Location: Opt for Unusual Venues

Avoid overpriced and overexposed ballrooms in favor of unique spaces such as barns, galleries, studios, rooftops and the homes of good friends or family, says Minoo Hersini, creative director for New York-based Au Ciel Design Studio. These venues come complete with personality and may have lower rental fees or allow you more freedom with your vendors. While rental equipment can quickly add up, a smaller guest list will help and the décor should cost you hardly anything at all. “Work within your space to enhance its natural character rather than try to transform it into something else” Hersini suggests.

Invites: Get Mono

Want high impact for less? Go entirely monochrome or mono-pattern, says Cori Ready, co-founder of The Adventure School, named the 2008 “Best Event Planners in Seattle” by Seattle Metropolitan Magazine. For example, you can make your look all white or all red, from the invite to the attendants’ dresses and suits, to the dishware and linen, to the flowers, favors and cake. (Even the female guests wore ivory to Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s all-white affair in 2008.) A monochromatic theme will look glamorous, even if all the flowers are carnations or all the décor is paper, says Ready. As an alternative, stick with a bold but chic print, such as black-and-white polka dots, for a look that really pops.

Vendors: Prevent Poor Service

It’s always a good idea to pay with a credit card in case an unprofessional vendor refuses to issue a valid refund, but to avoid as many problems as possible, make sure each vendor has a list of their responsibilities in writing, ideally in a contract. “This helps them understand their job and will also protect you if something major goes wrong,” says Anne Chertoff, senior editor for Brides.com. Then, have your wedding planner or a trusted friend confirm the details and deadlines the day before and serve as the point person during the event so that you are free to focus on the festivities.

Next-Day Brunch: Make it work

Due to hotel checkout times, return flights and your own honeymoon, it’s important to time your brunch right; you don’t want to start too early or too late. Krissy Tiglias, lifestyle director for TheKnot.com, recommends scheduling it from 10 or 10:30 a.m. to noon or 12:30 p.m., and making it a drop-in affair so that people can stop by for a half hour or so whenever it’s convenient for them, and, most importantly, you won’t experience a crush. But if your wedding is one where everyone will be out dancing until 4 a.m., don’t be surprised if your guests all show up at 12:15 p.m. wearing dark glasses and begging for bacon.