Finding the perfect wedding vendor at the perfect price might be more challenging than finding Mr. Right.  Fortunately for brides, a treasure trove of photographers, DJs, caterers and more are just a click away thanks to community and social networking Web sites such as Craigslist, MySpace and Etsy.

Online communities have become a popular promotional medium for wedding vendors for a very simple reason: they’re free. Unlike paid ads in magazines, which promote experienced vendors who often come with a high price tag, these sites are more democratic, offering brides the chance to discover the gamut, from independent contractors to newcomers looking to break into the field. In many cases, less experienced vendors use these sites to build their portfolios, offering their services well below market price in exchange for the experience—a virtual jackpot for budget brides.

For some brides, working with an “amateur” can be unsettling, and rightfully so—your great uncle Harvey with a digital camera could call himself an amateur photographer. But keep an open mind; the labels can also apply to a recent art school graduate, a former photographer’s assistant or a sous chef looking to launch her own catering company—all of whom have talent but lack the big break.

CRAIGSLIST: A Wedding Wonderland
A local classified Web site for 450 cities worldwide, Craigslist has more than 25 million American users and more than 25 million new postings a month.  People have found furniture, apartments, even dates on Craigslist, so why not use the site to find your florist or photographer.

Scads of wedding vendors can be found by clicking on the “events” tag in the “services” section, including bakers, photographers, videographers, limousine drivers, caterers, and DJs. Brides can even find bartenders and servers, personal trainers, and former brides selling gowns, veils, shoes and centerpieces. Plus,  the constant updating of Craigslist means a constant influx of new vendors for you to review.

Plus, if you can’t find what you want on Craigslist, you can always be proactive and let the vendors come to you. Instead of combing through posts, upload your own, very specific ad detailing exactly what you want and how much you want to pay: a florist with a penchant for the unusual at less than a $1,000 or an eco-friendly transportation service that won’t leave you in debt.

MYSPACE: Dig a Little Deeper
While Craigslist offers quick, easy searches, sites such as MySpace, with more than 200 million accounts, offers a deeper perspective into a potential vendor’s style. For artists, MySpace is a way to establish a Web presence that represents their personality or style, without the expense of paying a designer. Personalized pages allow bands and DJs to post recordings or videos of their performances, while photographers can post images of their work.

Like shopping at discount stores, MySpace can require a little extra energy, searching through good, bad and bizarre entries until you find a gem. In addition, MySpace can be helpful in vetting some recommendations from friends, coworkers and family. Before you commit to using your mom’s friend’s son as the DJ, a quick MySpace search could reveal his passion for the Electric Slide and the Chicken Dance. 

ETSY: A community of artists
In every great city hides an out-of-the-way artists’ community with a goldmine of unique, handmade wares—often at a great price. On the web, that community is called Etsy. More than 100,000 sellers have set up their own personal “shops” through the web site, offering a range of wedding-related products, including invitations, purses, favors and bags. And they’re all handmade.

Etsy is a great community to search if you want to add a personal touch to your wedding day.  For example, you can work with sellers to design your own invitations, pick out different fabrics to make one-of-a-kind clutches for your bridesmaids, and even purchase made-to-order cake toppers molded in your likeness. And who knows, you may just discover the next Kate Spade or Picasso—although you may want to pass on the Picasso.