( CNN ) -- You 're engaged ! Congratulations ! Here 's how not to go broke , and still show your guests a fantastic time . Rank your priorities . What facets of your wedding are most important to you ? Focus on areas that make your heart go pitter-patter , and you 'll feel OK about skimping on the rest . As for what guests tend to remember , according to a survey conducted by St. Louis Bride and Groom magazine , 81 % of guests say the entertainment is the most memorable part of a wedding . Recruit friends . Think of it as cost-free outsourcing . Gather your inner circle , play to their strengths ( e.g. , assign lettering to the friend with the most beautiful handwriting ) , and turn the prep into a party . Martha Stewart Weddings : The New Bridal Shower Rules ( Toilet Paper Dresses and Awkward Icebreakers Not Included ! ) Be ruthless with the head count . Quick tips for whittling your guest list : Omit children and coworkers ( making cuts categorically is less likely to cause rifts ) ; and when it comes to couples , invite spouses , fiances , and live-ins only . Keep the numbers down for your wedding party as well : Fewer attendants means less money spent on bouquets , boutonnieres , presents and transportation . Think out-of-the-banquet-hall . `` Pick a venue that already has a chic ambience , '' suggests Abby Larson of wedding blog Style Me Pretty . `` Restaurants are usually the best option . They have gorgeous tables and chairs , and the decor is often easy to fall in love with . You 'll save an absolute bundle . '' Martha Stewart Weddings : 7 Old-School Wedding Rules You Can Break . Seek free fonts . Finding the perfect typeface that 's also free is a bit like searching for the Holy Grail . Here 's reason to rejoice : four decidedly un-tacky fonts that do n't cost a hard-earned dime . Top row from left in slide five : Customize place cards , coasters , menus , or thank-you notes with simple Kontor serif or Lane sans serif , from dafont.com . Bottom row : Use the more stylized Monogram kk and Hoedown fonts from abstractfonts.com to stand in for a calligrapher or give a `` Just Married '' sign a retro Western kick . Forgo a program . `` A lot of my clients are opting for no printed program , '' says San Francisco wedding planner Pamela Fishman Cianci , owner of Outlined Productions . `` It 's an extra cost and extra stress , and it 's unnecessary . The most important words are the vows , and those are never in there . '' Martha Stewart Weddings : Common Wedding Traditions and Superstitions You 've Never Heard Before . Think monochromatic . From your invites ( using one shade of ink means big savings on letterpress ) to your flowers , choosing a single overall hue creates an instantly chic party at a fraction of the price . Notes Denise Vivaldo , a caterer and author of `` Do It for Less ! Weddings : How to Create Your Dream Wedding Without Breaking the Bank '' , `` Color is cheap , and it can become your theme . '' Take up hunting . Bargain hunting , that is . You can find everything from fabric and trim to antique Mason jars on eBay , Etsy , Craigslist or at a local flea market , for half the price and twice the charm . Martha Stewart Weddings : 21 Gorgeous Engagement Rings of Real Brides . Buy in-season . `` My best tip is to stay seasonal and local . I made this bouquet for $ 50 , using anemones , parrot tulips , and ranunculus , all spring flowers , '' says Maxine Siu , of Stem in San Francisco . Pick the right kicks . Buy shoes that you 'll actually wear again after the wedding -- something you likely wo n't do with white heels . Stunners like the ones pictured above in slide 10 by Loeffler Randsall , J.Crew , and Badgley Mischka are good for the long run . Martha Stewart : Kate Bosworth 's Wedding : Behind-the-Scenes Photos . Supersize your flowers . Choosing bigger buds means you 'll need fewer stems , thereby helping your bottom line . In `` Wedding Chic : The Savvy Bride 's Guide to Getting More While Spending Less , '' author Nina Willdorf recommends blooms such as African marigolds , gladiolus , and `` Stargazer '' lilies , which easily fill a room . Make your flowers work overtime . One of the simplest ways to save can also be one of the loveliest . Let potted flowering plants -- whichever ones are in season -- act as both living centerpieces and favors that guests can tote home . Martha Stewart Weddings : Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Got Married , Their Exclusive Wedding Photos . Did you save cash in any creative ways when you were planning your wedding ? We 'd love to hear all about it in the comments below , on Twitter @ CNNLiving or on CNN Living 's Facebook page !
Wedding costs can quickly add up , but creative thinking can save you a bundle . Do n't reinvent the wheel : opt for free fonts and decorated restaurants that suit your taste . Comment: Sit down with your beloved and assess your priorities to eliminate extra spending .