Who says you can’t have the wedding day of your dreams in these lean times? Here are some tips on how to throw a memorable wedding even on a limited budget:

Save on guests. Try to trim down the number of your wedding guests. Make it a small and intimate affair. Invite only those who are closest with you and your partner.

Save on the venue. If you, a relative, or a friend has a big enough garden, why don’t you consider having your wedding and/or reception there? Instead of spending a lot of money on a restaurant or a hall, you can get it for free!

Save on food. Food can actually take a big chunk out of your budget. To make it more cost effective without sacrificing the palate, you can opt for a barbecue or picnic-themed reception instead of the three plus-course sit-down meals. You can also choose caterers from a local restaurant. They might even provide you a discount if you hold your reception in their establishment.

Save on drinks. If you go for local restaurants, they might give you a discount if you also let them open their bar for you. If you’re doing the reception at home, you can always bulk buy drinks from the grocery so you can save a bit on those.

Save on flowers and decorations. Go for the smaller florists who are more likely to charge you a smaller amount than the large shops would usually give you. Or you can order flowers and if you have a friend or relative who has a knack for flower e, you can do everything by yourselves.