You're About To Learn How To Save Thousands Of Dollars Off Your Dream Wedding... “By Planning My Own Wedding, I Discovered Secrets That Saved Me Over $10,000... Secrets Wedding Planners and Industry Insiders Would Rather You Didn't Know”         —Stephi Stewart, Author of “Fire Your Wedding Planner” Inside I'll show you... Secret techniques that wedding planners and industry insiders don't want you to know... secrets that can save you thousands of dollars on an average wedding. How to save up to 96% off the cost of your dress and then "write off the rest". The Difference between a "Photographer" and a "Wedding Photographer". HINT: It's not the photo quality...it's the PRICE. As a bride, you have the words "Charge Me Extra" written all over you... I'll show you how to turn the tables and use your buying power to get MORE for your money instead of LESS. How to save 50% or more by buying your own alcohol and then returning what you don't use for a full refund! How to get airline discounts for your out of town guests and earn a free "Wedding Upgrade" for your honeymoon. And much, much more... Learn My Wedding Saving Secrets... Just use your first name, valid email and then click “Free Instant Access!” to enter the site and begin your FREE Wedding Planning Course by eMail...          First Name: eMail:   I hate spam as much as you do and promise NEVER to rent or sell your email address to anyone, period! You'll only receive valuable money saving emails from me personally and I'll always include a 1-click unsubscribe link in every single one. Okay?   - Stephi _________________________________________________________ © 2002-2006 Stephi Stewart Weddings Inc. All Rights Reserved. "Fire Your Wedding Planner" and "Stephi Stewart" are trademarks used by Stephi Stewart Weddings. By entering, you agree to terms and condtions found here. To read our privacy policy, click here. By entering your email address you are also requesting and agreeing to be subscribed to our Free Wedding Planning Course by eMail. Your email address will be kept 100% confidential and will never, ever be sold or rented. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. Check out my free wedding classifieds here. Affiliate Program

Hey Girlfriends!

Okay, so I'm kind of into this whole
"magic moments" thing lately...

You know, the whole concept that true
happiness is made up of the "magic
moments" we experience in our lives...

...and why it's so important to slow down,
and "live in the present" so you can
actually have more of these moments and
appreciate them while they're happening.

For example, recently my husband
and I (and the baby) went on a spectacular
hike through the Charmlee Nature Reserve
- a 524 acre park overlooking Malibu and
the Pacific Ocean.

Arriving at the top of the bluff
overlooking the ocean and sitting in
my husbands arms, holding our beautiful
2 year old baby boy as the sun set was
a truly magic moment for me (it was
like something out of a movie).

I feel so grateful for so many things in
my life, and this was on of them.

I'm glad I was able to consciously
"record" and "store" it in my mind...

The reason I'm sharing this with you is
because YOUR ENTIRE WEDDING
EXPERINCE should have lots of magic
moments too!

You know, totally fun, special and
memorable moments...

...but you need to think about "the magic
moments" you'd like to have AHEAD OF
TIME, because it all goes by so fast!

So ask yourself questions like...

"What magic moments do I want to have that
I'll never forget?"

"Who do I want to share them with me?"

Write down your answers...

Trust me, the more you think about these
things ahead of time, the better chance
you'll have of making them come true and
enjoying them, so I encourage you to do
this right away.

Promise you will?

Great!

Now that you're sufficiently inspired to
start your week, here are some great money
savings tips for you...

Enjoy!



****************************


*** Discount Designer Shoe Stores! ***


"Dear Stephi:

I've been receiving your Wedding Tips
newsletter for some time now, and your
money saving techniques have really opened
my eyes.

I'm in the very early stages of planning -
we haven't yet nailed down the date
permanently. I was really worried that I'd
be completely stressed out over my budget,
but I feel I'm already ahead of the game,
just because you've let me in on all the
"secrets" to not getting taken on my
wedding day.

I just wanted to share one of my finds with
you, and all the brides who receive your
letter. I'm a hopeless romantic who dreams
of a classic Cinderella wedding, and every
Cinderella must have her "glass" slippers.

