HOUSTON -- As wedding season continues, many couples have found that it is hard to pull off a fairy-tale ceremony in a down economy.

Most wedding planners estimate the cost of a wedding in the last decade to be at about $20,000; however, online research group The Wedding Report said that amount dropped dramatically over the past year to slightly more than $16,000.

This year, couples on a budget turned to the Bridal Extravaganza at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.

Audra Diggs and her mother were at the event Saturday, shopping for the big day. Diggs said her wedding date is June 26, 2010, and she is planning on a $20,000 budget.

"I've already found my dress," Diggs said. "My mom actually helped in purchasing that, so we've got that out of the way. I'm not stressing about that anymore."

But Diggs said it is stressful trying to stay within her budget, and she's not alone.

Many in the wedding industry said they thought it would be recession-proof. In this economy, however, consumers and retailers alike are having to cut costs.

Laurette Veres, of Bridal Extravaganza, said she knows the industry and puts together two bridal shows a year. She also said she's been seeing purses tighten.

"We're just seeing much more budgeting -- so much more planning and concern of every single expenditure," Veres said.

Veres said that the Bridal Extravaganza show is actually appealing as a one-stop shop for cost-conscious brides.

"You can go up and down every row, and -- if you had a photographer in mind -- you can meet them and you can meet their competitor," said Veres.

KPRC Local 2 found that the average wedding in Houston carries about a $25,000 price tag, and it appeared many brides are trying to stick within that budget.

Jo Ann Woodward, of Woodward and Schwartz, has been planning weddings for years, throwing extravagant parties with costs ranging from $30,000 to $1.5 million. This year, she said, planners are really having to pitch their abilities.

"They are thinking maybe they can forego having a planner, which is an unfortunate decision because we can help them save money," Woodward said. "We can help them make better decisions as they plan their wedding."

However, most agree, that the best advice for the bride and groom is to figure out what is the most important -- and don't skimp on that.