-- — The smell of hydrangeas in the air and the sight of crazed women panicking in the wedding aisle at Michael’s can only mean one thing ... It’s wedding season in South Georgia!

I remember being a budding bridezilla myself just nearly two years ago. Aww, how I miss not eating to fit into my skin-tight wedding dress and having manic episodes of screaming, clinical depression and, on occasion, joy.

While I have already had a blissfully budgeted wedding, I have had requests from a few friends who are preparing to say “I do” while their bank accounts are whimpering “I don’t” on how to successfully plan a budget wedding. So here are a few special-edition budgeting tips and tricks to help you get down the aisle without having to wear a paper grocery bag as your dress.



1. Wedding Planner

Don’t get a wedding planner. Why pay for someone to do something that you are completely capable of doing for free? I know that you’re freaking out because you don’t know anything about planning weddings, but guess what? I didn’t either and I somehow managed to plan a great wedding in Savannah while I was in college in Valdosta. It can be done. All you need are tons of wedding magazines and the Internet and you will amazingly feel your way through the process. It’s like being a first-time mom. You don’t know anything about babies but your “motherly instincts” just kick in.



2. The Florist

Use a ton of greenery in your flowers. Leaves and vines and otherwise “fillers” are significantly cheaper than roses or magnolias. Another thing that’s big right now is bundles of baby’s breath. Baby’s breath is used as a filler by many florists, but collectively it looks beautiful and it’s super cheap. Also, be upfront with your florist about your budget. In today’s economy, it is rare for a florist to turn you away at any price.



3. The Cake

Keep it simple. Don’t ask for elaborate patterns made of fondant. Guests more times than not prefer a butter-cream frosting over fondant because it tastes better and it’s much cheaper. Rather than an elaborate decoration, adorn your cake with flowers.



4. The Dress

Don’t be ashamed to buy off the rack. No one is going to know the designer of your dress but you. Why spend $10,000 on a Vera Wang when you can get a similar style for $1,200 at David’s Bridal? Also, don’t go crazy with your bridesmaid dresses. Don’t be that bride that makes your girls pay $500 for a dress they are only going to wear once. Keep it cheap, simple and timeless.



5. The Photographer

This is the one place I tell brides not to skimp. You are going to have your wedding pictures for the rest of your life, so if you’re going to invest your money anywhere, invest in a good, experienced photographer. If your budget won’t allow it, Valdosta is a great place to get blooming photographers; Valdosta State University’s Fine Arts Building is full of them.



6. The Food

Guests are going to expect food at a wedding, but there is a way to avoid high cost without looking tacky. Hold a late afternoon wedding around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. It’s after lunch but before dinner, so you can get away with heavy hors d’oeuvres instead of a pricey plate of food.



Trust me, these tips and tricks are guaranteed to work and get your wedding off without a hitch. I have planned my own wedding and my brother’s wedding both in the most expensive wedding destination in the South, Savannah. While these things will be bound to save you money, don’t be naive, a full-fledged wedding is going to cost you some dough. However, it is important to stretch that dough as far as it will let you.

Don’t forget to “Like” me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Brittany’sBudgetDiary and join the budgeteer revolution! If you are in a money dilemma while trying to plan your wedding, write on my wall and I will be sure to help you get out of a snag for I was formerly the budget bride!