Planning a wedding requires a lot of effort and money--the latter, fortunately, is pretty negotiable. Modern brides are finding various ways to minimize their wedding expenses, and to help you save on your own celebration, we asked real brides to share their tips with you.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

Researching is the most basic step in finding what you need for your wedding. Katrina Salvador-Lopez stresses, "Research, research, research! I spent hours on the Internet." Online resources would allow you to find the latest deals, and connect with fellow brides who can share feedback on suppliers you're considering.

While researching is a good thing, Niña Chua-Cabardo shares that brides should also learn to stop obsessing about certain elements. "If you've found your design for the dress or theme, don't go confusing yourself with reading more," she says.

CHOOSE SUPPLIERS THAT CAN PROVIDE MULTIPLE SERVICES.

Some suppliers can multi-task, so take advantage of their package deals if you're satisfied with their services. Cris Aquino-Agloro narrates, "Our florist did our bouquets, church arrangements, event set-up, table centerpieces and souvenirs! We were able to save a lot of money and time coordinating with one person for all these things. And it didn't hurt that we were given a discount for the business we were giving our florist."

LEARN TO PRIORITIZE.

As you plan your wedding, you'll find that you might have to compromise some of the details. Before you lose sight of what you want for your celebration, prioritize. "List your non-negotiables," Niña Chua-Cabardo says. Doing so would allow you to get the wedding you want, even if it you're on a strict budget. "Excellent food was the one thing we were both more than willing to spend a lot of money on. We chose a great menu from Bizu that people were talking about even months after the wedding. After indulging ourselves with that one thing, we scrimped on everything else," says Cris Aquino-Agloro.

If you have more tips, share them by posting a comment below.