1. CONGRATULATIONS!
2. Under no circumstances should you try to do everything all by yourself. If you have control issues (as I did), this wedding is a good opportunity to LET your friends and family HELP YOU (not take over).
3. Silk flowers, silk plants and a creative family member or friend. My husband and I purchased my bouquet and the bride's maid bouquets (all silk) from (believe it or not) the Food City Floral Department and we probably spent $130.00. I imagine the cost would have been almost triple that had we used fresh flowers. My Mother-in-Law made the Flower Girl's basket from silk flowers she and I chose together at Wal-Mart.
4. Do A LOT of web research for other things you may need or want, such as:
~ a knife and server for cakes
~ a ring-bearer pillow (we found a ring-bearer box on eBay for $12.00 and it was unusual and perfect!)
~ a cake topper
~ wedding favors (try something like: http://www.favorfavor.com/page/FF/PROD/New/23008KA)
~ guest book & quill
~ all kinds of other stuff...
5. Make your own wedding invitations or find someone with a creative flair to make them for you. You can go to any Hallmark Store and look at their loose, wedding-themed stationery and then have someone print what you want on them (using their computer and printer), or have Hallmark print them for you for a fee.
I have all kinds of ideas...and could go on forever, but I'll stop here. Just be creative, allow people to help you, and be constantly in control of your budget - how much you CAN spend, how much you HAVE spent, and how much you have LEFT after each purchase.
Also - it's a bit on the expensive side, but as you're in the process of planning your wedding, schedule some you time with a massage therapist, or treat yourself to manicure/pedicure, maybe a facial... Trust me, it will be worth the extra $$ and relaxation if you splurge on this BEFORE the wedding!
Good luck and let me know if I can help at all: ____@____.com.
J. S