Ask Brianna: How can I fund a wedding and pay student debt?

[...] luxuriate in the news before you freak out that your guest list can fill a 500-line spreadsheet.

Fiddle with your engagement ring in disbelief, daydream about married life, celebrate with friends and family.

Create a thoughtful, realistic budget and forget widely cited figures like The Knot's; a few lavish celebrations drive up the average.

Here's how to plan nuptials that leave you smiling so much your face hurts, not grimacing at the specter of credit card debt.

Decide how much you and your fiance can save per month for the wedding, including any honeymoon expenses, while keeping the rest of your financial picture intact.

The Knot says couples themselves covered 42 percent of wedding costs in 2016, the bride's parents paid for 44 percent and the groom's parents paid for 13 percent.

[...] if your parents help pay, they may want to invite their work colleagues.

Enlist friends to make wedding gifts of their services, such as food prep or event planning, and collect RSVPs online instead of paying for postage for return envelopes.

[...] if she were to do it again, she says she'd make sure the event cost half that by inviting fewer people and using an iPhone playlist instead of a DJ.