Planning a wedding and hoping not to go broke in the process? Denise and Alan Fields are here to help! The authors of the best-selling book Bridal Bargains, now in its 9th edition, were online Wednesday, September 10 to offer advice on how to save money on invitations, gowns, catering, flowers, honeymoons... and still have a beautiful celebration.
A transcript follows.
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Alan Fields: Hi everyone! Denise and Alan Fields here, live from Boulder, Colo.
We are the authors of "Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget." As consumer advocates, we've been featured on Oprah, NBC's Today Show and (most recently) on the Montel Williams show.
"Bridal Bargains" first came out way back in 1990 -- yes, we have been researching and writing about how to save on weddings for 18 years! Our book is now in its ninth edition with 700,000 copies in print.
Along the way, we have interviewed thousands of couples about how they tied the knot without going bankrupt. Many of our tips and advice are from "real weddings" -- and from wedding vendors who spill the beans about how to really save and avoid scams.
We look forward to your questions!
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Washington: Any tips for saving money on engagement and wedding rings? Do you know the average costs for rings these days? Thanks!
Alan Fields: Platinum wedding rings are extremely popular -- but very expensive! To save, we suggest palladium -- a similar look but much less expensive (it is part of the platinum family).
As for discounters, we like the WeddingRingHotline.com -- good deals and savings about 30 percent off retail prices.
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Chesapeake, Va.: I love your book. It has helped me so very much. My biggest question: Since I'm new to my area, is it a better idea for me to invest in a wedding planner, or try to go it myself, using a lot of the internet for my resources? I know that I can find some great things online, but I don't know if I can find better off-line. Is it worth the money to find out?
Alan Fields: Thanks! We appreciate the kind words!
Good question. We would suggest a wedding planner if you are planning a large wedding in a town you are unfamiliar with. The key issue is the number of guests ... and whether you have the time to plan the event!
Yes, it takes about 100 hours to plan a wedding. So if time is tight, a professional wedding planner may be worth the expense (most charge 10% to 15% of the wedding budget).
____________________
Alan Fields: Hi everyone! Denise and Alan Fields here, live from Boulder, Colo.
We are the authors of "Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget." As consumer advocates, we've been featured on Oprah, NBC's Today Show and (most recently) on the Montel Williams show.
"Bridal Bargains" first came out way back in 1990 -- yes, we have been researching and writing about how to save on weddings for 18 years! Our book is now in its ninth edition with 700,000 copies in print.
Along the way, we have interviewed thousands of couples about how they tied the knot without going bankrupt. Many of our tips and advice are from "real weddings" -- and from wedding vendors who spill the beans about how to really save and avoid scams.
We look forward to your questions!
_______________________
Washington: Any tips for saving money on engagement and wedding rings? Do you know the average costs for rings these days? Thanks!
Alan Fields: Platinum wedding rings are extremely popular -- but very expensive! To save, we suggest palladium -- a similar look but much less expensive (it is part of the platinum family).
As for discounters, we like the WeddingRingHotline.com -- good deals and savings about 30 percent off retail prices.
_______________________
Chesapeake, Va.: I love your book. It has helped me so very much. My biggest question: Since I'm new to my area, is it a better idea for me to invest in a wedding planner, or try to go it myself, using a lot of the internet for my resources? I know that I can find some great things online, but I don't know if I can find better off-line. Is it worth the money to find out?
Alan Fields: Thanks! We appreciate the kind words!
Good question. We would suggest a wedding planner if you are planning a large wedding in a town you are unfamiliar with. The key issue is the number of guests ... and whether you have the time to plan the event!
Yes, it takes about 100 hours to plan a wedding. So if time is tight, a professional wedding planner may be worth the expense (most charge 10% to 15% of the wedding budget).
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