Introduction
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