• Save money on your wedding day with a location that is close to home.wedding image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  Wedding costs add up quickly. Before you know it, you have a $2,000 dress, $1,500 worth of flowers, a $1,000 photographer and hundreds of dollars in party favor costs. And that is before you add in venue rental fees, vendors, food and travel costs. If you are planning a wedding on a tight budget, you can save big by choosing a location that is both affordable and fitting for your wedding.
  
  

At Home

• Consider hosting your wedding ceremony and reception at someone's home as opposed to renting out a different venue. If your home is not big enough to serve as a venue, consider asking your parents or a close friend who will not charge you a rental fee. Hosting your wedding at your parents' house is special and sentimental, especially if it is the house where you grew up. It is also likely a convenient place for guests to travel to, especially if you are inviting your extended family members and childhood friends who still live in the area. You can help decorate the house in the days and weeks leading up to the wedding to save additional costs and to avoid scrambling to finish last minute details on your wedding day.
  
  

Driving Distance

• Rather than choosing an exotic destination wedding location like Hawaii or Paris, choose a place that you and your fiance can drive to easily. Pick somewhere just a few hours away, or a day's drive at most. That way, you'll save money on airfare and checked luggage fees, and you can bring more items with you like party favors and decorations that are hard to travel with on a plane. You can also make a fun road trip out of it and drive to the wedding with your family or wedding party in a large van or bus, and have everyone split the rental fees and gas money. A road trip to your wedding creates fun and lasting memories that make the experience even more special and personal.
  
  

Outside the Box

• You can often find inexpensive wedding venues when you think a little outside the traditional wedding venue box. Avoid hotels and conference halls, which are used to hosting weddings and can charge more because of demand. Instead, search your network of friends for people who may be connected to possible venues. For example, if you know someone in the restaurant industry, they might be able to get you a good deal on renting out their restaurant for your wedding. Or, consider hosting it at a local park, which typically charges far less than indoor conference halls. Other unique options include small theaters, vineyards, planetariums, museums or outdoor gardens.