Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget Book

	Introduction
Chapter 1	Introduction	1
	So, Who Are You Guys?	1
	The 4 Truths About Weddings You Won't Read in Etiquette Books	2
	The Goal of this Book	5
	Wow! There's No Advertising!	5
	How Much Does the Average U.S. Wedding Cost?	5
	The Five Fields' Commandments for Bridal Bargains	8
	The Bridal Clock	9
	What's New in This Edition?	10
	Bridal Bargains Hall of Fame	11
Part I	Your Wedding
Chapter 2	Apparel for the Bride	15
	The Olympics of Shopping	15
	Hidden Costs Can Add Up	17
	6 Web Sites To Ease Gown Shopping	19
	Games that Bridal Shops Play	22
	Top 7 Best Excuses for Tag Ripping	24
	Designer Trunk Shows: Tips & Traps	28
	Why Ordering a Gown Takes So Long	33
	17 Step-by-Step Shopping Strategies	35
	Good vs. Bad Gown Quality	37
	Questions to Ask Before You Order the Gown	40
	Special Warning: Use Your Credit Card!	41
	25 Money-Saving Secrets	43
	Top 10 Bridal Advertisers	44
	Real Wedding Tip: eBay Success Stories	46
	No Frills Deals	50
	The Myth of Italian Satin & 5 More Myths	53
	Real Wedding Tip: Make you Own Headpiece	54
	The Running of the Brides: Filene's Sale	56
	"Over-Sizing" and 14 More Pitfalls	59
	Bridal 911: What Happens if The Shop Disappears	60
	Reviews of the Top 66 Bridal Designers	72
	Chart: Designers Compared	74
	Chart: Also Known As: Designer Aliases	76
	Looking for a Large Size	79
	Big Mark-Ups Ahead: Accessories & Extras	92
	The Catalog Chase	101
	Fake Vera's and Marshall Fields	102
	Best Buy: Save 20% to 40% by mail	104
	Best Buy: Discount Gown Web Sites	107
	Best Buy: Bridal Outlets	113
	Factory Stores New Twist on Outlets	115
	Not Recommended: David's Bridal	118
	Gown Preservation	121
	Bridal Magazines: Friend or Foe?	123
Chapter 3	Apparel for the Wedding Party	125
	Bridesmaids' Gowns	125
	Our Buying Strategy	126
	5 Shopping Strategies	128
	Do it by Mail and 12 More Money-Savers	128
	Chart: Bridesmaids Options	132
	Square Peg, Round Hole and 7 More Pitfalls	135
	Real Wedding Tip: Delivery, Sizing Problems	137
	Reviews of 24 Maids Designers & Manufactures	141
	"Made in America" Maids Dresses Disappearing	142
	Are Gown Knock-Offs Legal?	144
	Tuxedos: The Three Options	152
	Grooms in Cyberspace	154
	5 Money-Saving Secrets	155
	Tux Shopping Tips & Recommendations	157
Chapter 4	Ceremony Sites	159
	Religious vs. Civil Ceremonies	160
	7 Sources for Ceremony Sites & Officiants	161
	Important Questions to Ask the Site Coordinator	163
	Real Wedding Tip: Church Fees Can Add Up	163
	Most/Least Popular Wedding Months by State	164
	Why Civic Sites are Best Bargains	166
Chapter 5	Wedding Flowers	167
	Average Floral Costs	168
	Florists Come in Three Flavors	168
	Three Floral Web Sites for Advice, Bargains	169
	Florist Shopping: 9 Steps Et 11 Questions to Ask	171
	22 Money-Savers	174
	Table Centerpieces On the Cheap	176
	Seven Floral Best Buys	179
	Go European and 7 More Helpful Tips	181
	The Mercedes Syndrome and 5 More Pitfalls	183
	Real Wedding Tip: The Surprise Consulting Fee	185
	Trends: Martha Et More	186
	Spotlight on Roses: Types Et Colors	188
	Best Buy: Buying Flowers at Wholesale on the 'Net	189
	Best Buy: Craft Stores	192
	Dictionary of Wedding Flowers	194
Chapter 6	Invitations	195
	Why Invitations Are Priced a La Carte	195
	Where to Buy: Retail vs. Mail Order	197
	8 Cool Invitation Web Sites	199
	9 Steps in the Ordering Process	201
	5 Questions to Ask A Stationer	203
	Real Wedding Tip: How Many Should You Invite?	204
	Thermography and 11 More Money-Savers	205
	Brazen Bridal Registries Et Five More Helpful Hints	209
	The "Engraved Invitation" Myth	211
	"Pet Postal Peeves" and 7 More Pitfalls	211
	11 of the Best Stationary Printers	216
	Do It By Mail: 12 Invitation Catalogs	220
	Chart: Mail Order Invites Compared	222
	Best Buy: Wedding Invitation Kit CD-ROM	225
	Best Buy: Online Invitation Discounters	226
	Real Wedding Tip: Do-it-yourself Paper Supplies	227
