Rating: 
Summary: Should be NO stars!
Review: Totally useless fluff for the self-indulgent bride. (But then, aren't all brides self-indulgent?) In the SUV inspired world, SUV size weddings rule. This is just another book on how to keep up with the Joneses. Sickening!!
Rating: 
Summary: If you're looking for great information, go no further
Review: The number one thing that sets this book apart from all the other bridal planning books is the amount of information it provides. While it does tend to be very negative toward the bridal industry and focus on low-budget weddings, there are tips, websites, and phone numbers that can aid ANY bride. Unlike many other low-budget wedding books I've seen, it actually provides web addresses and phone numbers with information that really helps. The authors don't merely provide suggestions; they give real-world advice and real ways to use it.
Bottom line: Take their views of the wedding industry with a grain of salt and take advantage of the hours and hours of research that went into this book that will save money.
Rating: 
Summary: The Only Wedding Planner You Need
Review: This book is excellent. I would recommend it to anyone who is planning a wedding. It gives realistic advice on everything, especially setting a budget. This book also explains how to avoid wedding scams (unfortunately there are quite a few). Don't plan a wedding without it!
Rating:
Summary: I couldn't believe it
Review: Usually when I walk in a bookstore and find the wedding section, I see 'etiquette' type books that tell you the proper formation in the wedding march or the proper wording for your invitations, etc. then I saw this one. They were really candid and realistic about how the wedding industry works. It's bad enough that the women have to deal with all the emotional traps that come with engagements. After reading the book and learning some of the psychological games that wedding businesses play, it makes me mad that they play on the couples' minds just so they can make a quick buck. This will definitely come in handy when I plan my wedding.
Rating:
Summary: Extremely Helpful!
Review: This book was so informative! And a great place to start when I didn't know anything about wedding planning. It has great tips and sets out common pitfalls to avoid. It also lists questions to ask vendors before signing contracts. I've loaned this book to two friends who got married recently, and they loved it as well.
Rating:
Summary: The best money you will spend !
Review: This is the best money I have spent on my wedding. They offer practical advise on how to save money and avoid scams. The authors are witty and make this a fun and easy read. I would recommend it to any couple planning a wedding !
Rating:
Summary: The best money I'll spend on my wedding
Review: I cannot stress enough that this book is a godsend for anyone planning a wedding in any price range. The first section alone is worth the price of the book. No bridal magazine or web site will give you honest-to-goodness information about how to save money by buying on the internet or getting great little-known deals because they're entirely driven by their advertisers, but this book is entirely independent. I can't imagine shopping for a wedding dress without having read this - did you know that the majority of bridal salons illegally rip tags out of their dresses so you can't shop around and compare prices? Did you know that they don't make most of their money on dresses, but on accessories (by sticking a $4 piece of tulle on a $5 comb and charging - I'm not kidding - $115?) I feel confident after reading this book that I can avoid being taken to the cleaners.The problem with the bridal industry is that most brides don't have any experience with the different brands or products, so they are easy targets to take advantage of (for example, you'll be charged hundreds of dollars to clean and "preserve" (i.e. stuff it in a plastic bag) your gown when most bridal shops just throw their samples in the washing machine and they come out fine). Okay, I'm ranting now, but this book exposes a lot of dirty little secrets that are invaluable to know. They also offer great tips about alternative sites for ceremonies and recpetions; they help you clear your head about whether you REALLY need imported matching orchid corsages for your cake server and guestbook pen; they absolutely cram the pages of the book full of information so that the book itself is a "bridal bargain." They also have a web site that reviews dozens of wedding-dress designers for quality, reliability, fashion, and whether they're made in sweatshops. As you can see, I cannot say enough good things about this book. I'f you're a bride, or know anyone who is, or anyone who might one day be one, buy it now.
Rating:
Summary: This is THE book you MUST get
Review: I highly recommend this book. Unlike the Knot's Complete Guide, it doesn't assume you have all the money and time in the world. And unlike 1001 Ways to Save Money, it doesn't merely give you a list of ideas. What Bridal Bargains does is show you how to save money, gives you lots of ideas, and then tells you what to do and where to go to turn those ideas into reality. There are TONS of ideas for ceremony and reception sites, and tips on dealing with vendors of all types. There are a lot of websites featured. They review all the major designers and vendors, and there are some excellent tips on how to find the perfect dress. DO NOT do what I did - I bought all the books referenced above, and found out that most were worthless. Only get this one. BTW, this book paid for itself within two weeks - I found a tiara I loved in a bridal shop for $200 and this book told me where to look for a less expensive one - so I used their suggestion and found an almost identical tiara for $43! I have several more exapmles of how I saved money and frustration by following this book, but that was the first!
Rating:
Summary: Great intro to the bridal universe
Review: Packed with actual specific information about how to save money on your wedding purchases, this book is a must-have for anyone even thinking of planning a wedding. Unlike many books in this category which provide vague advice on cutting costs, this book provides names of companies along with contact phone numbers and even web addresses to help you get what you want at a better price. The information on finding a wedding gown for less was invaluable as was the heads-up on the deceptive practice of tearing labels out of dresses to prevent comparison shopping. I highly recommend reading this book before you set foot in a bridal store!
Rating:
Summary: A great "first" bridal book
Review: This is a great book not only for bargains but for information. I found my dress through the website listing in this book. I am not sure how much money I am going to save, it is tough to get around the high "bridal" prices I think particularly in So. California where there are plenty of customers. It does provide some great info and ideas.
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