Product Description

The Perfect Wedding Doesn't Have to Cost Your Life's Savings
Relax. You don't have to mortgage your future to have the wedding of your dreams. According to mother-daughter wedding consultants Jan Wilson and Beth Wilson Hickman, the secret is in the planning. Here they tell you everything you need to know to plan a wedding that is both beautiful and affordable. Inside you'll find a wealth of creative ideas and invaluable advice from couples who have saved a fortune on their weddings. Jan and Beth guide you through every step of the process—right up to the day of the ceremony—and show you how to:
·Organize and prioritize using a month-by-month checklist
·Select gowns and tuxedos that look wonderful but don't cost a mint
·Find unique yet affordable ceremony and reception locations
·Decorate with style—without breaking the bank
·And much, much more!
"It is possible to have a beautiful wedding without going broke, and Jan Wilson and Beth Wilson Hickman show you how in this extremely comprehensive and practical book."
—Diane Forden, editor in chief, Bridal Guide magazine
"You might be able to keep wedding costs to $5,000 on your own but it probably would be anything but elegant. Jan Wilson and Beth Wilson Hickman give you the tips that make it possible."
—Bob Masullo, consumer writer, The Sacramento Bee

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17887 in Books
• Published on: 1999-02-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Amazon.com
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. In How to Have an Elegant Wedding for $5,000 or Less, 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. Can you wear your mother's wedding dress (with some alterations, of course)? Can you cut invitation costs by using black ink rather than a fancy foil? When you booked the band, did you read the fine print? (One bride found, the day before the wedding, that they had to provide a soundman and soundboard. Yikes!) "Weddings, like life itself," say the authors, "are rarely predictable." They suggest appointing one or two (two is better) close friends or family members (but not attendants) as coordinators. It will give the couple a trusted helper/point person during the planning process and take some stress off the day of the event.

How to Have an Elegant Wedding for $5,000 or Less encourages you to dream of your ideal day and then helps you to practically and economically make it happen. "Decide what is really important on your special day and make that a priority," say the authors. "Know what is right for the two of you. Your wedding day should reflect that." --Dana Van Nest

Review
The Perfect Wedding Doesn't Have to Cost Your Life's Savings

Bob Masullo, The Sacramento Bee
You might be able to keep wedding costs to $5,000 on your own but it probably would be anything but elegant. Jan Wilson and Beth Wilson Hickman give you the tips that make it possible.

Customer Reviews

Disappointed
I, like many brides am on a tight budget and I do not feel this book gave a lot of insight on cutting costs other than to have less guests and to use silk flowers. It is a good refrence though for things to make sure to have lined up for your wedding and to give an idea of the type of person to assign certain jobs to in your wedding.

Elegant Wedding for $5000 or less
I found the book to be easy to read. The information was very practical and concise. There were loads of ideas on wedding preparation.

A "must read" for any bride and groom
This is a terrific book that brings a wedding from the "vision" of what a bride may want and matches it to the financial reality of hosting a major party. It makes you really think about the things that are important to you about your wedding - and how much that is going to affect your overall budget. Most of us don't have an endless supply of money to spend on a wedding and reception, but even if you do this book is a great guide to helping you prioritize what really matters to you.