Budget Conscious Wedding Books

1001 Ways To Save Money...and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding (Paperback)

Writing with verve and an infectious enthusiasm for all things bridal, Sharon walks readers through every wedding-related event-from announcing an engagement to planning a honeymoon to writing thank-you notes. She reveals where to cut corners and where not to, how to help families and bridal parties save money, where to find free assistance, and how brides can keep from feeling as if they're shortchanging their dreams just to save a few bucks. For this revised edition, the author has put together an up-to-the-minute list of Web addresses and contact information for the best on-line, print, and brick-and-mortar bridal sources.

Less than $15

How to Buy Your Perfect Wedding Dress (Paperback)

Every year, Kleinfeld helps more than five thousand brides find the perfect look for the biggest day of their lives. Women from all over the world flock to the famous Brooklyn store to choose from among their vast selection of gowns and take advantage of the expertise of their renowned staff of bridal consultants. This book takes you through every aspect of that unparalleled experience so that when you finally buy your wedding dress, you will be thrilled with your choice. Let the owners of Kleinfeld help you define the style that best suits you -- be it classical, romantic, or contemporary -- and that is most appropriate for the season and setting of the wedding. Their detailed advice covers: What dresses are best for specific body types, including silhouette and skirt length; Colors, fabrics, and decorations, from the simplest unadorned silk to lace with all the trimmings; Accessories - including the veil, shoes, gloves, jewelry -- and undergarments; What to bring on your wedding dress shopping trip and whether or not to bring mom; What to expect at fittings; How to care for your gown before and after the wedding. Whether you're getting married on a beach or in a cathedral, whether you want to look sexy, chic, or like a fairy princess, How to Buy Your Perfect Wedding Dress can help all your dreams come true.

Less than $12

How to Have an Elegant Wedding for $5,000 or Less

Yes, weddings can be expensive, but is it really worth giving up your firstborn child so you can have tulips in September? When your wedding day arrives, you want to be able to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime event and know that the ceremony and reception are not going to put you in hock for the next 10 years. Authors Jan Wilson and Beth Wilson Hickman teach you how to budget and balance so you can have the wedding of your dreams without the headache of enormous bills. Whether you choose to have a big or small, formal or informal wedding, the reception seems to clock in at approximately half of your budget. So, going with that figure, you need to evaluate and prioritize wedding clothes, flowers, the photographer, the cake, music, invitations, and the ceremony itself. "Weddings, like life itself," say the authors, "are rarely predictable."

Less than $12

Intimate Weddings: Planning A Small Wedding That Fits Your Budget and Style

This book is dedicated to couples who want to plan a small wedding - a growing trend in the industry. With stories and wisdom from real-life couples, Intimate Weddings offers: advice on getting family and friends more involved, inspiring suggestions for personalizing a wedding creative ideas for venues (both traditional and non-traditional) and how to decorate them, unique cost-saving tips and tricks for getting married on a budget. Perfect for anyone planning a wedding with 75 guests or less.

Less than $15

Wedding Chic: The Savvy Bride's Guide to Getting More While Spending Less 

This valuable introduction to budget weddings and receptions is written in an enjoyably breezy style and packed full of helpful tips. Willdorf recently married, so she knows how expensive the whole affair can be; as she points out, the average cost for a wedding is approximately $22,000.  Determined to cut expenses without sacrificing style, Willdorf had the wedding of her dreams on the cheap, and here she explains how she managed to be mindful of her pocketbook "without getting the tulle pulled over my eyes." Amazingly, she was able to keep everything classy by merely tweaking the traditional wedding formula (i.e., having a limited bar instead of an entirely open one, instructing the florist to purchase a "market buy" of beautiful in-season flowers and "opting for a Friday-night affair rather than a Saturday event" to save 10 to 15 percent). Willdorf also offers some crafty suggestions - such as spray-painting pinecones gold for a winter wedding or making colorful centerpieces out of fruit instead of flowers - and it’s clear that she knows her etiquette: going to a department store for a makeover is fine; underpaying your officiate is not. Her overall theme is to know what’s important, put the money there and cut back on everything else. Though some of her advice is commonsense, Willdorf packs enough practical information and can-do spirit into this savvy guide to make it a necessity for budget-minded brides and grooms.

Less than $11