Summer is wedding season, but planning your vows doesn’t have to break your bank.

The trip down the aisle takes a lot of planning and money, costing an average of about $30,000 in 2013.

Lauren Carrasco and her husband spent about $20,000 on their wedding. Carrasco says her parents offered to help pitch in, but she decided to stick to her budget.

“I just thought it was so great that my parents even offered, that I wanted to do the right thing and stay on budget, and I knew I could,” Carrasco said. “It’s not that hard.”

Picking a date is the first way you can save money. June and September are the most popular times to get married, which means you’ll pay a premium for any venue during those months. Scheduling at an off-peak time of the year is a good way to save.

The day of the week matters too. Saturdays are the most expensive day for ceremonies. Pick a Friday or Sunday wedding, with a daytime reception, to save thousands of dollars.

You’ve heard of location, location, location. Holding the service outside, in a spot that already has beautiful atmosphere, can save on decorations.

Try skipping expensive, fresh flowers and give silk ones a shot. Decorating the tables yourself can also cut costs.

Drinks are one of the biggest cash cows, so instead of an open bar, opt to serve a signature cocktail or just beer and wine.

Of course, there’s the wedding dress. The average bride spends about $1,200 on her gown. Shop around, keep an eye on sales, and consider buying a sample designer gown to pocket savings.

A survey by TheKnot.com in 2013 collected detailed information from nearly 13,000 brides on how much they spent on their weddings. Here are some of their findings:

Top 2013 Wedding Statistics

  • Average Wedding Cost: $29,858 (excludes honeymoon)
  • Most Expensive Place to Get Married: Manhattan, $86,916 average spend
  • Least Expensive Place to Get Married: Idaho, $16,159 average spend
  • Average Spent on a Wedding Dress: $1,281
  • Average Marrying Age: Bride, 29; Groom, 31
  • Average Number of Guests: 138
  • Average Number of Bridesmaids: 4 to 5
  • Average Number of Groomsmen: 4 to 5
  • Most Popular Month to Get Engaged: December (16 percent)
  • Average Length of Engagement: 14 months
  • Most Popular Month to Get Married: June and September (15 percent each)
  • Popular Wedding Colors: Blue (35 percent), Purple (26 percent), Pink (25 percent), Metallics (25 percent)
  • Percentage of Destination Weddings: 24 percent