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Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget (Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget)by Denise Fields
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:Wow! Finally, a wedding book for the rest of us. With average wedding costs soaring over $25,000, you need real life solutions and creative ideas to plan a wedding without going bankrupt. Bridal Bargains is the answer! Now in its 10th edition with over 700,000 copies in print, Bridal Bargains shows you: ♥ How to save up to 40% on brand new, nationally advertised wedding dresses.
♥ The best web sites to save on everything from flowers to gowns, invitations to, well, you name it.
♥ Fourteen creative ways to cut the catering bill at your reception.
♥ How to order flowers at wholesale online.
♥ Eleven questions you should ask any photographer—and seven money-saving tips to lower that photo expense.
♥ Affordable ways to print your own invitations at a 70% savings.
♥ A clever trick to save big bucks on your wedding cake.
♥ The best bargains on honeymoons, gift registries, rings, wedding videos and more!
♥ New! Green your wedding with eco-friendly invites, catering tips and more!
The brand new, 20th year anniversary edition is completely re-written, with revised and updated tips on tying the knot without going bankrupt. Synopsis:The national best seller the wedding industry does NOT want you to read! Bridal Bargains teaches couples all the tricks to saving money on a wedding-and how to avoid pitfalls and scams. With the average wedding costing in excess of $20,000, Bridal Bargains is the solution to tying the knot without breaking the bank. Synopsis:Wow Finally, a wedding book for the rest of us. With average wedding costs soaring over $25,000, you need real life solutions and creative ideas to plan a wedding without going bankrupt. Bridal Bargains is the answer Now in its 10th edition with over 700,000 copies in print, Bridal Bargains shows you:
♥ How to save up to 40% on brand new, nationally advertised wedding dresses.
♥ The best web sites to save on everything from flowers to gowns, invitations to, well, you name it.
♥ Fourteen creative ways to cut the catering bill at your reception.
♥ How to order flowers at wholesale online.
♥ Eleven questions you should ask any photographer--and seven money-saving tips to lower that photo expense.
♥ Affordable ways to print your own invitations at a 70% savings.
♥ A clever trick to save big bucks on your wedding cake.
♥ The best bargains on honeymoons, gift registries, rings, wedding videos and more
♥ New Green your wedding with eco-friendly invites, catering tips and more The brand new, 20th year anniversary edition is completely re-written, with revised and updated tips on tying the knot without going bankrupt. About the AuthorDenise and Alan Fields have been dubbed the “wedding watchdogs” for their efforts as consumer advocates for engaged couples. But how do two seemingly normal people end up writing wedding books for a living? The Fields met while attending the University of Colorado at Boulder. Denise was a history major specializing in Elizabethan England; Alan was in the business school, studying the marketing of products to Albania. We wish there was some fairy-tale story about how the couple met, but it’s actually quite boring—they ran into each other in a dormitory during the infamous Bronco Blizzard. Denise and Alan became writers because they couldn’t find any other gainful employment. After college, Denise realized that the unemployment rate for Elizabethan England scholars was 132%. Alan’s career as a college newspaper columnist and disc jockey fizzled out as well. Since they had a lot of free time, they authored a small book called Austin Weddings, about their travails planning their own wedding in the capital of Texas (where they had moved after graduating from CU). Then something clicked. The Fields’ consumer advice was a hit with brides and the book became a local best-seller. Realizing they had perhaps found a way to make a living without having to get real jobs, Denise and Alan turned out wedding guides to Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, San Diego and Denver. By this time, the Fields recognized something most other so-called wedding experts refused to admit. Forget all this fancy etiquette stuff—what brides and grooms really wanted to know was how to get a good deal on the items for their wedding. Following that theme, the Fields wrote their first national book on weddings, Bridal Bargains. To say the book was unpopular among members of the “wedding industry” was an understatement. The Fields were banned from attending bridal shows; an editor from a major bridal magazine lambasted the Fields in a letter to the Wall Street Journal. Fortunately, the Fields did have one fan in the media—a talk show host by the name of Oprah Winfrey. Oprah told her viewers to buy the book. 700,000 copies later, the book is the Fields best-selling title to date. The Fields continued writing about life’s milestones with their next book, Baby Bargains. Inspired by the birth of their sons, Baby Bargains is a best-selling guide to baby gear that has also been featured on Oprah and NBC’s Today Show. As a follow-up, the Fields teamed with award-winning Austin pediatrician Dr. Ari Brown to pen Baby 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Baby’s First Year. Baby 411 also hit the best-seller chart and produced a sequel, Toddler 411. Both books have over 200,000 copies in print and have been featured on Rachael Ray and Dr. Phil.
