A little over a year ago, my then-boyfriend whisked me to a romantic location, got down on one knee and popped the question. Having girlishly dreamed of this moment for most of my young life, I reacted in the classic manner - sobbing hysterically, stammering a few "Oh my God's!" and finally managing to provide my waiting boyfriend with my answer - yes! Once the (happy) tears had subsided, my mind turned to bigger things. No, not a house, children and our future together, I mean the biggest thing of all - the wedding. I wanted it all...the designer dress, the dream location, the spread in HELLO! magazine...the lot. But there was one thing my childhood fantasies hadn't quite prepared me for. It turns out these things cost big money and sadly, that was one thing I was definitely lacking.

So here I am, a year later, still planning my dream wedding, but doing it all with a big dose of reality and a decidedly smaller budget. If you should find yourself in a similar dilemma, take a look at my thrifty tips to help you along the way to wedding bliss without finding yourself in a debt-ridden nightmare.

1.Set a budget (and stick to it!)
Sit down with your partner and agree on a suitable budget for the entire wedding. Make a note of every expense you can think of and allocate a proportion of your allowance to each. Also make sure you allow for inevitable extras by leaving a certain amount of overlap fund. Refer to this budget plan throughout your wedding preparations and adjust it accordingly if you've had to overspend (or underspend if you're lucky!) on certain items.

2. It's never too early to start planning
The earlier you begin your wedding plans, the better. Start doing your research as soon as you can - find out about venues, make general enquiries and get as many quotes as possible. Leave nothing to the last minute! Not only will you be able to enjoy the peace of mind of having everything organised, you are also much more likely to get your first choice at the best price.

3. Be realistic...
Or perhaps that should read ‘be ruthless'! Take the guestlist for example - do you really need to invite everyone in your primary school class? Or family members you last saw when you were still in nappies? Be brutally honest with yourself and start crossing off those names. Better still, consider how each person you knock off the list equates to an extra bit of dosh to spend on your dream wedding dress! The same principle applies to other elements of your big day, such as wedding favours, invitations, the venue etc - recognise that you're on a budget and be rational about your decisions.

4....but don't rule out everything
You'll be surprised how far you can get with a little creativity and a lot of persistence. For example, large hotels which perform weddings and receptions as a matter of course will naturally charge a fair amount for this service. However, there are many smaller hotels - that are just as beautiful - which do not have an established price list for this purpose and are likely to provide their services for a much lower fee. It will also be easier to negotiate with establishments like this, as they do not have a set pricing structure in place. The important thing is, if you have your heart set on a certain type of venue, reception, wedding cake etc, don't rule it out just because you assume it will be too expensive. If you don't ask, you'll never know, so be persistent and put your bartering skills into action. Go and talk to people face-to-face, as they are much more likely to respond sympathetically if they meet you in person.

5. A dress to impress
We all want to look beautiful on our wedding day and, for many brides, finding the perfect dress is one of the most important aspects of the preparations. My advice is to shop around as much as you possibly can. Begin by deciding on which style of dress you are after and then explore all the options. For example, the Internet provides a huge range of websites where you can often get the same dress much cheaper than elsewhere. Also look for designer clearance sales and contact specific designers about last season's pieces. In some cases, it can actually work out cheaper to buy a dress from a US website, even with the additional cost of postage and packaging. Finally, while it's certainly not for everyone, you may be open to the idea of buying a second-hand wedding dress. The fact is, the garment will only have been worn once, so wear and tear shouldn't really be an issue! If you're willing to consider this option, you may well be able to bag yourself your dream dress at a fraction of what you would expect to pay.

6.Glam up at home
When it comes to getting ready on your big day, there's no need to fork out huge amounts of money hiring a professional hair stylist, make-up artist and nail technician. While these luxuries may seem entirely necessary, you'll often be surprised at how many of your friends and associates make great amateur hairdressers, manicurists and so on. Don't forget that your bridesamaids are there to help too!  Ask around and make sure you get in plenty of practice sessions beforehand. With so many great products on the market nowadays for DIY makeovers, it's very likely you'll be able to recreate a professional look in the comfort of your own home. Alternatively - as with the point above - if you're sure that calling in the experts is the only option, try contacting smaller salons which may offer you their services at a much lower price.

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