Save the cash or get married? That's the choice that many engaged couples are facing in this down-turned economy, struggling to justify the cost for just one day. Some people say that you should instead use the money for a down payment on a house you can live in for years. Yet I wouldn't have given up the joy and memories of my wedding day for anything, especially since my father unpredictably died just over a month later. There were so many moments of such blissful joy and huge poignancy that I can't imagine squeezing into a 5 minute courthouse wedding with an impersonal judge.

But apparently more Americans are making a different choice than I did. The average cost of a wedding in the US has gone down a high of over $28,000 in 2007 to just about $19,000 today, in part because more couples are opting to elope rather than have a huge bash. But I'm hoping that it's also because couples are finding more ways to be creative about saving money on their weddings, rather than just canceling. What about you? Would you take the money instead if it were offered to you? Is your wedding budget worth it?

Related: Should You Elope?

If you missed Cyber Monday deals, don't fret as there are still great ways to save money on your wedding. First, keep an eye out as often such sales repeat themselves right before Christmas and during New Year's weekend. But even without any special deals, be smart about your wedding budget. Here are my top ten ways to save money on your wedding.

Are you all shopping Cyber Monday, the online alternative to chaos-filled Black Friday? Merchants are offering special deals for today only, so you'll have to act fast! If you still have pennies left in your pocket after the weekend, this can be a good opportunity to find deals for your wedding. And if you're multitasking your Holiday tasks with your wedding checklist as we talked about last week, you can double up on shopping for Christmas presents and wedding necessities for extra shipping savings. Here are the best Cyber Monday deals I found on the internet: Read more...

Can you imagine standing in front of your guests on your wedding day, beaming with pride, and then seeing Uncle Harold sleeping in the front row? It's hardly the lasting image a bride or groom wants to remember about their ceremony. And yet, too often couples stick to a standard script of a wedding and don't let it speak to their unique relationship. I can't tell you how many times I've heard the standard "Love is patient, love is kind" reading from the Bible's 1 Corinthians. Even though I love weddings it's enough to put me to sleep! So take pity on poor tired Uncle Harold and choose more unique and interesting wedding readings.

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is just a week away? The thought fills me with both joy and dread, as it marks the official start of the holiday season here in the United States. Along with anticipating the joy of seeing loved ones and a great meal, I'm already feeling the weight of a long holiday-related to do list: shopping, cleaning, cooking, gift-giving, entertaining, schmoozing. Engaged couples usually already have an overly-full to do list of wedding tasks. So it's understandable that being engaged during the holidays can be both inspiring and deflating. How does a busy bride or groom manage it all? Read more...

When I heard that reality tv star Khloe Kardashian was getting married on tv after a whirlwind courtship with Lamar Odum, I figured it was a publicity stunt that wouldn't draw much attention. But apparently I was wrong, as the 2-hour special last Sunday drew 3.2 million viewers for the E! Entertainment Network. Were you watching? If so, was it seeing her in her Vera Wang wedding dress, the romance of a wedding, or seeing all the celebrity guests that compelled you to watch?