If only we all had a budget of 2 million pounds ($3.5 million US) like Will and Kate did for their royal wedding; oh the lavish ceremony and reception we’d plan! However you don’t need to be a relative of Queen Elizabeth to plan a stunning wedding on a not-so-stunning budget. Once you’ve set your wedding budget and have settled on who is paying for what, the trick is to shift the money around putting more towards more lavish items and less to things you can do yourself.

Save Here: Hair and Make-up
Even with an endless wedding budget, Kate Middleton still managed to do her own flawless make up on her wedding day. With the amount of makeup and hair tutorials available all over the internet, there is no reason why you can’t give yourself a startling makeover for your wedding day. We’ve found some fabulous and glamorous hair styles specifically designed for destination weddings over on our Pinterest page.  You don’t want to appear overdone on your wedding photos either. The idea is to look like a happier, glowing version of the “you”, not a Kim K cut out (last one Kim, we promise).  Doing your own hair and makeup with your bridal party before your wedding is also one of those intimate bonding wedding moments you don’t want to miss out on; all of your friends primping together like one big slumber party.  If you are in need of assistance, do a makeup and hair session with a professional so you can all learn tips and tricks from the pros.

Splurge There: Wedding Rings
Your rings represent symbols of everlasting and eternal love; you need them to last as long as your marriage will. Enough said.

Save Here: Shoes
It’s pretty unnecessary to spend an extreme amount of money on shoes your dress will probably cover anyway. We know you don’t want dusty sand dirt or grass stains on your white satin designer heels right? If you’re planning a beach or garden wedding; pretty sandals are in right now, try a pair for your wedding.

Splurge There: Wedding Dress & Dress Up-keep
Unless you plan to trash your dress or wear a family heirloom, go ahead and spend the money to get the dress you’ve always wanted. After all, this is the big day you’ve been waiting on and it’s important to look and feel your best! This may very well be the stylish dress you pass on to your own daughter someday.  You can also decide to split your dress budget and purchase two dresses; one for the wedding and one for the reception.  With the money you by doing other things yourself, we’re sure you’ll be able to find a lovely more casual or cocktail dress for your reception. If you need to steam press or have your gown professionally cleaned, we’re begging you, please find a quality dry cleaner!

Save Here: Wedding Invitations (Save the date, Reception Invite, etc.)
We’re not sure we have ever understood the deal with sending a “save-the-date” and then a formal invitation later; when you can just send one grand invitation and be done with it. Having two separate invitations printed is an expense you can avoid by just planning on one invitation. Instead you can take the modern bride approach and send out e-vites. This wedding website builder is an awesome option to invite guests to your destination wedding. You can build a website and then share it with your friends and family or send out electronic announcements in place of a save the date… or even an invitation!

Splurge There: Wedding Photos/ Video              
When the buffet is picked clean and your wedding dress hung up for good, the only thing left of your wedding will be photos and videos. You don’t want to skimp on the only lasting mementos you’ll have.

(Photo Credit: GettyImages)

Save Here: Wedding Transportation
No need to hire a fleet of limos to drive you and your party between wedding and reception venues. If you can, find a place with both wedding location and reception location on the same property. Having your guest take a light stroll to the reception and holding a cocktail hour gives you time to get your pictures taken. If you really want the “Just Married” feel of getting in a car and driving off into your new life together; hire one car to dress up or ask around family and friends to see if anyone owns a flashy vehicle for you to dress up and take pictures in. If your reception is that far away from your wedding location, tell your bridal party they are free to drive their own vehicle to and fro.

Splurge There: Reception Food and Beverages; Wedding Cake
The saying “Eat drink and be merry” applies here.  Cookies and Juice just won’t cut it! It’s your wedding reception, not a potluck brunch! Your guests flew down to party with you, treat them to a little bit of the good stuff! There will be more than enough pictures of your wedding cake, wouldn’t you prefer for guests to look at those pictures and remember how lush the chocolate was instead of how crummy it tasted?

Save Here: Wedding Music
Your music is only going to accompany you down the aisle at this point, that’s it.  A single cellist or flutist can also be an inexpensive way to add a unique detail to your wedding ceremony.

Splurge There: Reception Music
Your reception is when it’s time to par-tay! Hiring a quality DJ or band can be the difference between a dull reception and one people will be talking about for years. Take the time to pick a band suited to your reception needs or a DJ with a mix of music right for the type of reception you desire.

Save Here: Intimate Wedding
If you’ve plan to have a destination wedding or an extremely intimate ceremony with only immediate relatives and close friends then your biggest challenge is finding an intimate location and spilling the beans to your close inner circle. Let’s cut to the chase, this is the day between you and your fiancé and it’s about what makes you both most happy. You can decide to have a very small ceremony and a lavish reception with all your friends and family later on. Your wedding ceremony does not have to render you bankrupt afterwards.

Splurge There: Lavish Honeymoon
If there’s anything to demand the royal treatment, now would be the time. It’s time to really celebrate and indulge in a location and suite that allows you both to enjoy your each other and your time away together. You don’t have to consider guests, or bridal parties – just yourselves.  Take tours, enjoy romantic extras, drink the expensive bubbly under the stars, tick things off your bucket list, and enjoy your new husband or wife. Your honeymoon is the right time to LOVE YOURSELF!