'For Richer or Poorer' Starts When Planning a Wedding: MMI offers tips for planning the wedding of your dreams within your means.

HOUSTON -- With wedding season fast approaching, many couples can already hear wedding bells. Unfortunately for some couples, the bells may sound like the cha-ching of a cash register, as wedding costs continue to skyrocket. According to www.theweddingreport.com, the total expected cost for weddings nationally in 2006 is $59 billion, with the average wedding costing $26,800 - a four percent increase from 2005.

Traditionally, the bride's parents are responsible for financing the walk down the isle and the reception. However, with today's couples waiting longer to tie the knot, the increasing trend is for the bride and groom to finance their own celebration. With this in mind, before saying "I do", consider a few smart money tips offered by the experts with Money Management International.

Know your budget. Creating a realistic budget is probably the most important part of planning a wedding, and should definitely be the first step. Determine what kind of celebration is important to you, consider what you can afford, and then decide who pays for what. According to CNN Money, 73 percent of all wedding ceremonies are a combined financial effort between families - the more contributors, the bigger the wedding.

Start planning early. The average wedding takes sixteen months to plan. You will need hundreds of hours to visit vendors, set appointments, and coordinate details. Allowing a full 12 to 16 months offers the most opportunity to take advantage of bargains and allows all parties time to add to their wedding savings fund.

Join a wedding site. Sites like www.theknot.com can help you stay organized and provide access to helpful articles and popular links as well as special offers. These sites also include tools like online calculators and interactive personal settings to help you maintain a structured budget and to-do list.

Go against the grain. According to Hallmark, most weddings are held during the summer months, with August being the most popular. Having an off-season wedding can provide significant cost savings. Also, review facility pricing for a morning or early afternoon wedding, as opposed to an evening wedding.

"Whether you are hoping for an extravagant wedding or a simple ceremony, your special day should be filled with blissful memories. Being financially prepared will help make sure this day is one of the best days of your life," said Cate Williams, vice president of financial literacy for Money Management International. "It is important to remember that while the wedding is an important event, it is designed to celebrate the start of a marriage. Making healthy financial decisions early will lead to a lifetime of financial freedom and happiness together."

About Money Management International

Money Management International (MMI) is a non-profit, full-service credit-counseling agency, providing confidential financial guidance, financial education, counseling and debt management assistance to consumers since 1958. MMI helps consumers trim their expenses, develop a spending plan and repay debts. Counseling is available by appointment in branch offices and 24/7 by telephone and Internet. Services are available in English or Spanish. To learn more, call 800-762-2271 or visit www.moneymanagement.org.