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

Rating:
Summary: Bridal Bargains - A Great Gift for the Bride-to-be!!!
Review: "Bridal Bargains" was the best wedding book I ever read. The advice was practical and helpful. Since reading it while I was getting married, I have given the book as a gift to my sister-in-law and niece for their upcoming weddings. I would recommend it to anyone getting married. It's not just for people who want to have a "cheap" wedding, but for people who want to have a quality wedding for the price they are spending.

A lot of people commented that the book might scare brides-to-be with its emphasis on wedding industry scams. This did not make me feel intimidated at all but instead I felt prepared to deal with wedding professionals. I was glad to know what questions to ask a caterer or DJ - how would an average person know anything about cake cutting fees and couture gowns? This book really prepared me for the interviews with vendors and helped me to find places where I could negotiate in price.

On a final note, I didn't agree with all of their advice, for example I wanted real flowers rather than silk, because the silk flowers looked so fake to me. I know this was a good money saving option, but I decided real flowers were more important to me than saving some money. This is true of any advice in the book - if you don't want to do it - don't! I don't think the author's want to substitute their own judgment in place of yours - you're the one who has to experience your wedding day - it should be the kind of day you want without emptying your bank account!

This book is A+ and I would recommend it to anyone getting married!

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: Answers to all the questions
Review: This book was one that my fiancee and i have read through at least 3 times each. It's a super reference for those who have no idea what to expect or where to get started. I actually kicked myself a few times when I did not review a section before visiting a vendor. These tips are REALLY useful. Even the ones you don't use yourself. Of all the books I was given or bought when we got engaged, this was hands down the most helpful. Compared to this one, none of the others were even worth the paper on which they were printed.