How can I save 500 dollars on my wedding?

My second reading for wedding planning is Denise and Alan Fields book called Bridal Bargains 7th Edition. This one was published in 2005 and uses a lot of web sources. However, I wonder how many more are included in the later publications. The writers had me on the third page with this line:

You can bet your bridal veil that the industry knows EXACTLY how lucrative all these "I Do's" can be. To illustrate this, check out what the publisher of Bride's magazine told a trade journal about the wedding industry: "Never before in a woman's life, and never again, is she going to be worth this much money to a marketer. There is no price resistance and she is completely open to new brands," Bride's publisher cackled adding that the internal tag line for Bride's is "Where Love Meets Money."

This is a great book to read at the beginning of the planning process before any contracts are signed or money is exchanged. What gets me the most is the chapter on bridal gowns. It makes me want to sew my own dress. In the United States the average wedding dress costs 800 dollars, but that was actually lower than I expected when I watch TLC's Say Yes to the Dress. Most of those brides have higher dress budgets than my entire wedding! The descriptions of synthetic materials, shanty seams, and botched alterations made me cringe. Gowns are only just the beginning of the different vendors that have to be employed.

Some other interesting facts from Bridal Bargains:

~ Several investigations have proved when wedding is mentioned when booking an event the price for the service can increase 20 to 40 percent.

~ In an article by CBS's Chris Plummer the tenth most over paid profession is wedding photographers.

~Alcohol will be the most expensive aspect of a catering bill.

~ David's Bridal has extremely poor customer service ratings.

Now that the tulle over my eyes have been lifted, I am ready for something more light hearted.