I started out searching online, and found
only high priced shoes I couldn't even try
on before buying. While I could try on shoes
at the big department stores, the sticker
shock was enough to drive me away.

Then someone told me about discount
designer shoe stores in my area. In no time,
I located a shoe store that offered more than
a dozen designer Cinderella styles for a
fraction of the cost. I found the shoe of
my dreams, without the bad online photos,
or pushy department store salespeople.

Discount designer shoe stores are popping
up everywhere, and I advise every bride to
look there first. These stores are usually
in better locations than just at the mall,
and have better hours as well. I hope this
info can help other brides out there!

Keep up the great work, Stephi! You're
providing an invaluable service, and I can't
begin to thank you enough."

Michelle
Medina, OH.



>>> MY COMMENTS


Way to go girlfriend! You obviously "get it."

Like most brides, I'm sure the first time you
"opened your eyes" was when you started seeing
all the outrageous wedding prices out there!

Your success, however, demonstrates just how
easy it is to wash away the initial jitters
with the help of a little "insider information"
and the confidence to use it.

I've seen over and over again that the most
important key to achieving a dream wedding on
a budget lies in a bride's BELIEF SYSTEM...

What I mean by this is - Unless you approach
your wedding planning "believing" that YOU'RE
IN CHARGE (not the vendors) and YOU
ALWAYS HAVE ALTERNATIVES, you're in
big trouble and will definitely spend more
than you have to.

It's actually amazing how many brides throw
away wedding dollars just because they're too
lazy, too scared, or too inexperienced to
"ask for what they want" and to "keep looking"
until they find it (Yes, even if that means
meeting with 10 photographers until you find
one willing to do it for your price and let
you keep the negatives).

Your discovery that you could find perfect
shoes for your big day at a discount designer
shoe store is a great example of what I
recommend in my book - seeking out "Non
Wedding" alternatives to what you need since
any product or service with the word "wedding"
attached to it is usually marked up 25-300%.

In fact, I also bought my shoes at a discount
designer shoe store for a fraction of the
cost of "wedding shoes".

An additional benefit of doing this, especially
if you're having an outdoor wedding like I did,
is you don't have to worry all day about
ruining them the way you would if you were
wearing a pair of Manolo Blahnik's!

Thanks for sharing and keep up the great work!




*** One Cream Puff Per Person? ***


"Dear Stephi,

Could we get some more info out of "Angela"
of Peachtree City, GA re. the cost of food
for her wedding?

$275.00 for FOOD? What is she serving them:
one cream puff per person? Really, I Want
to know!

I find this ridiculous - how many people is she
serving, and what is she serving them?????????

We've just got to assume that pricing is going
to differ depending on what area of the country
you live in.

I know for a fact that eating out/catering in
Connecticut costs a lot more than eating out
in GA or TX or anywhere else "down south", for
that matter.

So far, the research I've done has shown that
the MINIMUM cost (from "soup to nuts": hors
d'oeuvres through dessert including 3 hours
open bar-at a local restaurant) is ~$45.00 pp.

The average price range I've seen so far at
local restaurants and Inns is ~$45.00-$125.00
pp.

So to feed the 85 or so persons I plan on
inviting to my wedding would be a minimum of
: 45x85= 3,825 + 230 (tax) + 689 (gratuity)=
$4,744.00.

Is this unusual or outrageous? Do you know
the markup on restaurant food & liquor? How
much negotiating room do you believe I have?

Btw, Steph, I purchased your kit 2 days ago
and am in the process of reading it cover to
cover!

"Hungry" for info in CT."

-Rebecca Deeley
West Hartford, CT



>>> MY COMMENTS


First of all, you're 100% correct - prices and
"taste" will differ significantly from
Peachtree, Georgia to Connecticut!

Second, your pricing sounds "typical" for
Connecticut, though you DEFINITELY can find
and/or negotiate better.

You just need to find your "leverage" and push
the right buttons with the vendors and you'll
get exactly what you want (see chapter 6 of my
book for more details on how to negotiate like
a goddess!).

The thing I want to focus on from your comments
though is something I literally see every day
from brides who write me, and that is - You
simply have NO CLUE what things should cost,
what markups are "okay", how much room there
is for negotiation etc.

