Millionaire mum by thirty: Get the wedding you want -without going broke

Invitations

Venue

Choose a public place such as a park/beach
Friend's property or back garden
Hall or Church
Hold your wedding at an off peak time such as winter or a Sunday or weekday as significant discounts apply

Food/Drink

Book out a small restuarant for the night
Pin one booking against the other to see if they can match or beat the quote
use a catering company
Cocktail instead of a sitdown dinner
BYO alcohol ( if at an establishment you will usually need to pay a corkage fee)
Ask for guests to pay towards their meal instead of giving a gift
Have a bar where guests can purchase their own alcohol
Don't have alcohol at the wedding
Ask guests to bring a plate of food if low key wedding
Have a BBQ
Buy alcohol in bulk online or make a deal with local wineries of bottle shop

Guest List

Do not include children as they usually cost as much as the adults
Have a no plus 1 policy unless both parts of the couple are good friends
Don't feel obligated to invite people just because they might get offended. Unless they are paying for it.

Cake

Have a fake cake. Lots of companies are now making styrofoam cakes for 1/3 of the price of a normal wedding cake. The guests are then serves from a plain rectangle cake cut up out the back and are none the wiser.
Choose to have a cake made at a local bakery rather than a specialist wedding cake maker
Buy several cheaper cakes and purchase the special rods to sit in the cakes so you can stack them like a wedding cake.
Make your own cake or have a friend who is a good baker make one for you.
Make it less fancy. The simpler the design, the cheaper is will be. Don't get too carried away, it's only going to get cut up.

Wedding dress

Instead of shopping at bridal stores and boutiques, try looking online.
Second hand designer dresses from small second hand boutiques
Use a relatives old wedding dress and have a dressmaker makes some adjustments to fit your properly and have your flair on it.
Have it made overseas.There are lots of online stores you can send your measurements too with a copy of the dress you want to have them made really cheaply. Just do it well ahead of time because if it needs a slight adjustment you will need time to get it done.
Wedding dresses are rarely worn more than once check graigslist or gumtree for second hand ones for sale.
Hire a dress rather than buy.
Go non traditional. Look at formal dresses rather than traditional wedding dresses.

Bridesmaids dresses

Set a theme of colour and get the girls to buy their own dresses that they can wear again
Have less bridesmaids
Source your own material and have a friend/family make the dresses
Order online or have made overseas.
Have them all over and get them to bring all the dresses they own to choose the best ones suitable for your wedding
Have them wear whatever dress they like but have a continuing theme such as an accessory or prop like a parisol.
Dress down. Themes like a beach theme can save you money by having them barefoot, cheaper summer dresses or kaftans.

Groomsmen

Hire the suits
Set a dress code and have them choose what to wear. eg white shirt black pant
Wear whatever colour suit they own but have a common element such as a particular tie
Buy a cheaper suit from a department store or online rather than a bridal/formalwear store

Entertainment

Hair and Make Up

Get everyone to do their own make up
Get a student make up artist to do it for cheaper. ( just make sure you have a trial so you are both clear on what you want)
Ask for a group discount for any extra family or friends who might want their make up done too.
Go and get a free makeover at a local salon/ Myer/pharmacy from a product demonstrator

Decorations

Car Hire

Millionaire mum by thirty