Your wedding is the most important day of your life, but that doesn't mean you need to start your married life in debt! Follow these money-saving ideas and have the wedding of your dreams without draining your bank account.

1.  Make a Date - Schedule your wedding during the nuptial "off season." Since almost 70% of weddings take place between May and October, the ol' supply and demand laws apply and you'll feel it in your bottom line. The best bet for budget-conscious couples? January, February (watch out for Valentine's Day when flower prices skyrocket) and March. If you're thinking about November and December, you may compete with the holidays when booking hotels, caterers and entertainment.

2.  Timing is everything - Food and beverage are generally the biggest cost for a reception and chances are your wallet will fare much better with a morning brunch rather than dinner. Less alcohol (= less $) is likely to flow before lunchtime too. Instead of skimping at dinner, you can spend less and put forth a wonderful morning reception.

3.  Location, location location - A ton of money can be saved if you can be open about the "where." Local houses of worship, community fraternity organizations such as Knights of Columbus or Elks Lodges and city-owned gardens or historical buildings are often available at amazingly low fees.

4.  Deck the halls - The most creative way to decorate on a budget is to choose a location that comes decked in splendor - a scenic beach, a blooming garden, a fabulous historic building. But if decorating is a necessity - keep it simple, and keep the money in plain view in table centerpieces, candles, bouquets and boutonnieres

5.  Get by with a little help from your friends - Now's the time to call in those favors and to hit up your talented friends and family. Your computer savvy girlfriend may be the ticket to a fabulous wedding program, and with the elegant papers on the market today, maybe even the invitations and table cards!

6.  Picture this - Sometimes the best way to save money is to spend money. When considering the people who will document the most important day of your life, it may not be best to go with your nephew with the video "hobby." However, you will save bucks by keeping the prints simple - stay away from special treatments like sepia tone, multi exposures and split frames. And faux leather on the album will hold up just as well as the real deal.

7.  Off the rack - Just because you want an elegant white dress doesn't mean you have to shop at a bridal salon. Your ideal dress may be hanging in the formalwear section of a local department store! If you MUST go to a bridal shop - take a look at the more-affordable bridesmaid styles available in white or ivory.

8.  A rose by any other name - In fact, if you want to keep floral costs down, skip the roses entirely. Roses and orchids are some of the priciest flowers and with so many choices, are an unnecessary expense. Keep with flowers in season and those grown locally. Best all-round cost-wise: gladiolus, mums, daisies, freesia and carnations.

9.  Let them eat cake - but not necessarily your cake. Order a small, magnificent wedding cake for the pictures and the decor, and in the kitchen, have several sheet cakes of the same flavor cut for your guests. The caterer can also decorate each cake with a flavored sauce that will add to the taste and the presentation.

10.  Make the cut - It can be painful, but the single simplest way to cut your budget is to cut the guest list. Single guests who aren't in a serious relationship can be invited solo. You're actually doing them a favor - what better way to meet other like-minded singles?! And just because they invited you to their wedding six years ago, doesn't mean you need to invite them to yours. Especially since you haven't seen them since they returned from their honeymoon!