YAKIMA, Wash. -- For Sara Woodall, it was a must to have an ideal wedding venue along with photography and videography.

The cost of those three things was about $5,000.

But Woodall, 22, of Zillah, is still determined to stay within her $7,000 budget for her summer wedding.

That meant keeping costs low in other areas.

She has been browsing dollar stores to find items for centerpieces. She also found a family friend who has offered to barbecue at her reception for free -- as long as she buys the food -- and made her invitations using print-it-yourself cards that cost $30 on clearance at Michael's.

"You have to look around to find the best deals," she said. "And be patient."

Throughout the Valley, brides face a daunting challenge, keeping the cost low for such an important event.

The average cost of a wedding in Yakima is $11,000 to $19,000, according to www.costofwedding.com, a Web site run by The Wedding Report, which provides data for the wedding industry.

Keeping a budget is essential regardless of the amount the bride and groom have to spend.

"They need to decide what their budget is and what they can afford," said Betsy LaBombard, owner of A Midsummer Night Catering & Event Planning.

Amanda Woodcock, 21, of Yakima was sure that $15,000 -- which is how much her parents offered to pay -- was more than enough for her upcoming May wedding.

To her surprise, some items cost more than anticipated.

In Pullman, where the wedding will be held, a smaller number of vendors has made it more difficult to negotiate.

But she's still finding ways to save.

Her wedding venue, a local park, cost $200. She's getting her cake from a baker in Spokane and is having family pick it up to save on transportation costs.

Her bridesmaid bouquets will be used as reception centerpieces.

She's also taken advantage of seasonal sales, such as after-Christmas promotions, to buy items for the wedding.

"We're trying to be innovative," she said.

Amy and Tavis Guild certainly know what it's like to be on a wedding budget.

Their own wedding in September 2008 was done on a budget of $6,500.

When they work with potential customers of Memory Montage Productions, their videography and photography business, they'll often find ways to accommodate customers' budget, within reason.

They're also willing to cover travel costs for out-of-town weddings.

But when their customers are working on a tight budget, they'll often refer them to other photographers and videographers that offer services within a given price range.

"We have a good network of photographers," Tavis Guild said.

Amy Guild said that brides and grooms planning their wedding should be aware of what is cut out for a cheaper price.

"You can cut your budget on the product or service," she said. "But you might end up disappointed."

One common way to save on wedding costs is looking outside of the traditional times to hold the wedding.

"If you're negotiating a building (price), check if they have different days," LaBombard said. "Sunday (weddings) is usually cheaper."

The time of day can also yield savings.

For example, an early-afternoon lunch reception will cost less than a evening plated dinner, LaBombard said.

"Instead of dinner, do a bunch of appetizers," she said. "It's picking the menu that fits your budget."

Woodcock also looked to nonwedding businesses to provide things she needs.

Buying her bridesmaids' dresses at Ann Taylor, a women's clothing store, cost her just $60 each.

For her wedding favors, she turned to a woman who makes mini-doughnuts at the Pullman Farmers Market. The woman offered to make the doughnuts at her wedding reception for $375 -- less than $2 per guest.

Woodcock also saved by making her own invitations.

But the cost savings required Woodcock to have extra time to make them. She started last summer and just finished them in the past few weeks.

Amy Guild also went the do-it-yourself route for her wedding. She often took advantage of coupons in the newspaper to buy craft supplies at 40 percent off and found friends to help her out.

"You just have to be willing to make the time for it," she said.

Susie Schlepp, co-owner of the Cake Decorating Shoppe, recommends plenty of extra planning for those who want to make their own cake.

Many professional cake bakers will order their supplies months before the wedding season. Do-it-yourself cake bakers should do the same, she said.

They should also take into account things such as refrigerator space and transportation options.

LaBombard emphasizes that when a bride is taking on the planning and organizing of the wedding, it's important to ask for help or set aside money for a wedding planner.

"(Brides) try to do too much themselves," she said. "They don't delegate. They don't ask for help, so they get stressed out.

Woodall has not been a stressed out bride, to her surprise.

This calm comes from her philosophical view on her wedding.

"It's a lot more than a wedding dress, than a wedding and a wedding ceremony," she said. "It's about Evan (her fiance) and I and our commitment to each other."

That's helped her get through the remaining tasks she has to do for her wedding.

One task is finding the wedding dress.

She's not willing to spend more than $300 to $400 for one. She's looked at four different bridal shops as well as online.

But in the end, she can't justify spending more money, even if it lengthens her search.

"It's a very important day," she said. "But I just have a hard time justifying spending thousands of dollars (for a dress) for one day."

* Mai Hoang can be reached at 509-577-7685 or mhoang@yakimaherald.com.

Cost-saving tips
• Pick flowers that are in-season and available within the region or state. They will be less expensive because of a lower transport cost.
• Use flowers to decorate your cake. They’re cheaper than making flowers with icing.
• Don’t feel the need to have a huge guest list. The more people you invite, the more money you’ll need to spend on food.
• Take advantage of after-Christmas sales for decorations. White Christmas tree lights may be a good way to decorate the walls of your reception hall.
• Ask family to give wedding items for Christmas or birthday presents. Useful items could include gift certificates to craft stores or bridal shops.
• Look at different types of businesses to serve your wedding needs. Go to a department store for bridal dresses or the dollar store for candles.
• Instead of hiring a DJ, use technology. Hook up a computer or a portable music player to the sound system.
• Find friends and family with special talents, such as designing invitations or catering. They may be willing to give discounts or even gift the service.

   SOURCES: Betsy LaBombard, A Midsummer Night Catering & Event Planning; Susie Schlepp, Cake Decorating Shoppe and Amy Guild, Memory Montage Productions.