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1 Introduction 1 So, Who Are You Guys? 1 The 4 Truths About Weddings You Won’t Read In Etiquette Books 3 The Goal of this Book 5 Wow! There’s No Advertising! 5 How Much Does the Average U.S. Wedding Cost? 6 Sleight of Hand: The True Cost of Weddings? 9 The Six Fields’ Commandments for Bridal Bargains 10 The BRIDAL CLOCK 12 What’s New In This Edition? 13 Part I: Your Wedding Chapter 2 Apparel for the Bride 17 The Olympics of Shopping 17 Hidden Costs Can Add Up 19 Web Sites To Ease Gown Shopping 21 Why Ordering a Gown Takes So Long 22 17 Step-by-Step Shopping Strategies 24 Good vs. Bad Gown Quality 27 Questions to Ask Before You Order the Gown 29 Special Warning: Use Your Credit Card! 31 Destination Wedding Tips: Gowns 32 29 Money-Saving Secrets 34 Real Wedding Tip: eBay Success Stories 38 The Running of the Brides: Filene’s Sale 42 Games Bridal Shops Play 47 Real Wedding Tip: Make you Own Headpiece 48 Top Excuses for Why Bridal Shops Rip Tags 51 Designer Trunk Shows: Tips & Traps 54 The Myth of Italian Satin & 3 More Dress Myths 61 “Over-Sizing” and 15 More Pitfalls 64 Bridal 911: What Happens If the Shop Disappears 66 Chart: Top Bridal Designers Rated & Compared 78 Best Buy: Discount Gown Web Sites 82 Table: Pros & Cons of Buying a Discount Gown 89 Best Buy: China Direct Gowns 89 Best Buy: Bridal Outlets 92 Factory Stores New Twist on Outlets 95 Not Recommended: David’s Bridal 96 Big Mark-Ups Ahead: Accessories & Extras 98 Looking for a Large Size 101 Gown Preservation 105
Chapter 3 Apparel for the Wedding Party 109 Bridesmaids’ Gowns 109 Our Buying Strategy 110 5 Shopping Strategies 112 Do it Online & 12 More Money-Savers 112 Which Maids Gowns Are Easiest To Alter? 113 Chart: Bridesmaids Options Compared 116 Square Peg, Round Hole and 6 More Pitfalls 119 Real Wedding Tip: Delivery, Sizing Problems 121 Flower Girl Dresses: Our Savings Tips 122 Chart: Top Maids Designers Rated & Compared 128 Tuxedos: The Three Options 128 Grooms in Cyberspace 130 Tux Shopping Tips & Recommendations 131 5 Money-Saving Secrets 132
Chapter 4 Ceremony Sites 135 Religious vs. Civil Ceremonies 136 9 Sources for Ceremony Sites & Officiants 137 Important Questions to Ask the Site Coordinator 139 Real Wedding Tip: Church Fees Can Add Up 139 Most/Least Popular Wedding Months by State 140 Why Civic Sites are Best Bargains 142 Destination Wedding Tips: License 411 & More 143 Chapter 5 Wedding Flowers 145 Average Floral Costs 146 Florists Come in Three Flavors 146 Five Floral Web Sites for Advice, Bargains 147 Florist Shopping: 9 Steps & 11 Questions to Ask 149 30 Money-Savers for Wedding Flowers 152 Table Centerpieces On the Cheap 154 10 Floral Best Buys 159 Label Flowers and 7 More Helpful Tips 162 The Mercedes Syndrome and 5 More Pitfalls 164 Real Wedding Tip: The Surprise Consulting Fee 165 Trends: Bouquet Bling & More 167 Destination Wedding Tips: Flowers 168 Spotlight on Roses: Types & Colors 169 Best Buy: Buying Flowers at Wholesale on the ‘Net 172 Best Buy: Craft Stores 175 Dictionary of Wedding Flowers 177 Chapter 6 Invitations 179 Why Invitations Are Priced a La Carte 179 Where to Buy: Retail vs. Mail-Order 180 10 Cool Invitation Web Sites 183 9 Steps in the Ordering Process 186 5 Questions to Ask A Stationer 188 Real Wedding Tip: How Many Should You Invite? 189 Thermography and 15 More Money-Savers 190 Brazen Bridal Registries & Four More Helpful Hints 195 The “Engraved Invitation” Myth 197 “Pet Postal Peeves” and 7 More Pitfalls 197 11 of the Best Stationary Printers 201 Chart: Mail-Order Invites Compared 208 Trends: Belly Bands, Pockets and More 210 Best Buy: Wedding Invitation Kit 211 Best Buy: Online Invitation Discounters 212 Best Buy: Do-it-yourself Paper Supplies 213 Spotlight: Wedding Favors: 12 Ideas 214 Part II: Your Reception Chapter 7 Reception Sites 221 The Big Trade-Off 222 Six Surprising Sources 222 Finding Sites on the Web 224 11 Questions to Ask Any Site 227 Best Bargains: Biz Hotels, Civic Sites and More 228 Tent Rental 101 230 The Marriage Mark-Up 232 Destination Wedding Tips & Advice 234 Kickbacks and 6 More Pitfalls to Avoid 235 6 Most Common Site Types: Good, Bad News 239 Real Wedding Tip: Catering Insider Dishes Dirt 240 Hotels: Never Pay the Rack Rate! 241 The Amazing Send-Off: Fireworks 248
