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CNN Live At Daybreak

Dollars & Deals: The Wedding Planner

Aired December 19, 2003 - 06:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well why would you even think about planning a wedding without first getting advice from consumer guru Clark Howard, especially if you want to save a little money. That's the subject of this morning's 'Dollars & Deals.'
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARK HOWARD, CONSUMER ADVOCATE: This morning's question is from Roseanne in West Chester County, New York.

Your daughter is getting married next year, congratulations to you. But you are already getting overwhelmed planning for the wedding. Help! You want to know how you can make the day a day to remember without going broke.

Well, first thing you do is you tell them to go elope. Then you won't have so much stress. Just kidding.

But if you want to plan an affordable wedding, I got a couple of things. One, a great book called "Bridal Bargains." That's really helpful to brides and mothers of the bride who want to do everything possible to reduce the cost of a wedding. Also, the Web site, TheKnot, TheKnot.com, has great information and advice, lots of sales stuff on there to help you plan an affordable wedding.

But one of my key tips for planning that great wedding is think outside the box. One of the big differences in the wedding business is what day of the week you choose to get married. A lot of people are choosing off-peak days of the week or off-peak times of the year. And everybody involved with weddings will pretty much discount if you give them business at a time that they normally would have no revenue. Shop your wedding as well.

Another thing about a wedding, if you set a universal figure, let's say that the wedding is going to cost $11,000, no more, then what you do is you compromise with every feature of the wedding until you get to where you are within that budget. If it means you want to spend a lot of money on a dress for your daughter, then that's going to mean less money for other things. If you want a real fancy reception, then the dress better be affordable.

And here's one thing traditionalists aren't real excited about but is really popular in the wedding business now, used wedding dresses. You rent the dress for the day. Think about that as well.

(END VIDEOTAPE) LIN: Clark will be back next Friday with more 'Dollars & Deals.' And you can e-mail us your consumer questions. Just visit our Web site, CNN.com/DAYBREAK. In the meantime, you can get Clark's money- saving tips on the Web. The address is ClarkHoward.com.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com








Aired December 19, 2003 - 06:19   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well why would you even think about planning a wedding without first getting advice from consumer guru Clark Howard, especially if you want to save a little money. That's the subject of this morning's 'Dollars & Deals.'
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARK HOWARD, CONSUMER ADVOCATE: This morning's question is from Roseanne in West Chester County, New York.

Your daughter is getting married next year, congratulations to you. But you are already getting overwhelmed planning for the wedding. Help! You want to know how you can make the day a day to remember without going broke.

Well, first thing you do is you tell them to go elope. Then you won't have so much stress. Just kidding.

But if you want to plan an affordable wedding, I got a couple of things. One, a great book called "Bridal Bargains." That's really helpful to brides and mothers of the bride who want to do everything possible to reduce the cost of a wedding. Also, the Web site, TheKnot, TheKnot.com, has great information and advice, lots of sales stuff on there to help you plan an affordable wedding.

But one of my key tips for planning that great wedding is think outside the box. One of the big differences in the wedding business is what day of the week you choose to get married. A lot of people are choosing off-peak days of the week or off-peak times of the year. And everybody involved with weddings will pretty much discount if you give them business at a time that they normally would have no revenue. Shop your wedding as well.

Another thing about a wedding, if you set a universal figure, let's say that the wedding is going to cost $11,000, no more, then what you do is you compromise with every feature of the wedding until you get to where you are within that budget. If it means you want to spend a lot of money on a dress for your daughter, then that's going to mean less money for other things. If you want a real fancy reception, then the dress better be affordable.

And here's one thing traditionalists aren't real excited about but is really popular in the wedding business now, used wedding dresses. You rent the dress for the day. Think about that as well.

(END VIDEOTAPE) LIN: Clark will be back next Friday with more 'Dollars & Deals.' And you can e-mail us your consumer questions. Just visit our Web site, CNN.com/DAYBREAK. In the meantime, you can get Clark's money- saving tips on the Web. The address is ClarkHoward.com.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com