This pair has a lot in common - including a Sept. 30 birthday. This year, they'll celebrate with a beach-themed wedding.

Planning a wedding? Simple, check. Elegant, check. Affordable? Let a mother of the bride who managed all three help you out.

(ARA) - Here's a scary number for brides-to-be: the average wedding costs $27,490, according to The Wedding Report. And that's just for the basics: invitations, flowers, food, the all-important dress and the ceremony.