Chapter 8 Catering 251 The Big Bucks: Food, Beverages, Labor, Rentals 251 Real Wedding Tip: Open vs. Cash Bars 253 Average Catering Costs 255 The Two Types of Caterers 256 When To Book a Caterer 257 18 Questions to Ask a Caterer 259 The Dessert Reception & 28 More Money-Savers 261 Deals at Wholesale Clubs 266 Real Wedding Tip: Tips on Tipping 268 How to Feed 100 for $100 269 Plastic Plate Myth 272 “Frozen Food” and 5 More Pitfalls 275 Real Wedding Tip: Liquor Slight of Hand 277 Chapter 9 Photography 281 What You’re Buying: Candids, Albums, Portraits 281 Digital Albums: The Latest Craze 282 What Are Exposures, Proofs, Prints? 283 Are Wedding Photographers Overpaid? 285 Where NOT to Look For a Good Photographer 286 Digital vs. Medium-Format Cameras 288 Proofless Studios Speed Album Deliveries 290 Why Personality is Just As Important As Skill 293 9 Shopping Strategies 295 18 Questions to Ask Any Wedding Photographer 297 Art Leather Albums: The Inside Story 298 13 Money-Savers on Photography 302 Real Wedding Tip: Mail-Order Albums 305 The Great Before or After Controversy 306 “Bait & Switch” and 8 More Pitfalls 311 Odd Angles & Blurred Shots: Latest Trends 317 Chapter 10 Cakes 319 Average Total Costs 320 8 Wedding Cake Trends 321 The Three Types of Bakeries 322 How Soon To Book the Baker? 324 Taste Tests and More Shopping Strategies 324 Five Questions to Ask 325 Cake Slight-Of-Hand & 19 More Bargains 326 Real Wedding Tip: That’s Nuts! 328 Real Wedding Tip: Small vs. Large Bakeries 331 The “Mystery White Icing” and 4 More Pitfalls 332 Chapter 11 Wedding Videos 335 Raw footage vs. Post-Editing 336 Average Costs 336 How to Find a Good Videographer 337 5 Basics of a Good Wedding Video 339 Videos: Good, Bad, Ugly 342 11 Questions to Ask 343 The Balkans of Bridal 346 Ceremony Only Packages and 12 More Bargains 346 “Director’s Disease” and Seven More Video Pitfalls 351 New trends: HDTV, Time-Shifting, Retrospectives 353 Chapter 12 Entertainment 355 Ceremony Music: Prelude, Processional/Recessional 355 Reception Music: Bands & DJs 356 10 Surprising Sources for Musicians 357 Finding a DJ on the ‘Net 359 Step-by-Step Shopping Strategies 360 11 Questions to Ask Musicians 363 iPod Weddings and 9 More Money-Savers 364 Real Wedding Tip: Hiring Student Musicians 366 The “Yucky DJ Myth” 367 Canned vs. Fresh: Hire a Band or DJ? 369 Ashlee Simpson Demo Tapes and 4 More Pitfalls 370 Agents: Helping Hand or Scum of the Earth? 373 Chapter 13 Etcetera 375 Limousines 375 Shopping Strategies, Money-Savers 377 Rent a Caddy and 8 other money-savers 378 Watch out: Sleazy Limo Driver 380 Wedding Rings 381 Best Buy: Get Your Rings at a Discount 386 Royal Prestige Cookware Pitch Exposed 388 Dubious Items: Wedding Insurance, Name Change Kits 390 Bridal Shows: Highway to Bridal Hell? 391 Wedding Consultants 393 Question to Ask a Bridal Planner 394 Pitfalls to Avoid With Planners 396 Gift Registries 398 16 Salt-N-Pepper Shakers and 3 More Pitfalls 401 6 Money-Saving Tips 402 How to turn unwanted gifts into cash 403 Honeymoons 403 15 Honeymoon Bargains 404 Chart: When is the Off Season? 405 Hurricane Proof Your Honeymoon 407 How to Create Your Own Wedding Web Site 410 Chapter 14 Canada 411 Bridal Gowns: Money-Saving Ideas 413 Invitations: Canadian Mail-Order Catalogs 413 A Web Site for Canada Brides 414 Chapter 15 Bridal 911: Last Minute Consumer Tips 417 Meet the Surrogate Bad Cop 417 The Final Checkup 419 Wedding Day Crises: How to Survive Them 419 Chapter 16 Conclusion: What Does it All Mean? 421 Appendix: Setting a Budget 422 Appendix: Phone/Web Directory 428
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