CHICAGO — A florist wanted $75 for each of eight flower balls Paige Nero had her heart set on to decorate the aisle for her upcoming wedding.

So she's fashioning them herself for $12 a pop. Throw in 130 invitations she made from scratch, an aisle runner she monogrammed and other labors of love she handcrafted for the September ceremony in Utica, and Nero estimates she's saving as much as $3,000.

"My fiance thinks I'm a nut," said Nero, 26, of Tinley Park in the Chicago area. "Then he sees how much money I'm saving, and he's happy."

At a time when the average spent on weddings in the Chicago area is $33,170, according to a research company that tracks wedding statistics, it's no wonder couples are saying enough is enough.

For example, The Wedding Report, based in Tucson, Ariz., said couples in a downtown Chicago ZIP code typically spend $27,700 to $83,000. Those in the New Trier Township ZIP code on the North Shore usually pay $37,000 to $111,000.

The do-it-yourself wedding trend is expected to gain momentum with the sour economy, experts say.

Fueled by the movement to personalize weddings and easy access to resources on the Internet and elsewhere, some couples no longer are willing to pay big bucks for items they can make themselves.

Brides are coming up with ways to create everything from veils to centerpieces, and discount stores such as Wal-Mart and Target are offering less-expensive and varied wedding merchandise to help them.

Target last year expanded its DIY bridal selection to "create a comprehensive destination for our brides who are working on a budget," said spokesman Joshua Thomas.

Last month, Wal-Mart rolled out a line of Martha Stewart wedding products that includes blank invitations, empty favor boxes and tissue-paper bouquet kits.

These stores are responding to a push from brides for more DIY products, said Kristen Henschen, a designer for Wilton Products, an international producer of craft and wedding products.

"There has been an influx. All of those vendors are asking us to develop those types of products," said Henschen, who runs a Chicago-area side business creating wedding flowers and decor. "I think in '09 you're going to see a lot more of that stuff."

The Knot, a prominent wedding Web site and magazine, is considering creating a special Web page on the DIY trend, said Rebecca Dolgin, the magazine's executive editor. But she doubts the economy is pushing the tide as much as the desire for a unique event.

For couples who don't have much time, adding embellishments to a simple gown or veil can be easier than starting from scratch.

Finding finished examples to work from can be a real timesaver as well, said Chicago bride-to-be Kim Van Gordon. Copy the basics and customize the rest.

"It's taking the different ideas and combining them," said Van Gordon, 36. "I've been trying to have an extra special touch without going overboard on things that aren't going to matter at the end of the day."

The key to a successful DIY wedding can mean being selective when choosing which projects to do, brides said.

Instead of sewing all her own table linens, Nikki Green of Chicago said she is using her grandmother's sewing machine to make damask table runners for the reception. The effect should be the same.

"You really need to do your research and see what you're trying to accomplish because some things can be really expensive," Green, 26, said.

If nothing else, the DIY trend has allowed brides to push the limits, Henschen said.

"Brides have these great ideas that they find, and I'm just amazed they can find the time to do them," she said.