It has finally happened - your partner has finally popped the question, you said yes and put on the ring, and now there is a wedding date hovering somewhere in the future. At this point, you may be asking yourself how on earth you are going to afford all the essential parts you have so longed envisioned as part of your dream wedding. The good news is that with the proper length of time, you can plan your wedding in such a way that you will find the best bargains possible and the proceedings do not cost you a fortune.

As in any money-saving endeavor, the most important rule in saving on the costs of your wedding is to shop around religiously. Remember to compare every price on every part of the wedding that you are going to be shopping for. This is especially important when considering the various service providers for your wedding, including the florists, the photographer, the caterer, and even the venue. Do not jump at the first price or location that comes along- the payoff of patience may be a lot of money.

Setting your date well ahead of time will often also allow you some wiggle room when it comes to many of the areas where you will be laying out finances for your weddings. Setting an early date will mean that you will not be desperate for any particular service when the time of your wedding comes along. Often the people who provide services for weddings begin to be booked up very quickly when it comes to specific times, such as the wedding 'season' and around other occasions that are particularly geared towards the same services that might be used for weddings, such as graduations and even holidays such as New Year's Eve. Planning and booking well ahead of time will mean that you are not desperate when talking to the agency, and thus you will not be stuck with one of the higher-priced options after having left the decision to the last minute.

You can also end up saving quite a bit of money for your wedding by choosing to do some of the tasks involved yourself. With the huge increase in the popularity of various crafts, and the subsequent rise in the number of craft stores, many people are now making a lot of their own paraphernalia for their weddings themselves. Wedding invitations, favors, decorations, and thank-you notes are all projects on which you can save money and add a unique touch by doing the work on your own, often with the help of your bridal party and other family members.

In order to save money on your wedding, you will also want to pay close attention to your networking possibilities. Many people know friends and family who just seem to have a knack when it comes to some of the skills that will be necessary for your wedding. Having friends who know what they are doing could significantly reduce your costs when it comes to decorating and even catering the weddings. Many friends will also be able to do the videography for your special day, although the photography is best left to a professional (and if you happen to have a friend who is a professional, so much the better!)

There are many ways to make sure that your dream wedding is a success without mortgaging you future. With the right amount of time, planning, do-it-yourself will and contacts, your wedding may be much less expensive than you would have believed!