	Spotlight: Wedding Favors: 9 Ideas	228
Part II	Your Reception
Chapter 7	Reception Sites	233
	The Big Trade-Off	234
	Six Surprising Sources	234
	Finding Sites on the Web	236
	11 Questions to Ask Any Site	238
	Best Bargains: Biz Hotels, Civic Sites and More	240
	Tent Rental 101	241
	The Marriage Mark-Up	243
	Kickbacks and 6 More Pitfalls to Avoid	245
	6 Most Common Site Types: Good, Bad News	249
	Real Wedding Tip: Catering Insider Dishes Dirt	250
	Hotels: Never Pay the Rack Rate!	252
	The Amazing Send-Off: Fireworks	259
Chapter 8	Catering	261
	The Big Bucks: Food, Beverages, Labor, Rentals	261
	Real Wedding Tip: Open vs. Cash Bars	263
	Average Catering Costs	264
	The Two Types of Caterers	265
	When To Book a Caterer	266
	18 Questions to Ask	268
	The Dessert Reception Et 19 More Money-Savers	270
	Plastic Plate Myth	275
	Deals at Wholesale Clubs	276
	Real Wedding Tip: Tips on Tipping	278
	"Frozen Food" and 5 More Pitfalls	279
	How to Feed 100 for $100	279
Chapter 9	Photography	285
	What You're Buying: Candids, Albums, Portraits	285
	What Are Exposures, Proofs, Prints?	287
	Where NOT to Look For a Good Photographer	288
	CyberPhotos	289
	Proofless Studios Speed Album Deliveries	290
	35mm vs. Medium Format Cameras	291
	Why Personality is Just As Important As Skill	296
	9 Shopping Strategies	297
	Questions to Ask Any Wedding Photographer	298
	11 Money-Savers, including the Kodak Party Pak	301
	Art Leather Albums: The Inside Story	302
	Real Wedding Tip: Mail Order Albums	307
	"Bait Et Switch" and 8 More Pitfalls	310
	The Great Before or After Controversy	310
	Odd Angles Et Blurred Shots: Latest Trends	318
Chapter 10	Cakes	319
	Average Total Costs	320
	Nine 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 & 9 More Bargains	326
	Real Wedding Tip: That's Nuts!	327
	The "Mystery White Icing" and 4 More Pitfalls	328
	Disappearing Deposits	330
Chapter 11	Wedding Videos	331
	"In-Camera" vs Post-Editing	332
	Average Costs	332
	How to Find a Good Videographer	333
	5 Basics of a Good Wedding Video	335
	Videos: Good, Bad, Ugly	338
	10 Questions to Ask	340
	Ceremony Only Packages and 11 More Bargains	342
	The Balkans of Bridal	342
	The "Director's Disease" Pitfall	346
	New trends: Webcasting, TV Themes, Retrospectives	349
Chapter 12	Entertainment	351
	Ceremony Music: Prelude, Processional/Recessional	351
	Reception Music: Bands & DJ's	352
	Nine Surprising Sources for Musicians	353
	Finding a DJ on the 'Net	355
	Step-by-Step Shopping Strategies	356
	11 Questions to Ask Musicians	359
	Avoiding December and 8 More Money-Savers	360
	Real Wedding Tip: Hiring Student Musicians	362
	The "Yucky DJ Myth"	363
	Canned vs. Fresh: Hire a Band or DJ?	364
	Milli Vanilli Demo Tapes and 4 More Pitfalls	366
	Agents: Helping Hand or Scum of the Earth?	369
Chapter 13	Etcetera	371
	Limousines	371
	Shopping Strategies, Money-Savers	373
	Rent a Cadillac and 9 other money-savers	374
	Real Wedding Tip: Sleazy Limo Driver	376
	Wedding Rings	376
	Best Buy: Get Your Rings at a Discount	380
	Dubious Items: Wedding Insurance, Name Change Kits	381
	Royal Prestige Cookware Pitch Exposed	382
	Bridal Shows: Highway to Bridal Hell?	384
	Wedding Consultants	386
	Question to Ask a Bridal Planner	387
	Pitfalls to Avoid	388
	Gift Registries	390
	16 Salt-N-Pepper Shakers and 3 More Pitfalls	393
	6 Money-Saving Tips	394
	How to turn unwanted gifts into cash	395
	Honeymoons	395
	15 Honeymoon Bargains	396
	Chart: When is the Off Season?	397
	Hurricane Proof Your Honeymoon	399
Chapter 14	Canada	403
	Bridal Gowns: Designer Reviews, Money-Savers	403
	Invitations: Canadian Mail Order Catalogs	408
	A Web Site for Canada Brides	410
Chapter 15	Bridal 911: Last Minute Consumer Tips	411
	Meet the Surrogate Bad Cop	412
	The Final Checkup	412
	Wedding Day Crises: How to Survive Them	413
Chapter 16	Conclusion: What Does it All Mean?	415
Appendix	Setting a Budget	416
Appendix	Phone/Web Directory	421
	Index	428
	About the Authors