It’s June. Wedding month!

OK this is crazy. The average cost of a wedding today is around $26,000 to $28,400 according to a recent article in USA TODAY. And it appears that the bride and groom are picking up more of the costs. But is this cost worth it?

In my opinion, NO!

Why begin a marriage accruing such debt? Or why use money for a wedding that could go a long way on a downpayment of a house, a car or something you need to go about life?

Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should!

So here are a few tips, tried and true from my own wedding experience to keep the costs down.

1) Keep your guest list reasonable. Have your closest friends and don’t invite everyone possible.

2) Consider another day. Friends of mine are getting married on a Sunday. Another picked a Friday night. Venues are cheaper when you avoid the popular days and times.

3) If you know you are getting married, shop all year and shop at thrift stores. My daughter-in-law to be found lots of items at pawn shops, thrift shops or on Craig’s list. Think about it. What do people do with left over wedding items–Craig’s list!

4) Do it yourself–as much as possible. We saved money by tearing down our own venues, borrowing items from friends, making decorations,etc.

5) You may like the show, Say Yes to the Dress, but it should be titled, Say Yes to Expense! You can find bargain wedding gowns with a little digging. I saw a stunning gown the other day at a JCrew Factory clearance outlet. I bought my own gown for pennies because it had a small thread pull in the train. No one could see it but the price dropped ridiculously low.

6) Raid your friends gardens for flowers or go seasonal. Right now, a friend of mine has peonies blooming like wild fire. These would be stunning on tables at a wedding reception. Consider?

7) Offer to help your friends and they will help you. So much can be done when friends pitch in to help. I’ve help others and now they are helping me. It’s a win-win!

8) Bake your own desserts. Ahead of time, you can bake the goodies, freeze and use them. A friend of mine did this and saved tremendously on the cost of desserts. Or maybe a friend would do this as a wedding gift!

9) Bargain and negotiate. I was surprised at how much discount I could get when I negotiated rather than just accept the price offered.

10) Use on-line printers for invitations and print materials. In my experience, you can find great bargains this way.

Bottom, line, you can cut the costs tremendously and start your married life with a little more cash in the pocket.