Of course that is a little biased, I know of plenty of people who won't pay a penny over what they have budgeted and will haggle and bargain their way to the end. This can prove to be beneficial for your bank account, but not so much for your sanity.

While trying to decrease our spendings, I have taken on the responsibility of doing a LOT of things myself for the wedding. Including invitations, programs, along with some other projects that are still ongoing. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love doing the things myself, but at times I definitely wish I could have just had the money to find some beautiful invitations online and simply order them, click here, pay there, delived to your door, done! That definitely would have saved me 100s of hours of work that I have put in on these invitations. But I probably saved almost $800 or more by doing them myself, so it definitely was worth it for me.
So here are some tips that I have found along the way to help you stick to your budget, while still getting the wedding of your dreams.

1. Know your budget and stick to it! Whether your budget is $50,000 or $10,000, knowing your budget and having a set plan is definitely the most important thing your can do. Know how much you want to spend on things before you start shopping, so that you don't over spend in one department, leaving you with nothing in another.

2. Do your Homework. It is so important to learn all of the different vendors out there and to know what you want before you get to the table. Be sure to find vendors within your budget or you may start seeing your budget dwindle a lot faster than you had planned. But if you can, don;t compromise quality for a better price, there are some things that you really shouldn't skimp on, such as your photography or video, the things that you are left with forever, unlike the other things that simply get thrown away at the end of the night.

3. Do some things yourself. I absolutely love DIY projects, and it is a great way to save some dough as well. But don't stretch yourself too thin, by trying to do every single thing yourself. Don't be afraid to ask for help from your handy or crafty friends and family members. Most of the time, they would love to lend a hand. I definitely have learned this one the hard way, because by taking on so much yourself, you really just are creating your own stress. Don't forget that this time should be fun and exciting, not miserable and stressful.

4. Be realistic. Last, when it comes to sticking to your budget, be sure to have a plan and to make sure that when you are budgeting for items you are being realistic. Don't assume that you are going to find an amazing photographer for $500, it just isn't going to happen (unless you have a friend that is a photographer...lucky you!). If you have only set aside $3000 for all of the food and drinks, it's probably not going to be realistic to have an open bar, but beer and wine, plus a cash bar could definitely be acheived.

Budget brides of the world, I reach out my hand to all of you. There can be so much stress when it comes to spending so much money for a one day event, but don't forget that it is one of the most important days of your life. So enjoy every minute leading up to it and on the day.

Looking for a wedding budget calculator already set up? Try this one from The Knot.

Question of the day:
What is/was your wedding budget? Did you stick to it, or throw it out?