by M. Renee Buckley

Created on: October 17, 2009

With all of the hype surrounding weddings, it's easy to become lost in the growing number of details this important day can hold, and those details each come with a price. Here's a quick-hit list of five easy ways to slash a wedding budget.

1. Choose your date carefully

Perhaps the single best way to pay too much for a wedding is to choose to hold the event on a Saturday during wedding high season - considered anytime from May to October. For those who don't have their hearts set on a June wedding, for instance, choosing a date during late fall, winter or early spring can save you a huge chunk of change. Not only will venue prices be significantly marked down due to a lack of interest during those times, almost all other wedding vendors - from photographers to bands or DJs to caterers to limousine services - will also have reduced rates because they too won't be in high demand.

To save even more money, or, if you're set on having a high-season wedding, opt for a holding the event on a Friday instead of the typically chosen Saturday. With most weddings held on Saturdays, Fridays offer incredible savings opportunities not just with venues but also with almost all other wedding vendors. Vendors often will discount their services for a Friday wedding, knowing they'll still have the opportunity to book their Saturday at full price, thus getting an extra job - and payment - out of one weekend.

2. Forgo the favors

How many times have you attended a wedding and forgotten to take your favor home with you? This happens more often than not at weddings, so if you're looking to slash unnecessary costs from your budget, this is an easy place to do so. Can you ever remember attending a wedding and wondering, "So, where's my favor?" Few guests, if any, will notice the absence of this detail, and you'll save anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

3. Think "less is more" with flowers

After the cost of food, one of the biggest wedding expenses is often the flowers.

The easiest way to save money on flowers is to opt for flowers that are (a) in season, and therefore won't be marked up for shipping; and (b) are ample and attractive enough to stand on their own, rather than requiring a complicated arrangement to look their best. The more work that must go into a flower arrangement, the higher the price. Savvy shoppers will opt for something simple and elegant that will look great without the need for added filler. One such flower is Hydrangea, for instance. Just three of

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