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