It's a well-known fact that weddings definitely aren’t cheap! With so many things to plan, some couples who aren't constrained by a limited budget choose to hire a wedding planner to take the stresses and strains out of the planning. A Wedding planner will plan the wedding with you to the last detail ensuring that the bride and groom get exactly what they want for their special day and will tackle all the stressful planning on their behalf to make sure the day runs smoothly. 

The "To do" list for any wedding is almost endless. With so many things needed it's no wonder the happy couple can become overwhelmed by the planning process. There is a whole host of unavoidable expenditures and purchases, everything from cakes to transport, drinks to decorations and photography has to be considered. 

Cakes:  When it comes to Wedding Cakes, sizes, flavour, style and decorations can vary hugely and like with much of your Wedding, it is important to consider your guests when making selections. It is of course important to have a cake that will be big enough to feed all of your guests at least one portion (around 250 - 300 servings). Couples who use cake designers usually spend between $200 and $800, but while this may seem a lot, it's important to remember that the cake is a big spectacle of a Wedding and is often considered to be the centrepiece. Wedding cake designers will work with you to design something unique and personal for your big day. If a Wedding Cake designer isn't something available to you, there are many craft and florist shops where you can buy all you need to decorate a cake. By doing this you can save money and still create something unique and special for your big day. 

Transport:  From limousines to horse drawn carts, the transport for your wedding is generally very important. The bride has the opportunity to arrive in style to her big day and it is a fantastic opportunity for pictures to be taken. Transport can be expensive and depending on what you choose it is often upwards of $500. Many options are available ranging from a standard limousine to a vintage Rolls Royce, to horse drawn carriage.  Prices vary respectability. Whilst these are relatively common means of transport for a wedding, those with almost unlimited budgets could try a boat or even a helicopter - if you're feeling really adventurous! 

Entertainment:  No Wedding is complete without a band or DJ to entertain the guests during the reception. Budgets make a big difference when choosing the right entertainment for your wedding and it's always important to remember your guests, in particular their age, musical tastes and how many you have attending. Live bands are a popular choice for wedding entertainment, playing a range of songs from the 60s to contemporary pop hits. Other popular choices for reception entertainment are 1920s style 'big bands'. These bands include brass instruments, double bassists and can give contemporary songs an exciting twist. Your choice of band should depend on what kind of atmosphere you're trying to create and what style of music you want to listen to on your big day. Prices for bands can vary dramatically depending on the size, where they're coming from, how long they're playing for and the songs you want them to play. Some couples (those will considerably larger budgets!) choose to have live musicians during the ceremony and dinners in the form of string quartets or jazz pianists. 

About the author: Adam Bennett is a Music Advisor for LastMinuteMusicians