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We all want to have a fabulous wedding that we'll remember. But most of us need to stick to a budget. For some, it's $500. For others, it's $30,000. Very few have an unlimited budget.

But have you really thought about why you need all of the fancy things that go along with a wedding? Do you have to serve your guests a sit-down dinner when maybe an appetizer hour would be less expensive? And will a Vera Wang gown make you more married than one from a local seamstress, lovingly sown?

What if you took a few things off of the wedding and honeymoon list and instead opted to save for a house, or for retirement? It may be less romantic, less princess-y fairy tale and more down-to-earth. Or even downright boring. But isn't your future as important as your wedding day?

One father is giving his daughter exactly that type of advice. He claims that a $30,000 wedding is really a $4 million wedding when you get down to it. Admittedly, the investment return rate he quotes is higher than many people will be able to achieve. But he is definitely correct about the power of compound interest.

So while you're planning your budget, don't forget to think about the future. Wouldn't you love to retire early and get to spend even more time with your sweetie?

Image: firemedic58 (attribution license under Creative Commons)