I too am getting married in August.
Woo! Anyway, tips: if you're inviting people to a meal, don't bother giving them canapes. Prosecco instead of Champers - or indeed Pimms instead of either. No children between 6 months and 18 years (apart from your own). If you're having bridesmaids dresses, don't get them special ones they'll never be able to wear again - go to Monsoon/Coast/Oasis etc - buying the dress for them takes care of what you're going to give them as the traditional present.
Comfy shoes.
Photographers are insanely expensive - keep shopping around. See if there's anyone in the family who can do them. Make your own cake, or get another relative to.
Screw matching napkins/chair covers/menus etc - no-one is ever going to remember that shit, so don't bother spending money on it.
Most importantly, if you're paying for the wedding all yourself, then you get to decide exactly who gets invited: this could cause huge family rows, but it could also mean that you don't bother inviting Great-Aunty-Nora, but a really good friend instead.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Thu 28 Jan 2010, 12:30, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

Agree: Don't take any money from family and do all of the planning yourself.
This might initially piss off the mothers but this way you can make sure it's what you want instead of what the bride's or groom's mother wants. Just give them a bottle of cheap booze to drown their sorrows in. I hear these horror stores about in-laws trying to control weddings trying to make they fairy tale picture book that they never experienced.

We did everything ourselves. Cost us only about $1000 (including food, a venue, and a little free booze. (Of course that was 20 years ago so the same thing might cost $2000 now). People have told us it was one of the nicest and most relaxing weddings they have ever been to.
(MichaelS wasn't picked again, Thu 28 Jan 2010, 13:06, Reply)