A refreshing take on bridal industry literature, the Fields duo actually gives practical, useful
advice on saving
money for a
wedding. Where others fail by offering such tips as 'have your reception at home' or 'ask a friend whom happens to be a chef to cater your reception as a gift' the authors assume that you actually have common sense, and offer
advice beyond this assumption. Advice on where to find quality bridal fashion for less (versus learning how to sew and make your own gown or borrow from a friend), how to cut back on catering (instead of a backyard barbecue or serving cake) and a host of other meaty advice is found within these pages. After having recently planned a wedding of my own, I pilfered through numerous books such as this, looking to find ways to save on the wedding of my dreams. This book is well researched, delivers what it promises, and does not insult your intelligence in the process. Realizing that we all don’t have independently wealthy parents to cater to our every need, nor the desire to go without the things we’ve always dreamed of this book attempts to bridge the gap between the two. Instead of the painfully obvious advice such as invite less guests, don’t spend more money than you have, and other considerations you've already mulled over, this books seeks to meet you once you've began the nuts and bolts of wedding planning. The author attempts to give the reader the impression that it has your best interest at heart, instead of advertisers, as is often the concern of bridal magazine articles populating the grocers' newsstands. Fields is successful in accomplishing this by sharing with you tricks the retailers use to rip you off, information no bride, regardless of budget, should go without. Rest assured that all of the wedding essentials are covered, from the actual ceremony, to attire, reception, food, photography, and more. A definite must for any bride to be intent on educating herself about her special day.