Bridal Bargains Wedding Planner : The Dollars and Sense Guide to Planning Your Wedding

by Fields, Alan

• ISBN13: 9781889392233
• ISBN10: 1889392235
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-10-28
• Publisher: Ingram Pub Services

Summary

Wow! Finally a wedding planner that tackles the biggest question facing brides and grooms: how are we going to pay for all this? A companion to the best-selling Bridal Bargains book, the Bridal Bargains Wedding Planner is your guide to planning an affordable wedding. Inside, you'll find: Detailed worksheets to compare vendors side by side so you get the best deal, In depth budget advice-including secrets on how to stretch your bridal dollars, Count-down checklists and to do lists for everything from the gown to the cake, Advice on how to find a dream bridal gown at a price you can afford, Savvy questions to ask all your wedding vendors, Tricks of the trade on saving on flowers, catering, videos and more. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Checklists
Mother of all wedding checklists	p. 1
9 Months and Earlier	p. 1
Making Your Own Wedding Organizer	p. 2
6 to 9 Months To Go	p. 2
4 to 6 Months To Go	p. 3
Children & Weddings: A Good Idea?	p. 3
2 to 4 Months To Go	p. 3
6 to 8 weeks To Go	p. 4
2 to 6 Weeks To Go	p. 4
Fun Gift Bags for Out Of Town Guests	p. 4
1 Week To Go	p. 5
Day Before Your Wedding	p. 5
Day of Your Wedding	p. 6
After Your Wedding	p. 6
Global Party Overview Worksheet	p. 7
Budget
Setting a Budget	p. 9
4 Steps to Setting a Budget	p. 9
Understanding Average Wedding Costs	p. 10
Breakdown of Average Wedding Costs	p. 11
Quick Overview of Wedding Costs	p. 11
Finding Your Own Wedding Budget Mojo	p. 12
7 Key Secrets to Saving on a Wedding	p. 13
Top 4 Wedding Budget Mistakes	p. 14
5 Biggest Bridal Budget Busters	p. 14
Who Pays for What	p. 15
Your Own Bridal Budget Priorities	p. 16
Real Budgets from Real Brides	p. 17
Priority Quiz	p. 18
My Bridal Priority Worksheet	p. 19
And Now, Your Wedding Budget!	p. 19
Budget Worksheets	p. 19
Ceremony Vendor Record	p. 26
Reception Vendor Record	p. 27
Engagement
The Proposal	p. 29
Breaking the News	p. 30
Announcing Your Engagement	p. 30
The Engagement Party	p. 31
Tricks of the Trade: Make Your Own Wedding Web Site	p. 32
The Big Picture
Picking a Wedding Date and Style	p. 33
7 Things: Setting a Wedding Date	p. 33
Style: Picking a Bridal Style	p. 36
Formal Weddings	p. 36
Semi Formal Weddings	p. 37
Informal Weddings	p. 38
Setting Your Own Bridal Style	p. 39
My Wedding Style Worksheet	p. 41
Wedding Party
Selecting the Bridesmaids and Groomsmen	p. 43
Tricks of the Trade: Inside tips	p. 43
3 Red Flags	p. 43
Attendants Duties	p. 45
How to Honor A Guest Who is Not an Attendant	p. 50
Attendant Worksheets	p. 52
Brides Attendant Schedule of Events	p. 59
Groom's Attendant Schedule of Events	p. 60
Guest List
Setting the Guest List	p. 61
Tips: Cutting the Guest List	p. 61
How Many Folks will RSVP?	p. 62
Kids & Weddings	p. 63
Sticky Questions about Guests	p. 65
Guest List Worksheet	p. 66
Guest Accommodation Worksheet	p. 72
Hotel Room Reservations	p. 73
Pre-Wedding Parties: Guest Lists	p. 75
Rehearsal Dinner	p. 82
Weekend Wedding Itinerary	p. 83
Ceremony
Key Question To Ask a Ceremony Site	p. 87
Comparing Sites Side by Side	p. 88
Ceremony Site Location Worksheet	p. 89
Officiant Worksheet	p. 91
Key Questions to Ask: An Officiant	p. 91
Ceremony Music	p. 93
Selections	p. 94
General Ceremony Worksheet	p. 96
Where Should I Stand?	p. 99
Receiving Line Order	p. 99
"Don't Forget It" List	p. 100
Ceremony Rentals Worksheet	p. 100
License & Vows
7 Things No One Tells Your About Writing Vows	p. 103
Vows Worksheet	p. 104
License: Making it Official	p. 107
Name Change List	p. 108
Avoiding Name Change Kit Scams	p. 108
Newspaper Wedding Announcement Worksheet	p. 109
Consumer Savvy
How To Avoid Bridal Scams	p. 111
Consumer Armor	p. 111
Get it in Writing	p. 112
Use a Credit Card	p. 113
Surrogate Bad Cop	p. 114
Wedding Insurance: Do You Need It?	p. 114
Nice Brides Don't Negotiate?	p. 116
Crash Weddings
How To Get Married in No Time	p. 119
Marriage in a Minute Tips	p. 119
Second Weddings	p. 120
Destination Weddings	p. 121
Bridal Gown
Reality Check: 3 Tips on Picking a Gown	p. 124
What Makes a Dress Formal?	p. 124
Silhouettes: Setting the Overall Look	p. 125
Shopping Tips: Fashion in the Real World	p. 125
