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What little girl doesn't dream of the day she marries? Pretty as a princess, dressed to the hilt and surrounded by her family and friends as she says "I do" to her soul-mate. As a child, we plan out every extravagance as if money is no object- when in fact, money is an object: A rather large and unsavory object in the way of most brides today. For many, its like "a rock and a hard place" with tulle and polished pearls.

In all reality and to effectively get the point across, all that is actually needed is a license, an officiant and a loving couple. But, in most situations, this alone just will not do. Frugality, common sense and "girlishness" are inherent necessities in today's wedding planning. From start to finish, beautiful nuptials and lasting memories can be accomplished without breaking the bank. Below, you will find an assortment of suggestions that can cut costs, while still allowing for beauty, style and creativity.

The easiest way to make a budget go as far as possible is to allow plenty of time between the engagement and the ceremony itself. Time can allow you to break your budget into smaller, more manageable chunks. As opposed to looking at your $5000 wedding budget as one lump sum, giving yourself a year or two lets you save a little every month to build up to your maximum amount. Time can allow a small budget to grow and increase through interest or dividends from an IRA, savings account or CD.

Time also allows for venue selection. Venue is one of the largest bites taken from a wedding budget, and with time on your side, you may be able to secure a better location at a discount, due to the "early bird" line of thought. Without time, you may be forced into spending an exorbitant amount of money on an unfavorable site- simply because you don't have time to bargain- hunt or shop around.

Invitations can also take a big bite out of your budget if you allow them to. If you live in the same locale as the majority of your guests- consider running an ad in the local paper, including an engagement photo and wedding specifics in lieu of purchasing invitation stationary. After the wedding, run another ad featuring a photo of the bridal party and announcing a "Thank You" to attendees. Reserve costly invitations for out of town guests or close family only.

High quality and original invitation sets can also be made at home using a print suite, photo quality paper and a computer and printer. If you do use a newspaper or other such similar publication

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