There's no sense in denying the truth: weddings can be expensive. And while you can't always count on having everything you ever wanted for your big day, you can make some smart choices that will stretch your budget farther.

Here are some ways to keep costs low:

Select a wedding date that's "off-season" May through October is peak season for weddings. Schedule your wedding in one of the "off season" months and there will be less competition and better prices. Holiday weddings are more expensive because you are competing for catering services, wedding and reception sites, D.J.'s, limousines, photographers and more. During holidays, these type of services tend to raise their prices, especially at Christmas. Remember holidays, such as Mother's Day and Valentine's Day, mean higher prices for fresh flowers too.

Weekday Wedding Get married during the week as opposed to a weekend. Saturday is the most popular day for a wedding and usually costs the most

Same site It's usually less expensive to hold a wedding and reception at the same site, such as in a hotel, club or community hall.

Decorate wisely. Create an intimate, elegant setting for the reception using candles and twinkle lights as decorations. They establish a romantic tone without the high cost associated with flowers and other expensive embellishments. Keep an eye out for sales on items that you might need for your wedding, such as decorations and favors.

Keep your flowers simple. To save money on flowers, use loosely arranged hand-tied bouquets rather than intricate, wired ones. Choose flowers in-season and don't spend extra to decorate the ends of pews or the backs of chairs. Your guests will hardly notice them. Fake Cake Order a simple 2 or 3 tiered cake (usually the 2 bottom pieces are made from Styrofoam). Then order a large plain slab cake to cut up and serve to your guests. A tradition is to take the top part of your cake home and freeze it, then eat it on your first anniversary.

Have your wedding earlier in the day. The largest expense for a wedding often involves an elaborate reception. Choosing to have a morning brunch in a charming setting will cost less. It's much wiser to have a magnificent morning reception than be forced to have a mediocre evening event.

Choose your location carefully. Choosing sites that make the best of available resources can produce wonderful savings. A city-owned location, such as a public garden or historic building, may be available for a surprisingly low fee. And if you know someone with a large enough home, you might consider marrying or hosting the reception there.

Keep attendants to a minimum. Although we'd love to have all our friends stand up with us, 12 attendants on each side are ridiculous and expensive. Find other ways to include your friends such as having them read a favorite poem or passage during the ceremony.

Have an accurate guest count. When your caterer and/or reception site asks for a minimum guest head count, estimate conservatively. This way, you won't be committed to paying for 250 guests if only 200 show up.

Have a smaller wedding. Not everyone can afford a wedding reception for 250 people so keep in mind that trimming the guest list is a good place to start saving. You don't have to invite everyone you've ever met.

Have family and friends help. Don't be afraid to ask those close to you if they can help you find ways to keep your wedding budget under control. They may offer their own skills to help you save money, or they may know how to help you find a great deal.

Get organized. The single most important thing you can do to control costs is to get organized. You can find a number of resources in books, magazines and on-line that will help you track your expenses, plan your appointments and keep all your wedding information in one place.

Shop Around Get estimates from several suppliers for your cake, flowers, music, reception site, etc. Then take the time to sit down and compare what you are getting for the prices quoted. Examine quality,quantity, price and service. When you are satisfied with your choice, then call and book them. Don't make hasty or spur-of-the-moment decisions which can end up costing a pretty penny, when it didn't need to.