Okay I'll be the contrarian here. I splurged on my wedding. Well my mother and sister did. Thirty thousand dollars. Money well spent imho because we honeymooned in France. It wasn't a 'second mortgage' wedding as someone else put it but it was definately more than what ladies in the area I now live in spend. I rode in a Rolls Royce and loved every minute of it. Don't cheap out on one of the most important days of your life, esp. with photographs. If you are going to do budget, that's fine BUT be careful. Cheap isn't always better.