are never in there." Save on paper, printing, and postage by sharing your wedding details online. Many businesses charge only a small fee to use their templates so you can create your own Wedding Memories! "Choosing a venue that comes with extras built in, like a wedding coordinator or an on-site ceremony location, means significant savings," says Christina Latvatalo, wedding sales manager at the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York. All those extras can add up to thousands you won't have to spend. After moving her wedding from Brooklyn, New York (her current home), to a beach town in Michigan (her native state), bride-to-be Vicky Sherman watched catering quotes drop from $140 per head to $40 -- a savings of $15,000, based on her 150-person guest list. At sites such as preownedweddingdresses.com and oncewed.com, you can find gently used -- and sometimes never-worn -- designer dresses at a fraction of the price you would pay at a boutique.preownedweddingdresses.com oncewed.com If you have your heart set on an expensive dress, here's a good way to recoup your investment: After the wedding, resell your dress on eBay, Etsy or similar. If you're getting your wedding look done at a makeup counter, buy only the items you'll definitely use again. Makeup counters always give away samples so scoop them up. You can save on makeup by hiring the best person you can afford," says Rosemary Redlin, a New York-based makeup artist. "Then ask them to leave a touch-up kit behind." Many artists charge by the hour, and it can be costly by having them stick around for your photo session, when all you will really need are touch-ups. Your wedding will be more memorable if you use your family members wedding items such as a veil, dress, jewelry or cufflinks. Borrowing will not only save you money -- it will make your celebration have greater meaning Instead of centerpieces with a lot of blooms in them, consider using petite vases. Fill them each with a few flower stems and spread them out. There are many talented photographers who haven't made a name for themselves yet, and their lack of fame can save you a fortune. April Ann Canada Photography Handmade favors and decorations are appealing and usually cost less than store-bought. Try to keep the number of attendants as small as possible: The larger the bridal party, the more youll spend for gifts and flowers. To minimize the guest list, refrain from inviting children and coworkers. Include your friends significant others but not casual dates. The nicest wedding sitesparks, museums, public gardens may be the most affordable. Look for a dress at sample sales, trunk shows, and outlets; you can sign up for some designers sample-sale listings online. Consider wearing your mothers gown. The costs of cleaning and alterations will likely be far less than the cost of buying a new wedding dress. Hire a videographer to work just from the ceremony through the first dance rather than for the entire wedding. One way to have a band and stay on budget? Hire a live act for the dancing portion of the event, and fire up your MP3 player for the rest. Serving your meal family-style will add ambience and save you on table decor -- the food is the centerpiece! It would be the same as Maggianos! Sure, there's the tried-and-true wedding band that's been commanding the market for years but if you're willing to look for it, new talent is always emerging. Go to music venues and look for an act that is music to your ears. Non-wedding bands have a better price point. Rather than baby lamb chops, try lamb-filled grape leaves or a mini lamb burger; both cost less. "We do Indian-spiced cod cakes instead," says Marcey Brownstein, of Marcey Brownstein Catering & Events in New York City. "They're just as luxurious -- and more exciting." "Throwing a breakfast can be ideal," says Denise Vivaldo, caterer and author of "Do It for Less! Weddings: How to Create Your Dream Wedding Without Breaking the Bank" (Sellers Publishing, 2008). "You can serve mimosas with fresh-squeezed orange juice." One of the best ways to downsize is to limit your bar to beer, wine, and a signature cocktail -- "It's definitely a big savings, probably a good $10 to $15 per person off your total bar bill," says Wilfried Boutillier, general manager of Maximilien Restaurant, a popular Seattle reception spot. "One of the best ways to waste money is the Champagne toast: Fifty percent of people won't touch it, and 25 percent have a sip just because it's there," says planner Cianci. Her advice: Keep the bubbly at the bar to serve anyone who asks for it. Many brides are skipping the traditional-pricey, fancy tiered cakes and putting their own personal spin on the table of sweets. Can't do without a designer cake? Order one for the Bride and Groom only! Send your guests home with homemade boxes of your mom's brownies, along with her recipe, or fresh peaches tucked in hand-stamped bags. Transportation can be a huge cost, so try a vintage car! Nobody remembers the limo ride to the wedding. Instead of registering for your gifts, ask guests to contribute to your honeymoon. At honeyfund.com, you can register for your trip, and add extras to your honeymoon. And if you're planning a honeymoon at a Sandals resort, all you have to do is register for it at weddingchannel.com.honeyfund.comweddingchannel.com There's no rule that says weddings must be held on a Saturday. Providing an afternoon spread of tea sandwiches and sparkling wine is an elegant alternative to the typical dinner reception. You could have it on a Sunday too! How can you have a pretty cake and stay within the budget? Buy sheet cakes in whatever size and shape you like, and stack them yourself. Then decorate them with thick chocolate shavings, ribbons or fresh flowers and fruit. Replace your credit card with one that earns you miles. You can research at airlinecreditcards.com, Then start planning a romantic honeymoon!airlinecreditcards.com Serve a custom-made cocktail instead of providing a full bar. See if your venue will let you purchase your own alcohol, so you can return any bottles your guests don't drink.