If we had the money, we may opt for a four day wedding extravaganza like Jessica, or have three separate weddings like Rosanna, but we don't. We're on a very tight budget...  If you're putting off getting hitched because you'd rather spend all your available cash on food/rent/bills, we have some helpful hints below on how you can have a wedding on a budget. But first, in the nature of balance, let's have a gander at the new Mrs. Johnson's alleged spend. We say "alleged" because she hasn't personally sent us receipts for everything chronicled below.

The singer tied the knot with Eric Johnson in a lavish four-day event at the San Ysidro Ranch in California over the weekend, which set them back about $300,000 on food alone, according to E! News.

The catering bill - which excludes the price of alcohol - was so big because chefs rustled up several gourmet meals for the couple's 275 guests over the course of 96 hours, including a rehearsal dinner last Thursday evening, and a barbecue to celebrate Independence Day on July 4th, as well as the wedding breakfast and farewell brunch.

Booking up the hotel's restaurants for privacy reasons will have set them back another small fortune, as well as booking hotel rooms for their guests, which would have amounted to at least $150,000. Reserving the garden space alone for the long-awaited nuptials apparently cost $30,000. An estimated $150,000 was spent on flower arrangements, while 33-year-old Jessica's Carolina Herrera gown is thought to have cost $30,000, with a massive $750,000 going on her jewellery.

The website claims that extra costs including wedding outfits, a styling team, personal security and staff fees will have taken the total up to $1.4 million.

Wowsers. That price tag makes the average cost of an Irish wedding - that being in the region of €20,000 to €25,000 - look a pittance. Thing is, €22,500 is HUGE money to most of us. It's what some people earn in a year, and the thought of spending it all on one day is just inconceivable to some, myself included.

I'm getting married in September, and my budget - for EVERYTHING - is €6,000. That includes the transport, lunch, reception, rings, dress, photographer, the actual getting married part, and potentially the honeymoon. So far, I'm still on budget (assuming the Credit Union approves my loan, otherwise the whole thing is off).

OK, so here are 10 guidelines to being a DIY bride...

1) Rule number one of Wedding Planning. Do not mention the word "wedding." I was block booking rooms for the in-laws for a few days in a nearby hotel. I stupidly mentioned "wedding" and the four rooms came in at an extortionate price. I rang back the next day, didn't mention "wedding" and every room was magically subject to a 15% block booking discount which rendered each room close to €100 cheaper.

2) If you're not particularly Religious, consider the Registry Office. Church weddings are steep. You must pay for the privilege of using the church, you may want flowers for the church, it's the norm to give money to the person presiding over the ceremony, and then you also have to pay €200 for your actual marriage license. In other words, you're looking at about €600. If you choose the Registry Office, you're just paying the €200 for the license. It sounds clinical, but it's what you make of it. You can still walk down the aisle, choose the music you want played (or indeed have someone strum along on a guitar), exchange rings and vows, the works. If you're in Dublin, you'll also have the added bonus of the lovely Grand Canal setting for your photos.

3) Everyone knows a 'photographer'. Professional wedding photographers can cost in the region of €1,500. And there's a reason for that - they're good at what they do, don't need direction, etc. I'm lucky enough to have a cousin who permanently has a camera attached to the end of his arm, so he's only happy to take photos of the day (he'd be taking them regardless, to be honest). If you don't know anyone who has a good eye or decent kit, an alternative is to ask your guests to take candid shots of proceedings throughout the day and email them on to you. For the less technically savvy guests; disposable cameras still exist, just throw a couple their way. You'll be surprised at the moments you'll have captured.

4) Choose a restaurant for the meal. You can either spend the guts of €3,500 on feeding your guests just one choice of meal at an "all in" wedding venue (usually in the region of €40 - €70 a head), or you could just choose a varied 'early bird' menu in your favourite restaurant for half the price. True the downside is that you'll have to move venues, but at least you know it's an option. 

5) There doesn't always have to be cake... I'm not having one. However, it's easier for me to get away with this because we're having lunch in a restaurant and then heading to a hotel for the 'party'. Cakes (if you mention the word "wedding") can cost in excess of €300. If you're hell bent on having one, you could rope in a rellie who's handy with a Victoria Sponge and a piping bag, or buy three different sized cakes from the supermarket and pile them on top of each other (in size order, obvs). All you will need are dowls to keep the three layers from collapsing on top of each other and perhaps some ribbon to tether around each one. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube to show you how.

6) Get a cab. We were going to borrow a friend's car to cart us to and from the registry office, but now we're considering opting for a reputable cab company we know have nice shiny cars.

7) It doesn't have to be a "wedding" reception. I asked for the prices of hiring a reception room in our hotel of choice for a "family occasion" for the evening, from 6:30pm - 12:30pm. The only stipulation of the hotel's is that we have a certain amount of people and therefore order X amount of cocktails and canapes. Apart from that, the actual room hire is €250. They soon copped it was a wedding, but they didn't mind at all. I have a friend (who I've yet to ask) doing up the room from 5:30pm. Each table is going to have a centre piece of flamless candles, silk rose petals, crystals, and a jar of penny sweets (all bought for bugger all through Amazon).

8) Try alternatives to traditional flowers. Flowers can cost a fortune on the day, approximately €600. Again, there's a reason for that. Fresh flowers are beautiful. I am, however, opting for a DIY Brooch Bouquet (again, tutorials available on YouTube), and feather corsages. The restaurant and the hotel already come adorned with their own flowers.

9) Ditch the bridesmaids. This was the one thing I had an issue with. Luckily I have very sound sisters and friends who are willing to undertake the roles without the credit.

10) Buy an off the rack dress and get it altered. Ideally, I would've loved a Jenny Packham dress, but that would've been almost the entire budget blown. Instead I did a bit of Googling and saw something very apt in House of Fraser. If you want to make it look a bit different, bring it to a reputable alterations place. If you live in the Dun Laoire area, Stitch Express are pretty amazing. As for accessories, I'm wearing blinging earrings I don't get a chance to wear that often.

OK... When it's stripped down like that, it doesn't really give you the warm and fuzzies about your magical day... But, sometimes, needs must. And never forget that a bit of imagination goes a reeeeally long way.

P.S. If you're looking for a thriftier alternative to the printed invite, paperlesspost.com let you design your own and email a certain amount to guests for free... Also, seating arrangements don't always have to involve pins, paper and all out war. Weddingwire.com provide a free seating chart for you to tinker with.