BRONZE BUDGET BRIDE

With today's slumping economy, even dreamy potential brides and grooms think they have to scale back on their wedding day. But that doesn't mean your dream ceremony has to go out the door.

Jennifer Mae and Chris Watters said the wedding of their dreams would have normally cost about $30,000.

"I think we had it down to about $3,000," Mae said.

So how did they pull off a champagne wedding on a beer budget? They bartered offering their videography skills in return for some ‘I do’ must haves.

"We bartered all of our party rentals, the retreat center—which is in our chapel—our wedding planner, our photographer, our DJ," Mae explained.

Not to mention, the wedding bands, invitations, and catering among other things.

Ken and Tavon Ferguson didn't have anything to barter but say they still managed to throw a $20,000 wedding for just $6,000.

"And nobody missed it—the $14,000 that we didn't spend," Ken Ferguson said.

They took their package deal, which was an all-inclusive package deal at a wedding site that included food, drink, and staff to serve a hundred guests, and moved it up a couple of hours.

Because they were willing to have their wedding in the morning, the package was $5,500 instead of $7,500.

Tavon Ferguson also sought out photographers and DJs who were already professionals but trying to break into the wedding market and wanted good references.

Their flowers came from Costco and her bridesmaids' dresses and shoes from a regular store for $60 each.

As for her gown, she refused to bust her budget for the $650 dress at David's Bridal, and searched online for the name and style number and found it on Craigslist.org in her size.

"The same exact dress with tags still on, brand new and was selling it for $200," Tavon Ferguson said.

Debt free: Not a bad way to start off happily ever after.

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