Get married on a weeknight, or a weekend but in the late morning/early afternoon. Many venues and vendors offer lower rates on those days. If you have a mornign wedding, have a brunch reception. Or with an afternoon, have a dessert reception. An ice cream social could be a really fun, summery thing to do. If you're both set on a dinner reception, try and find out if anyone you know (Family, close friends, friends' families, etc.) could handle the food for you. Caterers are EXPENSIVE. If you do this, don't forget to pick a reception venue that allows outside/unlicensed catering. Consider buying a used dress. OnceWed.com and PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com are seriously AMAZING. The best advice that I can give is to make sure you ALWAYS keep in mind that the wedding is NOT the most important thing that will ever happen in your life...the wedding should be a celebration of what is REALLY important-the marriage. I'm in the same boat as you, and continuously having to