Tips to save money on weddings

It is still possible to have a fantastic wedding during a bleak economy. Here's a few tips from New York wedding planner Lisa Light on how to save money on traditional and destination weddings:

• Ask friends and family to participate more in the preparation, ceremony and reception. This also makes the wedding more personal.
• Reuse and recycle. Check out secondhand dresses. Take your wedding flowers to be used at the reception, too, or consider borrowing table decorations.
• Look at offseason and midweek weddings. Saturdays are pricey, so opt for a Friday or Sunday. Getting married offseason can cut a destination wedding price.
• Invite fewer guests.This also creates a more intimate wedding.
• For a destination wedding, choose a resort where you feel comfortable so you don't need to hire a wedding planner.
• Look into getting hitched on a cruise. Cruises offer deals, and waiting to book the trip often gets couples a better price. Food is included.