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Rating: 
Summary: A must-read for brides-to-be
Review: Don't go shopping for your wedding dress until you have read this book. The authors de-mystify the bridal gown industry, providing useful information on everything from gown production and distribution to the perils and pitfalls of dealing with bridal salons. You may not always agree with their assessments of various bridal lines (after all, taste is subjective), but you will obtain valuable information on how the whole industry works, along with great tips for saving money. My only criticism: the section on fabrics and designs is too brief and not accurate enough. But overall, this is a must-read that supplies the bridal gown shopper with information and confidence.
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Summary: Must-have book for anyone shopping for a wedding gown!
Review: Get great information on most bridal manufacturers as well as great ways to save money, such as Discount Bridal Service. I found my dream dress at a huge discount and was very pleased with the service. A good book for brides.
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Summary: Good review of bridal gowns
Review: I bought the book to get an idea about the bridal gown industry and how best to go about buying my dress. I read the book and the most useful items to me were as follows: The designer guides, with dress sizing, and reputation. The price guides. The dress characteristics (eg bodice, style descriptions). The websites of designers. The only thing I thought the book was lacking some of the newest designers, and their reputations, etc. Otherwise, thought it was a worthwhile investment.
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Summary: Good review of bridal gowns
Review: Let me start off by telling you all that I work in a bridal shop. This past February, I was a bride myself. I know the industry VERY well.I bought this book and took it to work with me. We all sat back laughing at the mistruths that were in this book! I can say with 100% honesty that THE FIELDS' ARE NOT EDUCATED IN THIS AREA! It is my opinion that they gather new "credentials" every time something happens in their lives. Had a baby...."Baby Bargains"! Bought a car...."New Car Bargains".....you catch my drift. I think I will capitalize on the american public. I took out the garbage today. I think I will write a book titled "The secret lives of garbagemen". Since I took out the trash, I must now be an expert on refuse. I'm sure if the Fields' have anything to do with this, this review will get squashed. What about freedom of expression? If they are free to MISLEAD people, then I should be free to tell them the truth!
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Summary: A bit scary, but written with a sense of humor
Review: My mom bought this book for me, and (I'll admit) I thought it was such a waste. A whole book about buying one dress! I read it, and was alternately horrified by some of the practices in the bridal industry, and amused by their tongue-in-cheek style of writing. When I finally did visit bridal salons I felt well-informed and a lot less like a rube because of this book. Don't let the Fields and some of their truly horrifying tales scare you too much, however. Take their warnings as points of caution, and not as reasons to abandon the search entirely.
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Summary: Not necessary if you bought Bridal Bargains!
Review: The book was very helpful with well researched information. However, if you bought Bridal Bargains by the Fields you would probably have all the information you'd need about dresses in that book. In addition to the great (albeit abbreviated compared to this entire book) section on dresses, their makers, fabric quality and sizing information, you receive TONS of valuable information for the rest of your wedding. If your dress is the most important part of your wedding, then this book might be a good addition to Bridal Bargains.
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Summary: Bridal Shops are Scared by the Fields because they are savvy
Review: The Fields do know what they are talking about. On all the subjects they care to write about from what I can tell. I almost ordered my dress using their suggested vendors (which would have saved me $500) but i chickened out. Instead I choose to give this hard earned money to a local bridal shop. The Fields are just telling it like it is. Bridal Shops are using scare tactics to put down the Field's knowledge. (Remember, no one kicks a dead dog -- and apparently bridal shops only kick people who will inform the public how not to be taken for all they're worth -- including paying Above retail which is what i did!) There aren't a lot of people out there who put as much time and energy into gathering facts as this couple does. And they are rigorous. They even wrote back the same day when I had a question re: a dress designer's delivery schedule. If i had to do it over again, i would have bought my dress from the fields' recommended methods. It's not rocket science, but bridal shops try to keep all of this secret. Go read a few message boards on wedding sites and you'll realize that the word has spread and there are LOTS OF HAPPY BRIDES OUT THERE WHO HAVE ORDERED THEIR DRESSES VIA THE MAIL! Good luck!
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Summary: The bible for the confusing world of buying a wedding dress
Review: This book is extremely informative, useful and cleverly written. I giggled the whole way through. But don't let the humor take away from the excellent guidance this book has to offer. What a great resource to save yourself hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars! Not all, but many bridal shops are full of foul play, and this book tells brides exactly what to watch out for and what is standard in the industry. This book guides readers on how NOT to get taken advantage of. I felt much less intimidated walking into a bridal store thanks to this book. I can't wait for the next edition to give to all my friends and sisters who get engaged!
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Summary: Don't go shopping without this book.
Review: This book is great! It truly opens your eyes to the big scam the bridal industry really is! The fields are not sponsored by a discounter (as questioned by another reader), they just give truthful, honest information. The Bridal Industry is truly scarred of their consumers (Stary-Eyed Brides) knowing the truth! Go to the Full Service Salon, get pampered, try on all of the dresses and have them tell you what looks best on you, then use this book to help you get the dress for so much cheaper! The book is definitely worth the price! By the way, I used their number one on-line recommendation to order BM dresses (the Louisiana based Bridal Salon that sells over the internet), and my experience was great. I got my dresses in 1.5 months, they were $80 less than in the bridal salons, and everything turned out great!
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Summary: The book is GREAT!
Review: When I first saw this book at the bookstore, I thought it wouldn't be a good investment since gowns come and go. But I was wrong! It was the sole reason that I chose the designer that I did, and I love the service and quality of my gown, thanks to this book. As long as the Fields' continue with updated versions every year, any bride will find it imperative to bring with them to the bridal salon. There's no other book out there like this. It also informs brides about Discount Bridal Service, a company no major bridal magazine ever mentions. Although I didn't use it, I did use them to compare pricing, and it's everything the Fields' say it is - I only didn't use it because I found my dress at a trunk show. One caveat however; those that buy this book, the Fields' other book, Bridal Bargains, is not a winner. Find another planner, perhaps from Beverly Clark or Diane Warner.
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