It’s no surprise that weddings can be pricey, with lots of expenses – some large, some small – that add up quickly. Still, it is possible to plan a beautiful wedding without going over your budget. The best way to do that is to create and stick to a budget that you’re comfortable with. As you start planning your wedding, we’d like to share some great tips and tricks for planning your perfect wedding, on a budget.

The first thing to do is determine your budget. As you start to figure out your budget, look at how much you and your fiancé can reasonably save each month. (Remember, the longer your engagement, the more time you’ll have to save!)

Next up, start looking at different areas where you can save money in your daily life, in order to maximize the savings for your wedding. Try saving money by trimming small daily, weekly, or monthly expenses (such as going out, or eating lunch out) to put towards your wedding budget. To help maximize your budget, you can keep your wedding savings in a higher-yield account such as CD or money market, rather than a regular savings account. Just be sure to read fine print to avoid penalty fees. Another tip is to use a rewards credit card for wedding expenses, so you can get cash back or earn travel rewards for the honeymoon.

Another way to save money on your wedding is to consider things such as the formality, date, and time of day of your wedding celebration. The more formal the event, the more expensive it will be – entertainment, attire, and decorations will all be more expensive the fancier your event. A more causal event is generally less expensive, giving you more flexibility in your budget. The date and time of your wedding can also have a big impact. Dinner events are always more expensive because food is pricier and people drink more than a brunch or afternoon wedding. In-demand dates such as Saturdays and summer weekends also tend to be more expensive. You can also save money by keeping the guest list on the smaller side, allowing you to cut costs at many points in the process – invitations, reception costs, and favors all add up the more guests you have.

Once you have your budget in place, and have decided on things such as date and time and your venue, it is a good idea to come up with a plan for keeping your wedding on budget. Use a spreadsheet to keep track of purchases, and how much you’ve spent. One of the best things you can do is to actually plan to go over budget. Set aside 5 percent of your budget for unforeseen expenses. That way you won’t blow your budget when surprises come up. A change in the weather can mean you need a last-minute canopy or heater rentals. If another family member requests a boutonniere it can mean a higher floral bill. Planning ahead for these charges will help save your budget, and your peace of mind, when the big day comes.