This is due to NO FAULT OF YOUR OWN...
after all, you've never planned a wedding
before, so why should you know any better?

The problem is, we're talking about spending
BIG BUCKS here and negotiating with
professionals who have WAY MORE
experience in this area than you do
(disadvantage you!)...

...AND you're probably not approaching this
the way you would if you were running a
business, right?

Additionally, if you're like the typical bride
(an easy target for the greedy, overpriced
wedding vendors out there), I'll bet you:

A) Probably don't like to cause conflicts
(e.g. It's more important that people think
you're NICE than it is for you to GET YOUR
WAY).

B) Probably worry about "bothering people" by
taking up too much of their time or asking too
many questions

C) Probably Don't feel comfortable saying NO!

Now, if you've been reading my newsletters,
you should already know that there's No such
thing as "normal".

What's normal for a bride in Peachtree, GA or
even for a bride around the corner from you is
quite irrelevant.

What is "normal" for you is whatever YOU
BELIEVE is reasonable and possible.

So here are specific instructions to follow
(rinse and repeat as many times as necessary):

1) You MUST approach your wedding planning
like you would a business (pay attention to
contract details etc.)

2) You need to "Bother" people, take up their
time and ask lots of questions

3) It is imperative that you embrace "Conflict"
and say "No" to their offers and tell them you
need a better deal (it will actually earn you
respect instead of letting people walk all over
you because they perceive you as a pushover)

4) You can't just be "nice"...you need to be
"nice and assertive"

5) Remember, it's your money, so act like it!
Never apologize for wanting a good deal. There's
no such thing as "normal" when it comes to how
much YOU SPEND on YOUR very unique
wedding.

Now go out there and do yourself proud...

And please keep me updated on your successes!



*** Can I Negotiate Package Deals? ***


"Stephi,

Your book is great so far!

Right now what I'm struggling with is this -
every time I find a nice location, they always
have some insanely expensive package deal which
includes a site fee of $3,000 and up as well as
a per-head fee of $120 or over. They always
have in-house caterers which you MUST use,
18% gratuity, etc.

It always adds up to $20,000 and more, which I
think is a screaming ripoff.

I don't want to mortgage our future just to have
a nice wedding - how would you apply this
technique with package-deal people like these,
or do you bother at all?

I negotiated one down from $130/head to $120/head,
but I still couldn't afford that.

Any advice would be appreciated!"


Natalia Lincoln



>>> MY COMMENTS


First off, If you're planning to spend anywhere
near $20,000 on your location, then you should
have A LOT OF LEVERAGE to negotiate!

Likewise, it's often possible to "break the
package" (though not always) and here's how you
go about doing this:

Begin by reminding yourself that you're spending
the money, so you're in charge.

These vendors want your money and almost always
have some point of "leverage" which you need to
find...

Maybe it's a particular time of day, day of week,
time of year when they're less busy...

Or maybe they'll be enticed by referrals of other
business you can send their way...

Or even services you can offer totally unrelated
to your wedding...

Whatever the case may be, you need to ask for
what you want act like they need earn your
business (not vice versa).

For example, here are three different ways you
might approach a vendor to save money...they're
all variations of what I call the "instant
discount technique":


SUGGESTION 1: Breaking the Package

"Hey, I think your location is great. "Package A"
is the closest fit for my needs, but I'm working
on a really tight budget and see a few things I
don't want or need in the package.

I'd like you to put together a "customer quote"
for me on "Package A" MINUS "this, that, these
and those".

If you'll do that for me by Monday and can come
closer in price to some of the other sites I'm
looking at, you'll have a much better chance of
earning my business."


SUGGESTION 2: The Direct Approach

"Your location is really nice and I would love
to give you my business, but since I'm expecting
200 guests, I need you to be more flexible on
your pricing to meet my budget. If you can do it
for X per person (including rentals), I'll sign
a contract with you on the spot."


SUGGESTION 3: The Open Ended Approach

"I love your location, but simply can't afford
it on my budget. Since I'm expecting 200 guests,
are you willing to be flexible on your pricing?

