I am in Arizona but this applies to just about any state.

1. Choose a date outside the box of normal summer for the North and East and Fall for the West and North West. If you want to have your wedding at a beautiful resort say in Scottsdale, AZ then choose a summer wedding. This is the off-season for all the resorts so the prices are almost 1/2 of what you would pay in the fall and winter months. 

2. Find a good Wedding Planner...they can help negotiate a better deal most of the time. I know you are thinking but I am on a tight budget I cannot afford one. Well I am here to tell you that the money you will save on other parts of the wedding will pay for their advice.

3. Find a good Wedding Planner that will offer more then just the run of the mill stuff. Look to see if they offer invitations, favors, accessories, and more. Look to see if they have a Certified Travel Consultant on staff. Look to see if they have a photographer on staff. I know when couples use Searchlight Memories LLC the more they use our services the better discount they get off their planning package.

4. Think about an off-season destination wedding. If you think, you might have a budget of $20,000.00 let us say, call family members and tell them how about a trip to Mexico or Jamaica 1/2 off...yes that is what I said 1/2 off. Most of the resorts in both places offer free wedding service to include, flowers, dinner and more. Therefore, if you look at it as a Wedding/Honeymoon you can use your money all in one shot. Then you have an extra $15,000.00 so you can tell all your family and wedding party members you will pay 1/2 of their vacation. Therefore, your money will go a long way and on top of it, you family and friends will have a beautiful vacation.

5. Always stay away from the big holidays like Valentines Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years it will save you a lot. But try to put it in the month say of Christmas.....you will need to buy less flowers because most places from Churches to Resorts decorate enough that you can use theirs.

I hope this helps all you couples out there looking for a way to have the Fairy Tale Wedding and Honeymoon on a tight budget. More to come at a later date.