Say 'I don't' to debt during wedding season

Saying "I do" shouldn't require you to toss aside a trail of dollar bills as you walk down the aisle.
But if you watch too much reality TV, you're guaranteed to lose a whole lot of money trying to re-create a celebrity wedding.
There are ways to hold onto cash, stick to a budget and be a beautiful bride.
It's far easier to start trying to save money, though, if you remember you're not marrying a Clooney or a Kanye. Here are five strategies:
1. Cut into a slice of the unconventional.
My nephew's bride saved hundreds of dollars by having cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake. The real savings: A few family and friends gathered the morning of the wedding to decorate those cupcakes.
A former and favorite editor said his daughter saved her bridesmaids money by skipping pricey gowns and requesting they wear non-matching black evening dresses.
More and more, we're learning that it is OK to get extra life out of hand-me-downs or heirlooms, such as wearing a cousin's wedding dress or using a grandmother's ring. Some save money by getting married in a small ceremony at court or sharing expenses with the groom's family.
"Everybody is kind of rewriting the way to do things," said Jen House, 37, a wedding planner in Plymouth, Mich. She's been involved with weddings lately that ranged from $15,000 to $250,000. Many times, she said, weddings in Michigan average $30,000 to $40,000.
House, who runs A Moment In Time Wedding + Event Production, said some money-saving ideas aren't always good ones, though. She frowns on the idea of having gorgeous invitations printed for most guests but then handing out photocopies to friends at work to save money.
"It's real tacky," House said. "All guests need to feel the same."
2. Plastic isn't always tacky.
Putting wedding bills on credit cards is not the way to go if you cannot afford to pay the bill in full.
But some consumers could benefit by putting most of their charges on one credit card and spreading out the charges in various months — if they can pay the bill in full and if they have a card that can build up rewards points, such as cash or mileage for honeymoon travel.
They don't want to max out lines of credit, though, if they're going to be applying for a mortgage or car loan soon.
3. Don't star in your own episode of "Say Yes to the Dress."
It really is OK to re-use or re-purpose a family member's or friend's wedding dress to save some money. No one needs to know that you did not buy the most lavish dress in the showroom, either.
Wedding planner House said she often recommends that brides at least consider some neat programs out there like the Brides Project in Ann Arbor, Mich., which sells donated gowns. Money raised from the sale of the gowns goes to support families touched by cancer through the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor.
The Brides Project in Ann Arbor opened in 2011 and sells about 220 gowns a year, mostly to people in Michigan, but some brides have been from Chicago, Virginia and Colorado, said Hannah Lowe, coordinator of the Brides Project.
Lowe, 32, said gowns are priced from about $200 to $1,000. A $1,000 dress might have originally cost $3,000 to $5,000. The project now only accepts donations of gowns that were worn from 2005 and on. No donations of bridesmaid dresses or mothers dresses are taken.
4. Say no to the fake wedding dress.
Mail-order dresses can surprise you, and not in a good way, much like mail-order brides. Will the dress show up looking like anything close to the picture?
Stories abound online of gorgeous pictures for white wedding dresses that arrived with a green hue and some lacy, sexy wedding dresses that ended up being downright frumpy.
Consumer groups warn that some websites are even hijacking a brand's name to make it seem like you've got the real deal for a designer label.
The American Bridal & Prom Industry Association says you want to study the contact information for any site that you find online. You don't want to just order a $500 dress with only an e-mail address as the contact.
If you're shopping online for a deal, pay attention if the model's face is cut off, as the image could be stolen by someone who isn't authorized to carry the brand.
Also, read all return policies online before you buy.
If shopping in a store, make sure a dress isn't missing any tags or has a weird spelling. Visit the brand name's "Where to Buy" Web page or store locator to make sure you're working with an authorized retailer.
5. Don't invite an ID thief to the wedding.
ID thieves can take advantage of the big day as some brides change their names.
It could be convenient to turn to someone else for help, such as name-changing services, but you're turning over important documents to someone else, the Better Business Bureau warns.
"The best way to change your name is to do it in person with all your documents," said Melanie Duquesnel, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau in Southfield, Mich.
Otherwise you could be asking for trouble.
Brides who want to change their legal names after marrying should start first at the Social Security office. See www.ssa.gov and you'd need to bring proof of your identity, such as a driver's license, U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport.
Next, you'd want to change your name on your driver's license with the Secretary of State's office. And then, change your name on all your credit cards and bank accounts.
Adam Levin, chairman and co-founder of Credit.com and IDT911.com, said married couples need to review their credit reports about 30 days after getting married to check for fraud.

"Most new brides don't think about how the process of changing their last name could leave them exposed to identity theft," Levin said.