The thought of sacrificing that amazing couture gown, the tiffany chairs or an extra week in the Maldives is often enough to kick-start your saving side. 'I have to admit I'm not a great saver, but it was the motivation of having this amazing perfect day that really spurred me to action,' says recent bride Stacey Bremner.

'Everyone wants their wedding to be an unforgettable experience and a big part is avoiding the money worries that come with it by being smart about the way you save leading up to the big day,' says Macaire O'Brien, ANZ Product Manager, ANZ Online Saver and ANZ Term Deposits.

Stacey and her partner Scott saved for 12 months in the lead up to their December wedding last year. 'We wanted that dream wedding so saving money for the wedding became a determined goal. Scott and I put together a list of all the expenses and from there we would put money away to ensure we were able to pay for everything.'

ANZ recommends setting a budget. 'We set our budget and gathered quotes from several wedding suppliers,' says Stacey. 'Make sure you and your fiancé are on the same page about how much you want to spend and put your savings in a joint account that you can both see and contribute to. A dedicated wedding bank account definitely helps to see how much money you have saved.'

Macaire suggests an ANZ Online Saver account. 'With ANZ Online Saver you can set up multiple accounts so you can dedicate a different aspect of the wedding budget such as the rings, dress and reception to each account. This will make it much easier to track all of the bigger costs of a wedding and interest is calculated daily and paid monthly so you can still earn while you budget!' says Macaire.

A top tip is to try and spread out payments early on so you're not hit with one big cost at the end. A savings account that has no withdrawal fees makes it easier to make payments in a staggered way. Plus accessing your money using your mobile phone and internet banking makes arranging down payments and organising on the run totally stress free!

You need to be realistic about all of the costs associated with a wedding including post-wedding costs such as the honeymoon! For those who need a dose of discipline and structure to help them start saving, Macaire recommends an ANZ Progress Saver account. 'An ANZ Progress Saver account is perfect for people who need a structured plan in order to save for their dream wedding. One of the best things about this account is that it rewards you for disciplined savings, which can be a great way to keep your savings on track!'

The account will help your dollars go further by paying bonus interest in addition to the current base interest when you make at least one single deposit of $10 or more in a month and make no withdrawals or debits in that same month. You can also keep a close eye on your progress with a savings graph on each statement that will help keep you on track and let you know whether you might need to drop some of the 'nice to haves' to make sure your remain within your wedding budget. Or if you're doing well, maybe you can even splash out on a few extras - crystals, couture and imported peonies here we come!

Special thanks to the team at ANZ for sharing their latest money saving advice with us! If you'd like more information about how ANZ could help make your dream wedding a reality head to ANZ Online Saver or ANZ Progress Saver.

Happy Saving! MW x

Any advice does not take into account your personal needs and financial circumstances and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) ABN 11 005 357 522 recommends you read the Terms and Conditions and the Financial Services Guide before acquiring the product