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• Create a budget. Unless you're a professional wedding planner, you'll probably be floored by how many expenses weddings can amass, including: wedding and engagement rings, invitations, postage, marriage license, clergy and location fees, flowers, bridal gown and groom's tuxedo, rehearsal dinner and reception, photography, catering, DJ or band, limousine, parking attendants, tips, gifts for wedding participants and honeymoon expenses.
• Shop around. Bridal expos are a good way to meet a lot of vendors and gather ideas. Just don't get caught up in the excitement and commit to anything before you've done follow-up research. Some tips:
• • Bring along someone from the wedding party as well as a trustworthy friend who isn't emotionally and financially connected to the wedding.
• • You may feel pressured by vendors to sign contracts or put down deposits, but it's probably wiser to take their contact information and research them first.
• • Create a separate email account for wedding vendor communications. Once you sign up for one offer or contest, believe me, your inbox will be swamped.
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• After you've settled on vendors, get signed contracts that specify dates, products, prices, deposit and payment terms, cancellation policies, liability insurance and whether tax and gratuities are included.
• Here are a few suggestions for trimming costs:
• • Date flexibility. You'll get more bang for your buck offseason - a June wedding might cost 20 to 30 percent more than one in April or October.

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