Bridal Bargains: Secrets To Planning A Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget Paperback – November 19, 2013

Very helpful information for cutting costs on wedding expenses. It contains a lot of common sense and has ideas for a range of budget considerations. I appreciate the websites they provide, and the tips about being mindful and wary of the bridal industry pitfalls. I walked into a bridal store with my daughter and when she found a dress she liked, they informed us that this particular dress was on a list that indicated there might only be a few left in the warehouse in her size and they could only hold the dress for 12 hours (which would have put the deadline at 4 in the morning...hmmm). Remembering the advice in the book about how some businesses pressure brides into sales, and since the dress wasn't "perfect," I encouraged my daughter to "walk away," which she did. There are a lot more places to shop and try on dresses and thankfully we didn't sign on the "sorry-all-sales-final" dotted line.I highly recommend it as a valuable resource in the wedding planning process.

I had gotten many many recommendations to look at this book from my friends and family when I got engaged. This book covers everything from cake down to the tuxedos for the groomsmen. It shows you step by step where to eliminate unnecessary expenses and it also teaches you how to avoid vendors who are looking to take advantage of the first time bride. I did not feel like to book was out of date in the slightest with references to theknot and other very current websites and books. I also felt like it had the best advice for any kind of budget that the bride has.While I personally, only have used it for more research purposes than a strict budget guide, I still took away many great tips and tricks to do in regards to the rest of the vendors I need to book.All in all, a great buy, and one I think every future bride should have at her disposal.

I bought this book for a friend who was getting married back in 2012. Now three years later I'm getting married and I think I need all the help I could get. This a great book for any bride who is serious about saving money on their big day. It gives a wealth of information about several bridal topics from buying the dress down to purchasing the flowers. My favorite part is that you don't have to be a DIY bride, because they give you degrees of saving that are practical. Also, its not just the average and obvious bridal information you get like, shorten your guest list, and use an ipod instead of a DJ, it's real resources and information about how to have a banging wedding without breaking the bank.

I really liked the suggestions for how to save money and still have a perfectly nice wedding. I am a HUGE online shopper and I have found some fantastic bargains by looking at what the bridal shops are charging and then going online and finding the same thing for less than half price. It's refreshing to hear that I am not breaking every etiquette rule in the world and will offend 100 people if I don't hire a calligrapher, spend $60 a plate for catering and go into massive debt just to celebrate our marriage. My favorite suggestion was to make a donation to a church group or charity organization in exchange for their help on set up, clean up, serving food, whatever you think they could handle for less money than hiring people through your caterer. Win-Win.

I am SO glad I bought this little treasure. I find myself re-visiting it again and again to make sure I'm planning and negotiating to the best of my ability. If you're thinking of buying Bridal Bargains, don't hesitate, just do it!! Unless you, your SO, or your parents are absolutely loaded and don't really care how much you spend, you'll really be doing your wallet a favor. Getting a great deal does NOT always equal sacrificing your sense of style! I consider it a much better use of my & my SO's finances to plan a wedding that LOOKS like we spared no expense while saving a significant chunk of change to put towards a house, honeymoon, or just our future in general. Buy the book!

Great advice on some items- way too dated on many things now.

I got this book about two weeks ago and it has been my bedtime reading as I start to plan! Already it has prepared me with questions to ask as I look at venues, it's helped me decide to make my own veil rather than buying one and overall it makes me feel secure in having a comprehensive picture of the wedding planning process. I highly doubt I will read it word-for-word but as I come up to new stages of the planning process I flip to that section and browse as needed. I highly recommend this book!

This book is excellent! No frills, straightforward advice on wedding planning. While I don't foresee anyone using all of the suggestions, it has been a big help. Ex: Questions to ask the cake baker to make sure your cake isn't baked a week+ before your wedding, etc...I have purchased two additional copies for other people. I feel very empowered having purchased this book. I also recommend the guide, it's not the easiest to write in, but it has GREAT advice in a more streamlined format.