Let me start by saying that your wedding planner can give you wonderful tips on how to save money on your wedding. That being said, I will share with you a great way to save a ton of money on your wedding. Cut down on your guest list!
Between your list of people you want to invite, your fiance's list, and both sets of parent's lists, before you know it your guest list is huge. What you can do is separate the guests into two lists. List A can be the people you absolutely have to invite. List B can be the list of people you want to invite if you can.
A great way to look at your guest list is to consider what inviting each person includes. For every person that you invite it means an invitation, a program, a meal, a few drinks, a slice of cake, a rented chair for the ceremony, a rented chair for the reception, and a guest favor at the very least. If you cut your guest list by 8-10 people, you just saved yourself a rented table, 8-10 rental chairs, rented linen for that table, a centerpiece, food and beverage for 8-10 people, invitations, programs, and favors for them!
Cutting your guest list may also allow you to rent a smaller less expensive reception room and cut down on the staff needed to be hired. So even though your mom may want you to invite your second cousin, if you have not seen or heard from them in several years, think about the cost vs. the savings of inviting them. Happy planning!