Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget (Paperback)

by Denise Fields (Author), Alan Fields (Author) "Aaaaaaigh!!! So, you're engaged?..." (more)
Key Phrases: surrogate bad cop, bridal merchants, bridal building (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Featuring updated prices and the latest trends in tying the knot, this book debunks the myths and provides the tips that help contemporary couples plan the wedding of their dreams. 30 photos & illustrations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Windsor Peak Pr (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1889392022
• ISBN-13: 978-1889392028
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (349 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #757,043 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for overall planning, not just saving money., October 25, 2002

By	Beth Cholette "doctor_beth" (Upstate NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget (Paperback)

I just got engaged a few months ago, and another bride-to-be recommended this book. I've already found it to be extremely helpful in my planning, as the book thoroughly reviews your options for various aspects of the wedding such as bride/bridesmaids dresses, invitations, photography, etc. I particularly liked the lists of suggested questions for vendors--when I emailed one photographer with some of the questions in the book, he wrote back and said "you couldn't have asked better questions if I had given them to you myself!" I've actually found the book to be less helpful in the area of saving money. This might be partly due to the fact that we're having a pretty small wedding--we only expect about 40 guests to attend, and we're not having a bridal party. Another minor negative is that when I tried some of the websites in the book, the URLs were no longer valid; although they talked about use of the internet in planning quite a bit, I wish they had addressed this area even more, especially use of email to get information from potential vendors. Overall, however, this is a great book that you definitely will use frequently in your planning--I find myself referring to my copy again and again.

58 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book was my bible. . ., December 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget (Paperback)

I used the 4th edition to plan my wedding last year, and was able to save a considerable amount of money. To be honest, I was amazed to find several negative reviews stating the book was "tacky" and "paranoid". Everytime one of my friends becomes engaged I send a copy to them as an engagement gift, and they all love it too. By following most of the Fields advice, we had the wedding we wanted for a reasonable price. Most of the scams they discuss I encountered. Such as the charge to cut a cake if you don't use the caterers baker. They are especially on target about Bridal shops. After spending over $1,400.00 for my dress, shoes, veil, and alterations, the repairs that the shop assured me would be made to my dress, were never made. Even though I had provided them with a detailed list of needed repairs and writing a letter to the shop manager expressing my concern that these repairs would not be done. I had to spend the day before my wedding back at the the bridal shop,and stand there and watch to make sure the repairs were done. Their advice on saving money on the reception was fabulous. We found a site that allowed us to provide our own alochol and only pay for the bartender. Our total bill for champagne, wine, and beer was only $350.00.

The unfortunate reality of the bridal industry is there are plenty of vendors who will rip you off, and they provide you with the advice and know how to avoid bad vendors and their scams.

65 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Wedding Budget Planner, August 20, 2000

By	Matthew M. Yau "Voracious reader" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

As the Best Man of my friend's wedding, I referred to this book in a zillion occasions for practical advice. From the wedding count-down clock to ceremony etiquette to wedding apparels and catering and limousines, this book has got it all! You might not need everything covered in this guide yet it will be very useful for almost every aspect of your wedding. I personally find the sections on reception sites and catering particularly interesting and useful. The book provides a lot of hand-on tips that are not usually commonly known. Ever wondered about a dessert reception instead of a traditional 2-entree banquet? What about a wedding being held at a local university faculty club that offers in-site catering? This is the one book that you will have to keep your fingers on throughout wedding planning. The newest edition of this book will come out this fall, yet don't worry about the up-to-date figures and costs. Focus on the variables that will directly affect the cost of your Big Day. Each topic features a section of questions to ask the service provider (i.e. florist, entertainer, DJ, caterer, reception site...) If you really want to make the most of your budget, read this book carefully and read over again.