9781889392172

The authors present a collection of great ideas for planning a classy low-budget wedding, including advice on purchasing a wedding cake, flowers, invitations, and entertainment, including 101 tips for personalizing the wedding. Original.

Denise 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. 500,000 copies later, the book is the Fields best-selling title to date. After Oprah, the Fields embarked on their next greatest adventure. They built a new home. And like everything they would do in their lives, the experience inspired a book of its own: Your New House, was picked as one of the top 10 real estate books in 1993 and again in 1996 by the San Francisco Examiner. Baby Bargains, the Fields' third best-selling book, was inspired by the birth of their son, Benjamin in 1993. The book was also featured on Oprah, the Today Show and in Child Magazine. As a follow-up, the Fields wrote Toddler Bargains, which focuses on products for kids age 2 to 5. Baby 411 is the Fields' latest book-this FAQ for new parents was co-authored with Austin pediatrician Dr. Ari Brown. The Fields currently live in Boulder, CO with their sons Ben and Jack.

Introduction
Introduction	p. 1
So, Who Are You Guys?	p. 1
The 4 Truths About Weddings You Won't Read in Etiquette Books	p. 2
The Goal of this Book	p. 5
Wow! There's No Advertising!	p. 5
How Much Does the Average U.S. Wedding Cost?	p. 5
The Five Fields' Commandments for Bridal Bargains	p. 8
The Bridal Clock	p. 9
What's New in This Edition?	p. 10
Bridal Bargains Hall of Fame	p. 11
Your Wedding
Apparel for the Bride	p. 15
The Olympics of Shopping	p. 15
Hidden Costs Can Add Up	p. 17
6 Web Sites To Ease Gown Shopping	p. 19
Games that Bridal Shops Play	p. 22
Top 7 Best Excuses for Tag Ripping	p. 24
Designer Trunk Shows: Tips & Traps	p. 28
Why Ordering a Gown Takes So Long	p. 33
17 Step-by-Step Shopping Strategies	p. 35
Good vs. Bad Gown Quality	p. 37
Questions to Ask Before You Order the Gown	p. 40
Special Warning: Use Your Credit Card!	p. 41
25 Money-Saving Secrets	p. 43
Top 10 Bridal Advertisers	p. 44
Real Wedding Tip: eBay Success Stories	p. 46
No Frills Deals	p. 50
The Myth of Italian Satin & 5 More Myths	p. 53
Real Wedding Tip: Make you Own Headpiece	p. 54
The Running of the Brides: Filene's Sale	p. 56
"Over-Sizing" and 14 More Pitfalls	p. 59
Bridal 911: What Happens if The Shop Disappears	p. 60
Reviews of the Top 66 Bridal Designers	p. 72
Chart: Designers Compared	p. 74
Chart: Also Known As: Designer Aliases	p. 76
Looking for a Large Size	p. 79
Big Mark-Ups Ahead: Accessories & Extras	p. 92
The Catalog Chase	p. 101
Fake Vera's and Marshall Fields	p. 102
Best Buy: Save 20% to 40% by mail	p. 104
Best Buy: Discount Gown Web Sites	p. 107
Best Buy: Bridal Outlets	p. 113
Factory Stores New Twist on Outlets	p. 115
Not Recommended: David's Bridal	p. 118
Gown Preservation	p. 121
Bridal Magazines: Friend or Foe?	p. 123
Apparel for the Wedding Party	p. 125
Bridesmaids' Gowns	p. 125
Our Buying Strategy	p. 126
5 Shopping Strategies	p. 128
Do it by Mail and 12 More Money-Savers	p. 128
Chart: Bridesmaids Options	p. 132
Square Peg, Round Hole and 7 More Pitfalls	p. 135
