Top 10 Bridal Budget Tips Contest

Vote for the winner of the Bridal Budget contest! We've selected the top 10 entries (the winner gets celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss' newest wedding book). Cast your votes!

1. In smaller beach towns, you can get away with a beach wedding without having to purchase a permit, particularly if the reception hall is on or near the beach.  Additionally, smaller beach towns are more willing to accommodate you because they don't have the traffic of the larger cities. Call the local chamber of commerce to inquire as they are often the best source of this information. -- Katie, Fresno, California

2. Buy bouquet at local supermarket florist. They usually will make it for you for much cheaper price.
nickname = Eileen T, El Monte, California

3. Choose what's reallly important to you - - great photos or beautiful flowers - - & put you money toward that, rather than trying to throw money at every aspect of the wedding! --SB, Melbourne, Florida

4. To be sure you don't go over budget, budget 10% less than you really want to spend! -- PK, Melbourne, Florida

5. You can make a beautiful center piece for tables by simply getting some small glass vases and filling with flowers from a local market. Place some petals around base of vase and you are done.  Simple is sometimes better.
nickname = Jenn, Marietta, Georgia

6. Most of the times getting chair covers with a matching sash for your wedding is not worth it.  People are less likely to remember what type of chair they sat on.  Hopefully your entertainment is so good that people won't even be sitting for most of the night. J.M. -- Lakeland, Florida

7. Get married in Central Florida instead of New York and save 75% on your wedding and honeymoon costs. Everything in New York costs too much for a wedding! We did this and saved a lot of money. The church we got married in was free due to my membership in Florida. --Tina, Tonawanda, New York

8. Try to make as many items for your wedding that you can. One thing is printing out your own invitations and adding your own touches like a picture or a trinket that will be incorporated in the wedding, make your own centerpieces for the tables and remember to shop around. -- Peggy, Preston, Connecticut

9. Most venues and sound technicians now will allow you to make your own playlist on your ipod to hook up and use and will still announce all of your big moments. It is a great way to save money and guarantee that you hear all of the tunes that make the day special for you. --Elizabeth, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

10. Write out a preliminary budget and make sure to get estimates from all vendors. -- SMK, Silver Spring, Maryland