As the credit crunch steps up a gear and the threat of a recession looms, how can a bride-to-be cut costs on the big day.

The average UK wedding now costs £15, 244., with women being 28 and men age 30 for the ‘I do’s’. Taking into account that the average first time buyer is 34, requiring a deposit of £18,000, (this is approximately 5 years of saving), do we have our priorities wrong?

By no means am I saying that marriage is not important but , can this love keep us so warm we are now forgoing a property to cement it?

What can be a significant cost on the day is the wedding dress. There is a huge industry just surrounding this one item of clothing, with a price tag of £1000 upwards being commonplace.

Here are some alternatives to save you money;

• Why not consider hiring a dress. You will have a large choice at a fraction of the price for a purchase. You can add savings to a honeymoon of a lifetime or some fabulous shoes you will get more future wear from.

• Give your dress a new lease of life by dying it or tailoring it differently. Some women want to have a special dress that is only theirs, but many brides who purchase, simply pack the dress away in a box and rarely look at it. The question you need to ask is what is your social life like, will a dyed wedding dress, be something you can make use of (black tie functions etc)? If so, maybe buying a dress is a good investment.

• How about profiteering from the decline in the US economy. Internet savvy brides are ordering gowns they’ve tried on in the UK from the States. Even with shipping, many dresses still work out significantly cheaper.

• Buy from the high street, many stores now have dedicated Bridal ranges, starting from £60 at Asda and M&S. See High Street Brides for more.

• Try buying your chosen dress directly from the manufacturer. Shops have to add a premium to cover their overheads such as premises and staff etc and you may be able to avoid paying this by going straight to the source.

Chameleon Fridays