NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Filet mignon and lobster tail: $150 per person. A three tiered cake with real rose petals: $1,800. A Vera Wang A-line dress: $5,000. Saving yourself from an emotional breakdown: priceless.

No one ever mentioned that engagement bliss could end as soon as the wedding planning began. But, the emotional high of the fairytale vision doesn't have to fade into financial frustration -- if you know how to cut costs.

According to Ann Nola, director of the Association of Certified Bridal Consultants, most brides fail to grasp that managing costs can become a major source of stress. "Initially, it may not be a concern until they come to reality," she said. "They really have no idea what it's going to cost. Once they see the budget in black and white, they become concerned."

Wedding industry experts suggest these simple ways to trim the tab -- without sacrificing quality -- and make the months leading up to the big day a bit more enjoyable.

1. Don't book a prime date or time.

Saturday night weddings in the spring and summer are the most in demand. As such, owners of reception halls, country clubs and catering businesses charge a premium for those days. But if you book a Friday night or Sunday afternoon you could be a prime target for a discount. "We're typically not going to discount Saturday," said Daniel Briones, catering director at the Swissotel in Boston. But, booking an off month, day or time slot could save you at least 10 percent, he said. Also, be sure to find out if the reception location can put on two events in one day. If your time slot is preventing the hall from holding another reception, the hall is losing money. The coordinators may give you a discount if they are able to hold another wedding earlier or later in the day.

2. Come in with a budget.

If you come in with a budget in mind, the caters, florist and band leaders can work around it. If they know how much is available, they can create something special within that price range. "If you have a budget for each area, people will come down on prices," Nola said.

3. Chose lower-cost meals or cut out a course.

By moving from a five-course meal to a three-course meal, brides could save about five percent on the meal package price without missing a beat, Briones said. Also, the lowest-cost meals generally involve some type of chicken dish. Briones said that the Swissotel charges $135 per person for chicken dishes and $150 for beef. So, substituting beef for chicken would save $15 per person. "There's so much you can do with chicken to make it fabulous," he said.

4. Look for packages.

While some reception locales that factor items other than food into a per-person charge often do it for convenience, not savings, this is not always the case. Sometimes the hotels and country clubs have long-standing relationships with florists, photographers, limousine services -- and they'll pass on savings and discounts to you, Briones said.

5. Order invitations online.

While you could make your own invitations and save big bucks, you also might miss out on quality. Instead, try buying invitations online, cutting the cost in half, Nola said. Typically, online sites offer the same styles and quality for a much lower price.

6. Buy in-season flowers -- and don't order more than you need.

Out of season buds could double or triple flower costs, depending on the variety, Nola said. So, if lilies aren't blooming in your area during the season of your wedding -- go for something else. For those tying the knot in a church, have someone bring the flowers to the reception to get double duty out of them. And, beware of florists pushing to have a bouquet in unnecessary places, like the gift table. "You don't need an arrangement on a gift table -- there will be gifts there," Nola said.

7. Be creative with the cake.

Bakeries charge a whopping $4 to $5 per slice, on average, for a wedding cake. How can you slice that cost in half? Many brides these days have the baker make only the bottom tier of the cake real, said Nola. The rest of the cake is a mere image. To make sure all of the guest get fed, some happy couples have large sheet cakes, which are much less expensive, kept in the back -- where the guests will never see them or know the difference.

8. Hire a disc jockey, not a band.

"DJs are cheaper than bands and can play any music you want," said Nola, who estimated a cost savings of at least $1,000. She said the average DJ charges $500 to $1,200 per event, while a band could range from $1,500 to upwards of $5,000 depending on the type and popularity of the group.

9. Shoot for final.

While many people think scrapping the videographer completely means easy savings, Nola says this is a mistake. "A lot of brides don't budget for it," she noted. "I think you miss half the wedding if you don't have video." Because so many groups are gathering simultaneously during the wedding and the happy couple has a tendency to let nerves take over, the bride and groom often miss out on pieces of a day they don't want to forget. The solution? Nola suggests hiring a videographer to "shoot for final," meaning to take film of the wedding and reception -- sans editing. Shooting video of a wedding can be pricey, about $2,000 on average, but taking it unedited could save 50 percent of the cost, Nola said. And it can always be edited and set to music later when funds are more free flowing.

10. Always ask for a discount.

"Go in knowing what you want and ask for a discount," Briones said. "Don't be afraid to ask -- you can't get what you don't ask for." He said weddings are a negotiable business, and he likened it to buying a car. These businesses want your money, so if you stick to a strict budget and ask for an item for a certain price, chances are you'll get it.