Real Wedding Tip: Delivery, Sizing Problems	p. 137
Reviews of 24 Maids Designers & Manufactures	p. 141
"Made in America" Maids Dresses Disappearing	p. 142
Are Gown Knock-Offs Legal?	p. 144
Tuxedos: The Three Options	p. 152
Grooms in Cyberspace	p. 154
5 Money-Saving Secrets	p. 155
Tux Shopping Tips & Recommendations	p. 157
Ceremony Sites	p. 159
Religious vs. Civil Ceremonies	p. 160
7 Sources for Ceremony Sites & Officiants	p. 161
Important Questions to Ask the Site Coordinator	p. 163
Real Wedding Tip: Church Fees Can Add Up	p. 163
Most/Least Popular Wedding Months by State	p. 164
Why Civic Sites are Best Bargains	p. 166
Wedding Flowers	p. 167
Average Floral Costs	p. 168
Florists Come in Three Flavors	p. 168
Three Floral Web Sites for Advice, Bargains	p. 169
Florist Shopping: 9 Steps Et 11 Questions to Ask	p. 171
22 Money-Savers	p. 174
Table Centerpieces On the Cheap	p. 176
Seven Floral Best Buys	p. 179
Go European and 7 More Helpful Tips	p. 181
The Mercedes Syndrome and 5 More Pitfalls	p. 183
Real Wedding Tip: The Surprise Consulting Fee	p. 185
Trends: Martha Et More	p. 186
Spotlight on Roses: Types Et Colors	p. 188
Best Buy: Buying Flowers at Wholesale on the 'Net	p. 189
Best Buy: Craft Stores	p. 192
Dictionary of Wedding Flowers	p. 194
Invitations	p. 195
Why Invitations Are Priced a La Carte	p. 195
Where to Buy: Retail vs. Mail Order	p. 197
8 Cool Invitation Web Sites	p. 199
9 Steps in the Ordering Process	p. 201
5 Questions to Ask A Stationer	p. 203
Real Wedding Tip: How Many Should You Invite?	p. 204
Thermography and 11 More Money-Savers	p. 205
Brazen Bridal Registries Et Five More Helpful Hints	p. 209
The "Engraved Invitation" Myth	p. 211
"Pet Postal Peeves" and 7 More Pitfalls	p. 211
11 of the Best Stationary Printers	p. 216
Do It By Mail: 12 Invitation Catalogs	p. 220
Chart: Mail Order Invites Compared	p. 222
Best Buy: Wedding Invitation Kit CD-ROM	p. 225
Best Buy: Online Invitation Discounters	p. 226
Real Wedding Tip: Do-it-yourself Paper Supplies	p. 227
Spotlight: Wedding Favors: 9 Ideas	p. 228
Your Reception
Reception Sites	p. 233
The Big Trade-Off	p. 234
Six Surprising Sources	p. 234
Finding Sites on the Web	p. 236
11 Questions to Ask Any Site	p. 238
Best Bargains: Biz Hotels, Civic Sites and More	p. 240
Tent Rental 101	p. 241
The Marriage Mark-Up	p. 243
Kickbacks and 6 More Pitfalls to Avoid	p. 245
6 Most Common Site Types: Good, Bad News	p. 249
Real Wedding Tip: Catering Insider Dishes Dirt	p. 250
Hotels: Never Pay the Rack Rate!	p. 252
The Amazing Send-Off: Fireworks	p. 259
Catering	p. 261
The Big Bucks: Food, Beverages, Labor, Rentals	p. 261
Real Wedding Tip: Open vs. Cash Bars	p. 263
Average Catering Costs	p. 264
The Two Types of Caterers	p. 265
When To Book a Caterer	p. 266
18 Questions to Ask	p. 268
The Dessert Reception Et 19 More Money-Savers	p. 270
Plastic Plate Myth	p. 275
Deals at Wholesale Clubs	p. 276
Real Wedding Tip: Tips on Tipping	p. 278
"Frozen Food" and 5 More Pitfalls	p. 279
How to Feed 100 for $100	p. 279
Photography	p. 285
What You're Buying: Candids, Albums, Portraits	p. 285
What Are Exposures, Proofs, Prints?	p. 287
Where NOT to Look For a Good Photographer	p. 288
CyberPhotos	p. 289