*Note: They'll almost always say "yes" to this
kind of question and then you can follow up with
something like, "Great... why don't you go ahead
and "sharpen your pencil" and let me know what
you can do.


In all three suggestions above, if they say yes
or make concessions (and in most cases they
will), you've just succeeded at achieving an
"instant discount"... not to mention some
serious savings!

And If they say no, then ask them if there's
any other way they can be flexible to meet your
needs (e.g. Friday or Sunday? An Afternoon
instead of evening? etc.).

Just think of the whole process like a game of
"tug of war". Your goal is to pull them to your
side, and I promise you it's easier than you
think if you just make a slight shift in your
attitude start acting like you're in charge.

Okay, gotta run...

I'll write you again soon.

Your friend,



Stephi Stewart Weddings, Inc.
311 N. Robertson Drive #114
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Hey Girlfriends!

Do you worry about all the things that "might"
go wrong on your wedding day?

Today I share three important keys to having
a smooth and "worry free" wedding day...

Enjoy!



****************************

*** QUESTION ***

"I need advice on how to make everything run
smoothly right before the wedding. Please
give me your advice!!

Thanks bunches!!!"

- Sarah


>>>MY COMMENTS:


Here are three keys to help insure your big
day goes off without a hitch:


1) You Should LIE About Your Start Time

ASSUME some of your guests are going to be
late (they always are!) and plan accordingly...

Put a start time on your invitations that is
a half hour before the time you actually
intend to begin the ceremony (e.g. say 6pm
with the intention of starting at 6:30pm).


2) You Need To Seriously Plan Your FLOW

A critical ingredient in making your wedding
day go smoothly is the "flow" of the day.

Nothing kills a wedding faster than a big
break in the flow!

I once went to a wedding where the ceremony
and reception were in the same room and the
"cocktail hour" became a "cocktail hour and
forty-five minutes" because the staff took
so long to rearrange and set up the room for
the reception. What a nightmare!

My point - you've got to plan your flow if
you want to avoid crying "Oh No!"


3) The Secret To Great Flow is in the DETAILS...

If you want to have a "worry free" day,
then it's absolutely critical that you plan
and organize EVERY LAST DETAIL...

Not only will this help you anticipate and
avoid potential problems, but it can also
eliminate the need to pay an expensive
coordinator to do all this for you!

So where do you start?

Even though it's unlikely your wedding will
stay perfectly on schedule, as long as the
flow is laid out, you'll be in good shape.

What this looked like for me was creating
itineraries for every single aspect of my
wedding day.

You'll want to begin with one big flow
chart for the entire day of your wedding.

Note: To this day, I still get teased by my
family and friends about the exacting detail
of my itinerary (I had over 50 different and
very specific line items beginning at 8am all
the way through to 12midnight!).

It was a brilliant idea nonetheless and truly
enabled me to have a worry free wedding day
knowing that all my vendors (caterer, band,
photographer etc.) and family members
participating in the day had all the details
they needed (from the ice arriving, to the
band setting up, to the father/daughter dance
and cake cutting) so they could coordinate
themselves without me having to "police" my
entire wedding.

It was also really valuable to break down my
itinerary into smaller more specific lists.

For example, my ceremony itinerary included
the details of the ceremony and it's flow
from the order of walking, to when and which
songs would be played, to music, to instructions
regarding reserved seating, ceremony programs
and flowers.

I also created a Speeches Itinerary, Band
Itinerary, Party Coordinator Itinerary, Limo
Itinerary, and even a complete Vendor Contact
List so the vendors could coordinate amongst
themselves (e.g. the photographer and videographer,
the caterer and the ice company etc.).

Needless to say, thanks to all my organizing
and planning, my dream day went off without a
hitch.

In case you're not as meticulously organized as
me, the good news is that I include samples of
all seven itineraries described above in my
"Fire Your Wedding Planner!" eBook kit.

If you're wondering whether my ebook kit can
really help you, It's easy to find out without
any risk whatsoever.

I'll write you again soon!

Your friend,



Stephi Stewart Weddings, Inc.
311 N. Robertson Drive #114
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Hey Girlfriends!

