Save Big With Frugal Wedding Tips

Oct. 3, 2008 — -- Weddings are infamously expensive. From the rehearsal dinner to the ceremony and reception, the average wedding now runs around $28,000. That price tag can put a damper on a fairy-tale time.

But for newlyweds Natalie and Gene Taylor, saving a ton of money on their wedding -- $16,000 worth -- did not mean giving up their dream day.

Like so many other young couples, the Taylors did not have a fortune to spend on their wedding so extravagance was out and creativity was in for their 200 guests.

Here are some tips that "Good Morning America" received from the Taylors and from other viewers.

According to Jamie Zanzinger of Real Simple Weddings, off-the-rack dresses from places like Anne Taylor, J. Crew and Target are the way to go.

"What they're doing is picking these really high-quality fabrics and then not embellishing them so you can go and buy your own crystal beading or gorgeous lace and have a seamstress make it into an overlay for you," Zanzinger said. "You can make it your own. Make it look like a really high-end designer dress."