Table of Contents

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Conventions Used in This Book 2

What You're Not to Read 2

Foolish Assumptions 3

How This Book Is Organized 3

Part I Comming Up with a Game Plan 4

Part II Planning the Ceremony 4

Part III Celebrating with Your Guests 4

Part IV The Part of Tens 4

Part V Appendixes 5

Icons Used in This Book 5

Where to Go from Here 5

Part I Coming Up with a Game Plan 7

Chapter 1 Bringing Your Wedding Dream to Life 9

Embracing the Real Magic of Weddings 9

Establishing Goals and Identifying Your Priorities 10

Setting goals together 10

Figuring out your priorities 12

Working out compromises 15

Estimating Your Budget 16

Staying Focused and in Control 17

Chapter 2 Working with a Wedding Budget 19

Figuring Out the Cash Flow 20

Establishing who's paying for what 20

Calculating what you can afford 21

Calling for a Reality Check 24

Understanding average wedding costs 24

Agreeing on limits 26

Getting Others on Board with Your Budget 27

Dealing with pushy friend and family 28

Handling overzealous vendors 29

Matching your Guest List to Your Budget 29

Looking at a Sample Budget 31

Chapter 3 Deciding When to Get Married and Organizing Your Timeline 35

Choosing a Date and Time to Suit Your Wallet 36

Understanding how dates and times affect prices 36

Avoiding expensive wedding dates 39

Starting (And Finalizing) Your Guest List 41

Reseving the Venue(s) Early to Cushion Your Budget 41

Locking in prices 42

Exploring early-bird extras 42

Wheeling and dealing: Negotiating your deposits 43

Set it in stone: Getting your contract in writing 44

Filling In Other Details on Your Planning Timeline44

Building your wedding party 45

Enlisting the help of family and friends 45

Lining up vendors before all the good ones are booked 46

Deciding whether to hire a planner 47

Ordering wedding attire so you have plenty of time to spare 49

Make it legal: Taking care of your marriage license 50

Part II Planning the Ceremony 51

Chapter 4 Deciding Where to Get Married 53

Beginning the Search for the Perfect Location 54

Choosing an Indoor Location 55

Going to the chapel 55

Saying "I do" in a reception hall 58

Exchanging Vows Outdoors 58

Reviewing Some inexpensive Outdoor options 59

Considering the climate 60

Backyard Nuptials: Getting Married at Home 62

Saving Money with Destination Weddings 65

Off the Beaten Path: Exploring Nontraditional Sites 66

Ahoy, mate: Finding deals onboard boats 66

Keeping costs down at castles 67

Holding to your budget at historic places and civic sites 67

Going Even Further From the Beaten Path 68

Chapter 5 Minimizing Wedding Party Costs 69

Choosing Members of your Wedding Party 70

Calculating the number of bridesmaids and groomsmen 70

Deciding on a ring bearer and flower girl 71

Outfitting the Wedding Party 71

Dressing up your bridesmaids 72

Finding the best attire for the groom's buddies 73

Helping the ring bearer and flower girl look as sweet as sugar 75

Accessorizing: It's all about the bling 75

Pampering Your Wedding Party 77

Gifting Your Attendants 78

Chapter 6 Dressing for Your Big Day 81

Looking Like a Princess on a Pauper's Budget 81

Understanding average wedding gown costs 82

Finding a bridal outfit that both you and your budget love 84

Shopping smarter by avoiding common sales tactics 89

Dapper and Debonair: Dressing the Groom 91

Picking out your penguin suit: Wearing a tux 91

Considering other clothing options 93

With This Ring: Selecting the Symbols of Your Love 94

Chapter 7 Hammering out the Ceremony Details 97

Selecting an Officiant on a Budget 97

Getting the skinny on general costs 98

Breaking down the fees 99

Hearing the Music of Your Dreams-for Less 102

Opting for recorded music 103

Hiring musicians and singers 104

Decorating on a Dime 107

Chapter 8 Picking Flowers (Or Fun Alternatives) 109

Thinking About Your Floral Budget 110

Envisioning the flowers you'll select 110

Selecting a style for the bridal bouquet 111

Choosing flowers for the wedding party 114

Arranging flowers for the ceremony venue 115

Deciding on reception flowers 116

Choosing a Florist 118

Knowing what questions to ask 119

Getting the details in writting 120

Keeping Your Floral Costs Down 121

Going seasonal 121

Creating your own arrangements 122

Considering alternatives to fresh flowers 123

Chapter 9 Capturing It for Posterity: Photography and Videography 125

Deciding What Kinds of Photos and Videos You Want 126

Selecting from the many photography styles 126

Considering video options 128

Choosing photographers and Videographers You Can Afford 130

Beginning Your search 131

Interviewing Candidates 133

Negotiating a good deal 139

Getting Your Guests involved 141

Chapter 10 Putting It in Print: Invitations, Programs, and Miscellany 143

Shopping for the Best Deals 143

Bricks-and-mortar print shops 144

Mail-order catalogs 145

Web sites 145

Choosing an Invitation Style to Fit Your Budget 146

