Now that wedding season is upon us, MSN Money suggests ways to minimize the toll of wedding gifts on your finances:

¢ Set a budget. Avoid the urge to give too much. Just because you’re being invited to a $200-per-person dinner doesn’t mean your gift must match the entree price.

¢ Get creative. Homemade and heartfelt gifts can have a big impact at little cost. The key is to personalize the gift – match your homemade gift to the bride or groom’s favorite things.

¢ Get a group gift. Go in together to get a big-impact item. Group gifts are a common practice among baby-shower guests, and they work just as well for wedding presents.

¢ Stick to the registry. If you try to pick out something on your own but don’t know the couple’s tastes, your gift might be the butt of jokes for years to come.

¢ Offer your services. If you can’t afford a pricey item off the couple’s registry, then give your skills. For example, if you’re short on cash but a whiz at editing home movies, offer to edit any amateur video that’s taken at the wedding.