Proofless Studios Speed Album Deliveries	p. 290
35mm vs. Medium Format Cameras	p. 291
Why Personality is Just As Important As Skill	p. 296
9 Shopping Strategies	p. 297
Questions to Ask Any Wedding Photographer	p. 298
11 Money-Savers, including the Kodak Party Pak	p. 301
Art Leather Albums: The Inside Story	p. 302
Real Wedding Tip: Mail Order Albums	p. 307
"Bait Et Switch" and 8 More Pitfalls	p. 310
The Great Before or After Controversy	p. 310
Odd Angles Et Blurred Shots: Latest Trends	p. 318
Cakes	p. 319
Average Total Costs	p. 320
Nine Wedding Cake Trends	p. 321
The Three Types of Bakeries	p. 322
How Soon To Book the Baker?	p. 324
Taste Tests and More Shopping Strategies	p. 324
Five Questions to Ask	p. 325
Cake Slight-Of-Hand & 9 More Bargains	p. 326
Real Wedding Tip: That's Nuts!	p. 327
The "Mystery White Icing" and 4 More Pitfalls	p. 328
Disappearing Deposits	p. 330
Wedding Videos	p. 331
"In-Camera" vs Post-Editing	p. 332
Average Costs	p. 332
How to Find a Good Videographer	p. 333
5 Basics of a Good Wedding Video	p. 335
Videos: Good, Bad, Ugly	p. 338
10 Questions to Ask	p. 340
Ceremony Only Packages and 11 More Bargains	p. 342
The Balkans of Bridal	p. 342
The "Director's Disease" Pitfall	p. 346
New trends: Webcasting, TV Themes, Retrospectives	p. 349
Entertainment	p. 351
Ceremony Music: Prelude, Processional/Recessional	p. 351
Reception Music: Bands & DJ's	p. 352
Nine Surprising Sources for Musicians	p. 353
Finding a DJ on the 'Net	p. 355
Step-by-Step Shopping Strategies	p. 356
11 Questions to Ask Musicians	p. 359
Avoiding December and 8 More Money-Savers	p. 360
Real Wedding Tip: Hiring Student Musicians	p. 362
The "Yucky DJ Myth"	p. 363
Canned vs. Fresh: Hire a Band or DJ?	p. 364
Milli Vanilli Demo Tapes and 4 More Pitfalls	p. 366
Agents: Helping Hand or Scum of the Earth?	p. 369
Etcetera	p. 371
Limousines	p. 371
Shopping Strategies, Money-Savers	p. 373
Rent a Cadillac and 9 other money-savers	p. 374
Real Wedding Tip: Sleazy Limo Driver	p. 376
Wedding Rings	p. 376
Best Buy: Get Your Rings at a Discount	p. 380
Dubious Items: Wedding Insurance, Name Change Kits	p. 381
Royal Prestige Cookware Pitch Exposed	p. 382
Bridal Shows: Highway to Bridal Hell?	p. 384
Wedding Consultants	p. 386
Question to Ask a Bridal Planner	p. 387
Pitfalls to Avoid	p. 388
Gift Registries	p. 390
16 Salt-N-Pepper Shakers and 3 More Pitfalls	p. 393
6 Money-Saving Tips	p. 394
How to turn unwanted gifts into cash	p. 395
Honeymoons	p. 395
15 Honeymoon Bargains	p. 396
Chart: When is the Off Season?	p. 397
Hurricane Proof Your Honeymoon	p. 399
Canada	p. 403
Bridal Gowns: Designer Reviews, Money-Savers	p. 403
Invitations: Canadian Mail Order Catalogs	p. 408
A Web Site for Canada Brides	p. 410
Bridal 911: Last Minute Consumer Tips	p. 411
Meet the Surrogate Bad Cop	p. 412
The Final Checkup	p. 412
Wedding Day Crises: How to Survive Them	p. 413
Conclusion: What Does it All Mean?	p. 415
Setting a Budget	p. 416
Phone/Web Directory	p. 421
Index	p. 428
About the Authors
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

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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

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