When it comes to planning a wedding, the food can be the most costly part of it. You're fortunate if you can get food for your guests for less than $50 a person. So you have a choice when you're on a budget.

Do you choose not to feed them, or do you invite less people? How about this: Why not find some wedding recipes so that you can make your own reception food?

Making your own wedding food comes with plenty of benefits. For starters, you have more control over costs. Second, you can control the ingredients. When you make your own food and choose the ingredients, you can guarantee that all the reception food fits all the dietary guidelines of your choosing.

But do yourself a favor and give yourself time to plan, because your wedding day is going to be quite busy. Be sure to test all the recipes first. Choose recipes that freeze well, or that will stay fresh in the fridge for a few days.

Get your friends and family involved. Many of them will probably be happy to devote a few days to helping you with the big day by helping you make some wedding recipes-- if you give them plenty of notice.

Choosing the recipes to serve your guests could be the toughest part of the plan. There are thousands of possibilities. Find cookbooks that have lots of great recipe ideas. Perhaps buy a few or borrow them from the library.

Don't neglect to search the internet, which could be your best resource. Dozens of great recipe sites boast thousands of recipes. Spend a few hours doing your research, and you could put together the perfect menu!

There are lots of things you might consider serving at your reception. Consider skewered meats served with fine sauces, tea sandwiches (carrot, pimento, cucumber & cream cheese, etc.), potato skins with unusual toppings, wedges of pita bread with dips, crackers with smoked salmon, etc.

You want your recipes to be tasty, but be careful that they don't resemble the ordinary kind of food you might serve at a Saturday night party. You want to serve food that will stand out in the memories of both you and your guests.