Plus Size Bridesmaid Dresses - One Dress, Many Body Types

First, the shockers: the typical American wedding costs $19,800, not counting the costs of an engagement ring, pre-wedding party and the honeymoon! For those in NY and other hip metro locations, the wedding party can leave you a cool $40,000 poorer.

But, does that mean a memorable, fun-filled and well-planned wedding day is something only brides with deep pockets can afford?

Forget about it! Which brings us to the shock absorbers: creative, practical and smart wedding planning ways that pave the way for cheap but chic wedding celebrations!

4 Fun Ways To Have Your Dream Wedding On The Cheap:

Tip #1 - Plan your wedding on a weeknight

In order to keep wedding costs low, it's advisable to book a wedding hall for a weeknight, like Wednesday or Friday. Or even an afternoon wedding, when most venues don't have a high booking rate even if they're booked full for the weekends.

Tip #2 - Bring your cake cost down by using fake tiers

This is one of the best areas to save on when planning a budget wedding. Wedding cakes usually set the couple back by a few hundred dollars, and not everyone is that enthusiastic about it, so it's a smart move to scrimp on that fantastically-huge 5 tier cake and go in for an affordable smaller one. Be realistic - not all wedding guests will want seconds, or for that matter be sober or energetic enough to gorge on wedding cake you've spent a fortune on, or hang around waiting for it to be served.

So, go for a 3-tier cake that has 2 faux tiers at the lower levels and a simple sheet cake sliced in back for serving guests who will surely be too busy enjoying themselves to spot the difference!

Tip #3 - Penny-wise Wedding Dress shopping

You can save thousands of dollars when buying your Wedding Dress and still look like a million bucks! Here's how: remember that $5,000 designer dress you saw at the glitzy new bridal boutique uptown? Now think in the $500 to $700 range and get a dress tailored for yourself on a budget by using cheaper fabrics and embellishments.

An alternative to getting a custom-made Wedding Dress tailored locally is to search for a discontinued dress or a sample dress Maggie Sottero Caprice A3321
, often found at designer stores with ready-to-wear outlets or consignment shops. Avoid the specialty bridal shops, which can be pretty pricey, and do some online searches for cheap Wedding Dresses Maggie Sottero Caprice A3321:http://www.daphnebridal.com/maggie-sottero-bridal-dresses-caprice-a3321-p-3512.html

Tip #4 - Cut down wedding expenditures by pairing with another bride, or snag yourself a bridal bargain

If you have a friend or acquaintance getting married around the same time as you, consider talking to them about divvying up costs for a shared venue, reusable wedding decor, limousine rental or even wedding band bookings.

The other way to cut wedding costs is to bargain with a vendor. Let's say the wedding florist, who could give you a $800 discount on your table florals and bouquets costing around $4500 if you can be sure to get them another booking for the same discounted cost a week down the line. Be creative, and you're sure to score some major bargains!