Picking out paper 146

Comparing printing process costs 148

Including inserts (or not) 149

Adding postage 151

Creating Programs and Other Materials 151

Sending save-the-date cards 151

Getting Your guests with the program 152

Showing guests to their seats 152

It's a napkin! No, it's a souvenir! 153

Saying thank you to your guests 153

DIY: including Your Creativity (And Saving Money) 153

Part III Celebrating With Your Guests 155

Chapter 11 Selecting the Reception Site 157

Matching Sites with Your Guest List 157

Finding the Best Venue for Your Reception 158

Church fellowship halls 159

Hotel ballrooms 160

Banquet halls 162

Clubs 162

Restaurants 163

Considering Transportation 163

Hiring a limousine service 164

Arranging bus transport for your guests 165

Exploring alternative options 166

Chapter 12 Feeding the Hordes 167

Setting a Food Budget 167

Adjusting the Formality Dial 168

Sophisticated and relaxed: Daytime receptions 169

A sweet affair: Dessert receptions 172

Cocktail receptions: A social alternative 172

Formality at its finest: Dinner receptions 173

Selecting a Caterer to Cook for the Crowd 174

Knowing what you're paying for 175

Asking Caterers the right questions 176

Managing Menu Choices 177

Answering the Alcohol Question 178

Understanding how you pay for alcohol 178

Slashing Your booze bill 179

Keeping a lid on drunkenness 180

Considering liability issues 181

Making Your Cake the Star 181

Getting the skinny on average cake expenses 182

Selecting a baker 184

Cutting your cake costs 185

Looking at low-cost alternatives 187

Chapter 13 Arranging Entertainment and Preparing the Venue 189

Using Music to Set the Tone for the Reception 189

Enlisting a DJ 190

Hiring a band 192

Asking the right questions 194

Trimming Entertainment costs 196

Choosing a budget-friendly wedding date and time 196

Saving a bundle with some helpful hints 197

Creating a party Atmosphere with Reception Decorations 198

Deciding on centerpieces 199

Choosing order decorations 203

Chapter 14 Making the Most of Prewedding and Postwedding Events 205

Keeping Costs Down for the Rehearsal Dinner 205

Considering the guest list 206

Choosing a location 206

Planning the menu 207

Hosting Gatherings for Your Wedding Party 208

Bridal Brunch 209

Groom get-together 209

Feting Out-of-Town Guests 210

Partying with Those who can't Make the wedding 212

Chapter 15 Honeymooning in style-and in the Black 213

Thinking About the kind of Honeymoon you want 213

Saving money on cruises and resorts 214

Considering hotels, Condos, and other alternatives 215

Budgeting for your Postwedding Gateway 216

Covering all your travel expenses 216

Saving for the trip 217

Registering for your honeymoon 218

Researching Honeymoon spots with Cost in Mind 219

Turning your Internet Know-how into travel savings 219

Enlisting a travel agent 219

Tweaking Your plans for value 220

Hitting hot spots in the off-season 220

Choosing cheaper days of the week 222

Looking into other transportation options 222

The early bride gets the deal: Booking early 223

When being late pays off: Booking your trip at the last minute 223

Dealaying your honeymoon 224

Part IV The Part of Tens 225

Chapter 16 Ten Ways to Get the Most for Your Wedding Dollar 227

Shop Around and Get Several Different Quotes 227

Get Referrals from Trusted sources 228

Hit the suburbs 228

Search the Internet for Deals and Advice 228

Ask Vendors for Extras 229

Negotitate Discount with Vendors 229

Use Your social Network to your Advantage 230

Opt for services Instead of Gifts 230

Become a DIY Expert 231

Pay with a Rewards Credit Card 231

Chapter 17 Ten Inexpensive Wedding Favors 233

Bookmarks 234

Candles and Candle Holders 234

Candy 235

Coasters 235

Drink Mix packets 236

Magnets 236

Photo Frames and Keychains 236

Plantable Favors 237

Soaps 237

Swizzle Sticks 238

Chapter 18 Ten Traditions to Reconsider When You're on a Budget 239

A Traditional Location 239

Traditional Wedding Clothes 240

A Romantic Limo Ride 240

Professional photography or Videography 241

The Tossing of the Bouquet (or the Garter 241

A Traditional Reception 242

A Traditional Tiered Cake 242

Professional Musicians 243

Monogrammed Napkins 243

Expensive Favors 244

Part V Appendixes 247

Appendix A Your Planning calendar 247

12 to 9 Months in Advance 248

8 to 6 Months in Advance 250

5 Months in Advance 251

4 Months in Adavance 252

3 to 2 Months in Advance 253

1 Month in Advance 254

3 weeks in Advance 255

The week before the wedding 256

Appendix B Price Comparison Worksheets 257

Baker 258

Catering Services 259

Ceremony sites 260

Florists 261

Musicians/DJs 262

Photographers 263

Printers 264

Reception sites 265

Videographers 266

Appendix C Your Wedding Checklist 267

Apparel 267

Ceremony 269

Flowers 269

Gifts/Favors 270

Honeymoon 270

Miscellaneous 271

Photography/Videography 271

Printing 272

Reception 272

Rehearsal Dinner 274

Appendix D Your Wedding Budget 275

Index 283