TIMELESS TIPS There are some things about getting married that stand the test of time. You know, those sayings your mother told you and her mother told her that only seem true one you have experience it. But if you are not the beneficiary of that good advice...Here are some tips that you can take to the bank.

Resist temptation if you just got engaged to run right out and purchase your wedding gown. Wait until you decide on a location for both your vows and your reception. If you received a phone call that you had won a free vacation, you wouldn't automatically go bikini shopping before knowing your final destination was somewhere warm! The style of your wedding will determine how formal your bridal wear is. This style takes into consideration the couples' personality and tastes, wedding budget and location for both the ceremony and reception. No bride would want to wear an informal wedding gown to an evening wedding held at an historic mansion with a sit down dinner reception. Take our advice and resist the urge-you will have plenty of time to find the gown you have always dreamed of.A University or College can be an excellent resource when you are searching for musical services for your wedding or reception. Often the Department of Music will have professors who have been professional musicians prior to becoming full-time instructors. The best approach is for you to visit the Music Department in person with a written request for precisely what you are seeking; a trio, quartet, trumpeter, and the style of music you wish for them to perform. It is much easier for someone to read and understand what you are wanting and whether or not they can accommodate your request rather than listening as you try to explain things over the phone. It is not unusual for you to save money and get great musical talent to create the perfect mood for your wedding.

Wedding cakes are truly the centerpiece of any wedding reception. However, this doesn't mean that the cake has to be humongous and ornate in order to steal the show. Saving money on your cake can depend on several different factors. If you are having a seated plate dinner reception, you may want to have a beautifully decorated small cake lavished with fresh flowers and maybe chocolate covered strawberries included on the cake table. Then as guests complete their meal and you cut the cake and have photos taken, have the wait staff serve the seated guests cake that has been pre-cut in the kitchen. The trick here is that the cake will come from large sheet cakes instead of your wedding cake and the cost savings can be tremendous. The cost of sheet cakes is substantially lower than the cost of a three or four tier wedding cake.

Another way to save money on your wedding cake is to have individual wedding cakes or petit fours served (cupcakes are popular at outdoor weddings). Each guest receives their own special treat and it relieves someone from having to cut the main cake.

If having a traditional wedding cake is not a requirement for you and your fiancé, dessert receptions are gaining in popularity. You can have your caterer or baker create several delightful looking desserts and guests can choose whether they want to indulge in cherry divine or death by chocolate. After all, they say that variety is the spice of life!

When researching transportation for your wedding day, be smart and check a company you may be interested in with the Better Business Bureau. Limousine companies often do not have requirements or licensing they must meet and you want to ensure that your limo will be there the day of your event. The local BBB will be able to share with you whether or not the company you are considering has a reliable reputation around town.

Save money on bridesmaid dresses by planning ahead. The options are endless when it comes to deciding on bridesmaid attire. One way to save money is to simply choose the accent color you prefer all your attendants wear to the wedding. Then allow each woman to choose her own style of dress; hopefully something she may be able to wear again in the future. An attendant can then shop independently and find the right style for her on sale! Also opt for your local department store if you will be having only a handful of attendants for a smaller wedding. The designer or formalwear department often puts their dresses on sale or discounts at the end of a season. Frequently the dresses marked down will be appropriate for your wedding party. Of course, take along a good friend who is willing to help you scour the racks for 3 or 4 of the same dress in different sizes for your attendants. One bride recently purchased 3 of a kind attendant dresses for a mere $41.00 per dress. Take those cost savings and apply it toward your honeymoon!