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There’s no getting around it: weddings are expensive. But the price varies on what kind of wedding you want and how many people you want to be there. Heather Colburn and Greg Neil decided they didn’t want to spend more than $20,000 and wanted to invite 270 people.

“We chose what was important to us and cut back on areas that were not,” Colburn said to Reuters. Among the expenses Colburn decided to cut back on were her dress and flowers.

In terms of budget, Colburn and Neil were a bit below the average wedding costs of $27,021. Wedding consultant Laura Ursin says that if you’re trying to figure out how much your wedding will cost of, add two zeros to your guest list, and remember that big city weddings cost more.

Whether you’re looking to have a big upscale wedding or a small private affair, Reuters has a list of how much your budget will get you.

$5,000: A smaller budget will get you a simpler wedding celebration with about 20 people. You’ll probably hold the wedding in a backyard or a garden and food will either be light appetizers or perhaps barbecue. Your dress will match the simplicity of the atmosphere with a $50-1000 price tag.

$20,000: This may seem like a lot more to work with than the first budget, but depending on how many people you decide to invite, it’s not. Colburn and Neil, who stayed in this budget, had their wedding at the Madison Children’s Museum and brought their own food to the celebration. Instead of a full open bar, they served the bride’s favorite cocktail and wine for three hours. For the rest of the night beer was served and all other drinks were at the drinker’s expense.

$50,000: This will afford you the big city wedding. It won’t be able to get you everything you ever dreamed or an extra “wow” factor, but you will be able to afford special foods, flowers and display.

$100,000: When you’re paying this kind of money, you’ll be able to get just about everything you ever dreamed. This includes a horse drawn carriage, top-of-the line flowers to match your color scheme, centerpieces, dance lessons, diamond jewelry and a silk and satin dress. Not to mention you’ll be able to serve your guest a world class meal such as red snapper and crab meat.

Most of us may not be able to afford the $100,000 wedding of our dreams and expect to live the happily ever after life from then on. So if you want to save and end up in one of the smaller budgets, here are a few tips:

-Trade top shelf champagne for something generic. The difference can cost $30 a person.

-Make your own centerpieces. While you can use a flower designer for the bouquets, try arranging the receptions tables with friends and families.

-Cut the guest list. Even though you want to invite all of your elementary, middle, high school and college friends as well as everyone in between, cutting guest numbers is the easiest and fastest way to cut your expenses.

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