Oy!

Today's newsletter discusses a HIGHLY
SENSITIVE TOPIC...

It's about "Making Decisions" that might
offend people...

Decisions that might cost you $1000's
more than you can afford to spend...

Or NOT a single extra penny!

It's all about that fine line between
saving money and having guilty feelings...

Well guilt be gone!

Great practical advice awaits you below
that I think you'll really benefit from...

Enjoy!



****************************


*** AM I BEING TACKY? ***


"Hi Stephi,

I'm a big fan of yours and have been receiving
your e-mails throughout my planning process.

My question to you is in regards to etiquette.

As a way to try and save money for my wedding
I did not address "And Guest" to my single
guests unless they were engaged, living
together, or I knew the significant other
personally.

The problem is my cousin, who was also a
bridesmaid, just added her new boyfriend's
name to the reply card.

When I called to explain the situation she
told me if he couldn't come then she wouldn't
come and hung up on me.

She has now been talking to all the other
relatives about how tacky my wedding is.

I don't know this guy and he doesn't know me
or my fiancé. I did a great deal of research
regarding this and found that not inviting
single guests with guests is a fairly common
practice. It's actually saving me close to
$7000!

Are my relatives correct in stating this is
"tacky" or are they just not up-to-date with
the wedding procedures?

Thanks for your advice."

-Sarah Sargent



>>> MY COMMENTS:


I'm so glad you asked this question because
this kind of dilemma happens all the time!

First things first...

Who's wedding is this?

...YOURS!

And who's spending the money?

...YOU ARE!

So who gets to make all the final decisions?

...YOU DO!

Now as far as etiquette goes, when it comes
to inviting your single friends "solo" OR
"And Guest"...

You are correct...

It's completely acceptable NOT to include
"And Guest" when you invite "single" people
these days...

YOUR CHALLENGE lies in how you're defining
"single"...

Just because a couple isn't engaged or living
together doesn't mean they're not committed to
one another.

If your cousin or any of your other friends
are involved in relationships, is it fair for
you to say those partners are not significant?

This is a VERY TOUGH CALL...

No matter how you position it, some guests
(like your cousin) WILL BE OFFENDED by
this definition of single and feel you're
being tacky...

That said, $7,000 is A LOT OF MONEY that can
be used for far more important things than
inviting guests you don't even know to your
wedding!

So here's the deal...

It's YOUR wedding, so YOU'RE IN CHARGE...

What you really need to do is think about the
long term consequences of your actions.

If you're going to lose friends or create
family feuds by sticking with your definition
of "single",then I'd recommend you do what
you can to avoid this (e.g. compromise)...

But if you're simply worried about the opinions
of people who won't really matter in your life
a few years down the road, you should do what
is in YOUR BEST INTEREST even if it might create
some "uncomfortable" situations along the way.

Now if it were me, I'd include "significant
others" like your cousin's boyfriend
(especially since she's a bridesmaid)...
and then stick with your plan to invite truly
"single" people (e.g. those not in any kind
of relationship) ON THEIR OWN "WITHOUT"
a guest.

But that's just me...

And you need to do what's right for you
financially and emotionally...

So think of this as the FIRST BIG TEST
of your marriage...

Discuss it thoroughly with your fiancé...

Then make a decision, stick with it, and deal
with the consequences...

People will respect you for it...

Note: DO NOT be embarrassed to tell people
you simply can't afford to invite extra guests
and are therefore "limiting" the invitations
to close friends and family and single friends
WITHOUT guests.

How can anyone argue with that?

Good luck!


Your friend,



Stephi Stewart Weddings, Inc.
311 N. Robertson Drive #114
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Have you hired your caterer yet?

Well, do yourself a big favor...

DO NOT hire any caterer UNTIL you read
today's newsletter.

I'm about to share some VERY VALUABLE
Tips it would be wise for you to know...

You see, I have this friend who works
for a major catering company here in
Los Angeles...

...well, with a little arm twisting
(and a pinky promise to NEVER reveal
his identity), I got him sit down with
me for over an hour and tell me all
the best ways for you to SAVE HUGE
on your catering costs and AVOID
GETTING TAKEN...

