With the economy still heading down, everyone’s trying to find ways to cut costs and still live well. But one thing you wouldn’t scrimp on is your wedding. It’s the kind of thing that happens only once, and you want everything to be perfect on the big day. Fortunately, there are ways to slash the bill without giving up style—and even make your wedding more memorable.
For one thing, try to go the DIY route as much as you can. Plan the menu yourself, have friends and family help out with the cooking, and make your own giveaways instead of ordering. It’s a great way to exercise your creativity, and guests will feel more appreciated knowing you worked on everything yourself. Just get started in advance and have a backup plan in case you mess something up.

You can also trim down your guest list if you don’t mind a more casual wedding. Many weddings turn out bigger than expected because guests bring other people, sometimes their entire families. By reserving just a fixed number of seats per person, guests will be compelled to keep the company small. It also makes the wedding more intimate and brings out a more romantic mood.

There’s also a lot to be saved on the invitations. If you insist on using a third-party press instead of printing them yourself, at least forgo the blotter paper—those loose, thin sheets that go on top of the invite itself. People used them to keep the ink from staining the envelope. But modern printers use quick-dry ink anyway, so there’s no need for that extra sheet. You can also save money on postage by giving the invites personally.

The wedding cake often takes up a large chunk of your budget, so look for cheaper alternatives. A lot of people are going for wedding cupcakes, and often with very good results. They’re easier to serve, fun to decorate, and you can even personalize each one for your guests. And since they’re cheaper, you can make sure everyone has a piece at the party. You can even use them as giveaways and save on the cake-cutting fees.

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Weddings can be cheap and stylish at the same time, if you know the right tricks. Here are some smart cost-cutting tips to help you out.