There's no doubt that weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 - $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be over a $25 billion industry. Don't worry if your budget doesn’t allow the most expensive custom-made gown, exquisite invitation cards, or the biggest wedding cake, it doesn't mean your wedding will be any less unique or special than others.

Good communication between the bride and groom and their families is important when discussing money and budgets. The bride and groom should discuss the budget openly with their families, but no one should feel pressured to contribute.

Setting a realistic budget is a critical for keeping costs down. Couples can easily get carried away during the planning process, and quickly end up surpassing the budget. The wedding budget can be broken down into a few major categories: reception, music, photography, flowers, bride's attire and miscellaneous. Plan on spending about half of your budget to the reception and the remainder being divided between the other five categories. These amounts are flexible, but they do provide a workable starting point.

A custom wedding planner is one way of keeping track of all the details, including the budget. One of the biggest mistakes couples make is not planning ahead. When things are done at the last minute, all budgets may become useless. Utilize your planner to stay organized.

When shopping for a wedding dress, avoid flashy ornate hand-done beaded gowns, because there often more expensive than simple styles. Consider buying a sample dress, off the rack. If you're lucky enough to be the right size for a sample dress, opposed to having it custom made, you can save money. If you do go this route, you may need to get the dress dry-cleaned before the wedding. Another less expensive option would be a white bridesmaid dress.

Compare hourly rates and package deals of photographers to see which is most cost-effective for you. You can have the photographer do only formal shots and then ask your guests to take candid shots at the reception to fill out your album.

The wedding reception will be the single biggest expense; it's also where you can save the most money. Reception Halls can be expensive, especially if couples are required to use the in-house catering service. Search for a site such as a historical home, park, public garden or other venues. It's always best to avoid the peak wedding months, May through August, because all aspects of the wedding business are more likely to be less expensive during slow periods. If you can have your wedding on a Friday night or Sunday afternoon, the venue may lower the cost from their standard price.

At the reception, control what is offered at an open bar. If you decide to serve hard liquor, include only two or three options such as rum or vodka. If possible, hire an independent bartender and buy the liquor at wholesale outlets to keep down the costs.