Do you wish you could have listened
in?

No worries!

I've summarized seven of the KEY
INGREDIENTS for SAVINGS SUCCESS
for you below...

Enjoy!



----------------------------------------------
*** 7 Ways To Save On Catering ***


Finding the "right" caterer isn't easy!

Here are seven keys to help insure you
get the best deal on your caterer and
don't get taken advantage of...

1) Plan As Early As Possible...

The farther in advance you secure your
caterer, the more negotiating power you
have...

If you wait too long (e.g. too close to
your wedding date), there's a strong
likelihood that your "caterer of choice"
will either be booked already or know
they can charge you whatever they want
because you're running out of choices and
time...

So get a move on girlfriend!


2) DO NOT Hire The First Caterer You Meet!

Even if you fall in love with the fist
caterer you meet, it's very important to meet
with several and COMPARE their offerings and
prices before making a final decision.

Why?

Because not all caterers are the same and
you need to compare "apples to apples"...

For example, good caterers will prepare most
of the food on location, whereas others may
make it at 8am that morning for your evening
event and according to my friend, you can
definitely taste the difference ("Cooking and
re-heating is when the food goes to garbage").

Be sure to ask about this, as well as to see
pictures of weddings they've recently done to
get an idea of their "presentation style".

I also recommend that you get a list of names
and numbers of several brides they've recently
worked with (and actually call them!).

But don't just rely on somone elses word...


3) Always Insist On A "Tasting"

Be very skeptical if a caterer says they will
not do a tasting for you...

Do they really just expect you to shell out
all that money and then just cross your
fingers, show up to your wedding and hope
the food turns out okay?

Not Even An Option!


4) Ask For Complete Breakdown Of Costs

If a caterer quotes you $50 a person, for
example, ask them to break this pricing down
for you to show you what you're going to pay
for food, bar, labor/staff, service charges,
tax, rentals etc.

Be sure to ask them to list any "extras"
as well...

The breakdown will help you compare the
prices to other caterers and give you
insight into areas where you might be
able to cut costs further...


5) Negotiate Your Service Charges & Extras!

Most caterers tack on enormous 12-24% service
charges.

They often also charge extras like "corking
fees" when you supply your own alcohol.

This is an area where you can often save money
just by having some "inside knowledge".

For example, some caterers will add the service
charge to food and beverages only, where others
will add it to the ENTIRE bill!

Remember, "It's your wedding, so act like it!"
You're spending the money, so you're in charge.
Make these caterers "earn" your business.

You may not think these prices are negotiable,
but they often are, as evidenced by this
statement directly from my cater friend's
mouth:

"While I don't like to negotiate the service
charge, I certainly won't throw away a big
event if I have to reduce the service charge
from 18% to 10%."

This can mean several hundred to several
thousand dollars in saving depending on the
size of your event.

Hopefully you can use this idea to save too!


6) Get It In Writing!

Contracts are VERY important because many
caterers will promise to come through for
you, say they can pull it off at the price
you want, and then "bail" on your event at
the last minute because they've found a
better job that's more lucrative.

That's why it's critical not just to get
a verbal confirmation that they'll do your
event, but actually a contract that
includes all the following:

- Breakdown of ALL prices (including taxes)
- A Menu You've Agreed To and Signed Off On
- Dates When Deposits Are Due
- Date Final Guest Count Is Due And No More
changes can be made.
- A Cancellation Clause


7) Lastly, Be Sure To WATCH OUT For...


HOME BASED CATERERS:

Be careful with caterers that run their
businesses out of their home as professional
caterers need to have special licenses approved
by the health department as well as liability
insurance, and "home based caterers" often
don't have these.


KICKBACKS:

Ask if they accept kickbacks from the rental
companies as many rental companies pay a 5-10%
kickback to the caterer for referring your
business (If they do, insist the caterer pass
these savings on to you!).


"MARKET PRICES":

Do not hire a caterer that won't put an exact
price in writing.

Saying the actual prices will be based on
"market prices" at the time of your wedding
is a trick that some dishonest caterers use
to jack their prices a few dollars a head
just before your event, claiming increases in
"market prices"...

