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As the U.S. economy struggles, consumers are tightening their belts. With gas hovering around $4/gallon (quadruple what many parts of the country are used to), food and other goods increasing, and services creeping up in price, Americans are looking for ways to save money. And that can include their wedding. Many brides and grooms are starting out much differently from their parents. Higher mortgages and a weak dollar contribute to dwindling wedding budgets.

Forbes.com reports the wedding industry as mostly recession-proof, due to families wanting to make this once-in-a-lifetime event memorable. So brides are finding creative ways to save costs, but still get the wedding they dream of.

They are bargain-shopping for a wedding dress. Not every woman needs this year's hottest dress, when last year's could be half the price. Brides are doing more things themselves, making centerpieces, favors, even invitations. Or they turn to artisans who can make handmade, one-of-a-kind items that are usually more environmentally friendly and less expensive than high-end, mass-produced wedding products.

Are you feeling the economic squeeze? If so, what have you done to cut costs? Have you scaled back your wedding, or are you just becoming a better bargain shopper?