With the costs of arranging a wedding ever spiraling upwards, it is very easy to spend more than you can afford. The reception, the dress, flowers, limousines and all the other paraphernalia that goes into making the day memorable come at a significant price. A wedding is a very special occasion and one that, you hope, is never repeated, so you really want to push the boat out with the best of everything. Although understandable, if there is not a limitless supply of money, do you really need to start your married life with a huge debt? This is why many couples are opting for a budget wedding, so below there are some ways where you can economise and still have a great wedding day.

Almost never considered are the costs associated with the hand made wedding dress; many brides sell their dress soon after they are married and this is a sensible way to reduce the cost. It is easy to buy a wedding dress that has only been worn once for less than half the price and there are now many shops that specialise in pre-enjoyed wedding dresses. If you are worried that your dress may have been already seen by the vicar, you could visit shops some distance away which minimises the chances that it has been seen before.

The largest single cost is that of the wedding reception but even here, savings are possible. You may not believe it but according to statistics, on average 189 guests attend a wedding reception, so when you are planning your budget wedding, this is where most of the savings can be achieved. Don't invite everyone you know, in particular relatives that you haven't seen since you were a child or people who are just acquaintances. Where the meal is concerned, why not have a buffet instead of a full, waited on, three or four course blow out. Further reductions can be made in the choice of the wedding reception venue. Instead of a fancy hotel, it could take place in a friend's house or a local club where money could be saved on both food and drink if you either make them yourself or get friends to help.

Although most professional photographers are employed for the entire day, this isn't really necessary as the majority of guests are more than happy to take photos on behalf of the couple, and they will be 'natural' shots as well! You could, if you are brave, dispense with the services of a photographer completely and ask a friend or relative who is a keen photographer who will should be happy to do this for you!

If you have a computer and a reasonable printer, you can save money by designing and printing your own wedding stationery. Your word processing program should be quite adequate or you could find some free templates where you only have to change thee wording. Always print on good quality paper and card even if you are planning a budget wedding as these are items people often use as keepsakes.

Florists and flower arranging can be very expensive, especially when they know it's for a wedding, so why not buy them direct and arrange them yourself or get a friend to help out. If you have a college or adult education centre nearby, you could check to see if they run flower arrangement classes and ask a couple of students if they would be willing to do yours.

Wedding cakes are another costly item which can easily be made by a talented friend. The traditional three tiered fruit cake is often ignored for a funkier sponge cake which can have many layers and fillings. Another way is to buy three ordinary fruit cakes, then ice them yourself and buy the cake pillars and cake toppers separately.

It is probably every girls dream to arrive at the church in a Rolls Royce or other limousine but this is another expense that could be easily shaved off the budget. Ask around your friends if they have a decent car or if they know somebody who has and would be willing to give up a couple of hours to drive you. You may be having a budget wedding, but as long as everybody has a good time, they will not care that lavish amounts of money have not been spent, only that you will be happy for the rest of your life.