Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot: How to Plan a Church Wedding for Less Than $5,000

My husband and I got married last year and our wedding cost under $4000. I thought we were an oddity until I read this book. I believe the most important idea in this book is that big, expensive weddings are a fairly modern invention and are not necessary to have a meaningful wedding. Cara Davis presents three different "levels" of wedding planning, in both cost and logistics: bargain, budget, and bling. She encourages brides-to-be to choose carefully the wedding elements most important to them and their grooms and offers suggestions and tips for how to plan for each element according to their level of importance. I believe this book will be most useful to brides who are feeling the pressure from mainstream wedding periodicals full of advertisements for the biggest and most expensive everything. "Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot" offers refreshing alternatives, and even peace, for wedding planning.

I really wish I had had this book when I was getting married. I had a frugal wedding myself, but I'm sure I could have done much more with Davis's ideas included. My favorite feature of this book is that she does not simply say "Have a cake and punch reception and borrow a dress." She goes much further, and gives many different options. She goes from the very frugal to the most expensive options, and discusses the pros and cons of each. Handy checklists are included in the book. There are many very creative ideas throughout on how to get more bang for you buck. This is the best bridal bargin book I have read- it goes so much more in depth than most books, and gives options for people who don't have tons of talented cake baking picture taking friends. She even includes a chapter on how to be frugal after the wedding! What a great way to start your marriage.

I wish I had owned a copy of this book when I married a few years ago. Cheap Ways to Tie The Knot is a FAR better overall planner than Bridal Bargains and more up-to-date (stylewise) than How To Have A Big Wedding On A Small Budget (although I'd still recommend reading Diane Warner's classic, too). Cheap Ways addresses some recent trends in weddings, including how to decorate the modern mega-church (a unique and expensive problem for many brides!). Davis presents common-sense and creative solutions to budget obstacles, including taking advantage of those helpful church women and even asking art students to design cost-effective decorations. Her chapter on wedding clothing includes buying gowns on Ebay, using fabric store coupons to cut the cost of handmade dresses, and choosing dark suits as a logical option for the groom and his party. You'll never see this advice in a traditional bridal magazine! I think any bride who is searching for a meaningful and beautiful church wedding will find a kindred spirit in Cara Davis. This is one of the only books I've ever seen which addresses financial planning for the marriage, not just the wedding.

I saw an ad for this book in Relevant magazine, and since I've bought bridal magazines (that show expensive ways to tie the knot) I thought I'd try an inexpensive (and Christian) option. Mrs. Davis offers a plethora of creative ideas (and actually jump started my imagination) from "budget" to "bling," but there is more than wedding info. She also gives tips on how to live economically and intelligently in other areas of your life. This book is definitly an investment for me since I'm perpetually a bridesmaid and can offer Cara's book as advice my engaged friends (I'm not personally engaged yet, but soon). I plan on giving it as an engagement present to everyone. Thanks for a cheap (and creative) alternative.

I totally wish I would have had this book about 9 years ago when I was planning my wedding. From what shoes to wear, to what kind of music to have at the reception, this book will help brides keep everything in perspective as they decide all the details. Ms. Baker offers countless ideas that will make the most of any budget, while reminding you what's most important about your big day: what comes after it!