The average cost of a wedding today is $28,000. As if that’s not daunting enough, in Northern Virginia the average cost is over $45,000. If your budget isn’t that high, here are some ways you can have a wedding for a fraction of that price. Read on for the 5 best ways to save money on your wedding.

Don’t Have Your Wedding on a Saturday

This is one of the biggest – and easiest – cost-saving measure you can take. Nearly every venue has higher prices on Saturday than on Sunday or a weekday. In some cases, the prices are twice as high! And if you really want a Saturday, consider having your wedding during the winter months, when the same discounts usually apply.

Invite Fewer Guests

This might not be so easy, but it’s one of the best ways to save money. Most venues have more than one reception area, with prices increasing for larger spaces. If you have fewer than 100 people, you will be able to choose from a reasonably large pool of affordable venue spaces. If you have require 250 seats, however, you’ll be limited to only the venues with the largest capacity, which will usually have the highest costs. And of course, you will typically pay an additional $60-$100 per person for catering.

Forego a Large Wedding Party

Or forego it all together, as many brides are doing. A bevy of bridesmaids means a bevy of bouquets, and with the average bridesmaid bouquet hovering around $100, this can quickly put you over-budget. Add in $30 per groomsman for carnations, additional costs for gifts, snacks, and drinks, and your expenses will increase quickly as the size of the party grows. For more information on floral costs and tips on how to save, click here.

Use a Wedding Planner

This may seem counter-intuitive, but spending money on a wedding planner can keep you from making much more costly mistakes. In particular, if you are having a large wedding with many vendors, your planner will be able to help you find the best vendors at the most reasonable prices, and will make sure that you get the most bang for the buck. He or she will guide your choices so that you spend where it counts, and only where it counts.

Choose a Venue with Plenty of Amenities

Venues come with a wide array of amenities, including tables and chairs, ceremony arches, dishware, linens, and even specialty items such as a kennel for your Dog of Honor (see Sylvanside Farm). Whatever your venue doesn’t provide, you will probably need to rent, so look for a venue that provides as much as possible. Locally, check out Westfields Golf Club for all-inclusive packages at great prices.