Fabric & Lace Know-How	p. 127
Scams to Avoid	p. 127
Self Defense	p. 129
Ultimate Bridal Gown Glossary	p. 129
Tricks: How To Tell a Quality Gown	p. 133
4 Basic Sources to Find a Gown	p. 134
7 Things a Bridal Shop Won't Tell You	p. 135
Tricks: Washing a Bridal Gown	p. 138
Veils & Headpieces	p. 139
Buying a Gown: Step by Step Checklist	p. 140
Questions to Ask a Bridal Shop	p. 142
Traditional Bridal Gown Shops Compared	p. 143
Discount Bridal Retailers Compared	p. 144
Worksheet: Bridal Gowns Compared	p. 145
Your Bridal Gown Worksheet	p. 146
Groom's Attire
7 things Your Tux Shop Won't Tell You	p. 149
Question to Ask a Tux Shop	p. 151
Formality Matrix	p. 151
Groom's Attire Worksheet	p. 153
Attendants Attire
7 Things No One Tells Your About Bridesmaids Dresses	p. 155
Traditional Bridal Shops Compared	p. 157
Discount Bridal Retailers Compared	p. 158
Worksheet: Bridesmaids Compared	p. 159
Bridesmaids Size Chart	p. 160
Worksheet: Bridesmaids Gowns	p. 161
Flower Girl Attire	p. 165
Groomsman Attire	p. 165
Size Chart for the Guys	p. 166
Worksheet	p. 166
Pampering
Hair Stylist	p. 172
Make Up Artist	p. 172
Manicure/Pedicure	p. 173
Massage and other treatments	p. 174
Flowers
7 Things Your Florist Won't Tell You	p. 175
Questions to Ask a Florist	p. 177
3 Florists Compared	p. 178
Flowers & Decor Worksheet	p. 179
Flower Dictionary	p. 184
Affordable Filler Flowers	p. 186
Tips: Ordering Flowers at a Big Discount	p. 186
Invitations
7 Things Your Stationer Won't Tell You About Invites	p. 187
Wedding Newsletters	p. 189
Questions to Ask: Invitations	p. 190
3 Invite Sources Compared	p. 191
Mail Order/Web Site Invite Sources Compared	p. 192
How Many Invites Will You Need? Worksheet	p. 193
Invitations Worksheet	p. 193
Sample Wording	p. 195
Wording Worksheet	p. 200
Addressing the Invitation Tips	p. 203
Assembling Your Invitations	p. 204
Sample Invite	p. 205
Reception
7 Things Your Reception Site Won't Tell You	p. 207
Questions to Ask a Site	p. 209
Reception Sites Compared	p. 209
Worksheet: Your Reception Site	p. 211
Reception Site Design Map	p. 212
Seating Map	p. 213
Equipment Rentals Worksheet	p. 214
Reception Schedule	p. 215
Tip: Count Your Bottles	p. 216
Catering
7 Things Your Caterer Won't Tell You	p. 217
Questions To Ask the Caterer	p. 219
Caterers Compared	p. 220
Worksheet: The Caterer	p. 220
Food Menu Worksheet	p. 223
Tips: Calculating Food & Beverage Amounts	p. 224
Liquor Worksheet	p. 225
Tips on Tipping	p. 226
Bargain Advice: Save on Liquor	p. 226
Rentals Worksheet	p. 226
Cake
7 Things Your Baker Won't Tell You	p. 229
Questions to Ask a Cake Baker	p. 231
Tricks of the Trade: Cake Switcheroo	p. 231
Bakeries Compared	p. 232
Wedding Cake Worksheet	p. 233
Photography
7 Things Your Photographer Won't Tell You	p. 235
Questions to Ask a Photographer	p. 237
Photographers Compared	p. 238
Photography Worksheet	p. 239
Shot List	p. 240
Disposable Camera 411	p. 243
List of Important People for Photos	p. 244
Video
7 Things Your Videographer Won't Tell You	p. 245
Questions to Ask a Videographer	p. 247
Videographers Compared	p. 248
Video Worksheet	p. 249
Entertainment
7 Things Your Wedding Entertainer Won't Tell You	p. 251
Questions to Ask Musicians/DJ's	p. 253
DJ's/Bands Compared	p. 254
Entertainment Worksheet	p. 255
Song List	p. 257
The DJ, Redefined	p. 258
The iPod Wedding	p. 258
Etcetera
Wedding Consultants: Question to Ask	p. 259
Comparison Worksheet: Planners	p. 260
Wedding Planner Contact Sheet	p. 261
Tips: How to Hire the Best Planner	p. 261
Transportation
Question to Ask About Transportation	p. 263
3 Limo Companies Compared	p. 263
Transportation Worksheet	p. 264
Driver's Worksheet	p. 266
Cutting Costs in Half	p. 268
Wedding Day
Schedule of Events	p. 269
Bride's Wedding Day Checklist	p. 272
Groom's Wedding Day	p. 273
Bridal 911: Dealing with Wedding Day Crisis's	p. 273
Bridal Emergency Kit	p. 274
Gifts
Questions to Ask a Bridal Registry	p. 275
Three Registries Compared	p. 276
Gift Registry Worksheet	p. 277
Happy Returns: Savvy Registry Tips	p. 282
How to Turn Gifts into Cash	p. 282
Gift Record	p. 283
Honeymoon
7 things Your Travel Agent Won't Tell You	p. 287
Getting a Passport	p. 289
Honeymoon Worksheet	p. 290
What to Pack List	p. 292
Tips: Finding that Free Airline Seat	p. 294
The Bridal Bargains Web Site	p. 309
Our Other Book, Bridal Bargains	p. 310
About the Authors
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.