Decide how much you have to spend early on.

Explain your budget to everyone you’ll buy from - most stores will do their best to make your day happen within your budget, and they might even be able to suggest ways to save some money.

Think about what tasks you can do yourself - you could create your own invitations, put together your bombonieres, and create the place cards to begin with.

Decide on your theme and colour scheme early, and then you can be on the lookout for bargains from the word go.

Order your flowers well in advance, and don’t make any last-minute changes - many flower growers charge a fee for requesting flowers - especially specialised wedding flowers - at short notice.

Ask around and see if your extended circle - or your friends’! - holds any cake decorating whizzes. We’ve seen a lot of fantastic cakes done by friends of the family who just happen to do cake decorating as a hobby!

Go looking at a few jewellery sections in opportunity shops - you might find exactly the right tiara or necklace for you, and it’s guaranteed to be unique!

Do you have a pair of shoes you could get re-dyed to match your dress? This can be relatively inexpensive, and if you have a full-length dress your shoes are not your centrepiece!

You might consider seeing a beauty student for your hair and makeup on the day - they will work for much cheaper rates, especially if you’re willing to let them take pictures for a portfolio. Make sure you have a practice session first to make sure you’re happy with their work!

Keep an eye on eBay or similar for that perfect bargain purse, jewellery, accessories or even invitation-making supplies.