Australia brides plan weddings on a budget

When it comes to the big day, almost all brides want their weddings to be perfect, whatever the cost. But in an economic crisis, money could be tight, even for fairytale weddings.

Many girls dream of meeting Mr. Right and walking down the aisle for the perfect wedding. But making it the happiest day of her life is easier said than done.

Bride-to-be, said, "I'm finding that anything to do with weddings is quite expensive. So I am going to shop around and try and get the best value that I can."

During the economic downturn, second hand shops in Australia report a surge in demand for wedding dresses.

Bride-to-be, said, "I'm trying to do things that are not too expensive, like expensive invitations, cars, that sort of thing I think is a bit of a waste."

Few stores can compete with the value afforded by buying goods second hand.

Wedding planners have to flex their creative muscles and take a new approach to their businesses.

Kathy Apostolidis, Wedding Planner, said, "It's a great opportunity to clean it out, freshen it up and make it look better than ever before."

But brides may be watching their dollars and cents a little more closely, they still want to be a princess for one day.