Any wedding planner will tell you that before taking steps to plan your wedding, it's important to set a budget. In order to get started, you'll first need to sit down with whomever is contributing financially to the event, and check out your own accounts if you are paying for some or all of the wedding yourself. Budget planning can be a stressful first step, but don't let it burst your bubble. The budget plan can be quite painless if you get the facts, check out your accounts, and get creative if you need to. Simultaneously with planning out the financial aspects, make a list with your fiance of the 3-4 things that are most important to you for the wedding. That list will be the things that you should definitely splurge on. On the other hand, consider parts of weddings you've been to that you can't even remember or didn't care about in the first place. Those are the places where you should save. Most people's lists will be different, and that's ok! That's what makes each couples wedding unique.

The following is a list of wedding details and some ideas on splurging and saving:

Photography/Videography: Your wedding photos will (hopefully) last a lifetime. The big day that you have worked so hard to create should be captured in time with your photos and will surely be shared with loved ones for years to come. There are multiple ways to capture the moment, so be sure to do your research on photographers in your area, or be more creative with less expensive photo stations set up at the ceremony/reception. Photography pricing can range anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Most photographers offer different packages and it's usually possible to pay for a master copy of the pictures and develop them yourself rather than pay for the photographer's album. Many couples are also choosing to do engagement photos with a professional photographer. If you like to try something unique with your bride- or groom-to-be, set up a more informal photo shoot before or soon after the wedding in a funky, urban location or maybe outdoors in a rural area. Brides can purchase an inexpensive, white dress for the photo shoot, and you''ll only be paying the photographer for 1-3 hours rather than a full day of wedding photography. I will say that working with recent brides, I have yet to hear someone say they wish they would have spent less or skimped on photos.

Venue: The locations that you choose for your ceremony and

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