My friend assures me that honest caterers
don't do this!


Okay, gotta run...

I'll write you again soon!

Your friend,



Stephi Stewart Weddings, Inc.
311 N. Robertson Drive #114
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

I have a confession to make...

From time to time, I receive ANGRY
LETTERS from wedding planners about the
title of my book - "Fire Your Wedding
Planner!"

I'll probably get a few more of them after
today's email...

But in case you're curious, I just want to
set the record straight about what the title
of my book REALLY MEANS...

Hint: It's NOT about actually firing anyone!

I'll reveal the TRUTH in just a sec...

Enjoy!



----------------------------------------------
*** They're Amazed At How Much We Saved ***


"Dear Stephi:

I know I write in a lot, but I have a friend
who hired a wedding planner.

I know exactly what you're talking about when
I read your newsletter about the kickbacks they
receive and don't pass on to their brides.

Either my friend T who is getting married in
May has a very inexperienced w-planner, or the
woman is raking it in big time.

To be short, the planner pushed them into booking
one of the MOST expensive venues in town (I know,
I looked into it), NEVER told them they could have
their negatives (or to at least ask for them!!!),
and also recommended one of the most expensive
cake people in town.

Now T and her fiancé don't have much money, but
they're spending close to 30K. When they had to
postpone their wedding due to unforeseen
circumstances, the hall demanded they re-pay a
new deposit and refused to give them ANY of their
original deposit back for the new date. Their
w-planner did NOTHING to step in on their behalf,
even though she had, by then, been paid in full.

Like you recommend, ALWAYS research your
vendors.

T was a lazy planner, she even admitted it and
wanted someone to take care of it all....but now
she is complaining about how much she has spent
and still HAS to spend.

Her fiancé, asked me how I was saving so much...I
told him, many of the tricks I learned came from
your book. He wishes they had it before they got
their w-planner. They could have saved thousands.

They're also amazed at how much we have saved and
how much extra we are getting.

Thanks again.

Laura Budash
Northern Virginia"



>>> MY COMMENTS


Wanna know what gets me up early and keeps me
up late every night (besides my 21 month old)?

It's the thousands of e-mails I receive from readers
like Laura thanking me for the information in my
book and sharing stories of how my ideas saved them
time, money and aggravation while planning their
own weddings.

You've seen many of these letters as I share
a handful of them each week with you...

And they're NOT just about wedding planners, right?

They include stories about photographers, caterers,
hotel managers, and every other vendor you might
encounter while planning a wedding...

So why the name "Fire Your Wedding Planner!"???

Here's the deal...

A wedding planner is a "luxury" that most brides
CAN'T EASILY AFFORD (I certainly couldn't afford
one, as much as I would have appreciated the help!)

Do I regret all the time I spent planning the
wedding of my dreams and learning all that I did?

NO WAY!

Is hiring a wedding planner necessary for most
brides?

NOT AT ALL!

Can you successfully plan the wedding of your
dreams all by yourself?

YOU BETCHA!

What if you're lucky enough to be able to
afford a wedding planner... is there anything
you can do to make sure they keep your best
interests in mind when it comes to saving money?

OH YEAH!!!

And guess who's the ONLY person who really knows
what YOU want and has YOUR BEST INTERESTS
in mind?

YOU, of course!

So the truth is, I'm not suggesting you should
actually "fire" your wedding planner (if you even
have one), or that wedding planners don't provide
a valuable service (the good one's definitely do)...

What I am suggesting is that if you're on a tight
budget, YOU CAN indeed "HIRE YOURSELF"
and save a fortune on your wedding expenses just
like I did (to refresh your memory, I saved over
$10,000 on my own wedding by doing it myself!).

Honestly, I'm always amazed at how even the
SIMPLEST CONCEPTS in my book help brides.

For instance, I include "Six Power Questions" you
should ask before buying anything (and of course
"must ask" questions for each different type of
vendor)...

...The first question on the list is, "May I speak
to the Manager?" and the reason is that no matter
what you're buying, you'll almost always get a
better deal when you speak with the manager or
owner since employees are usually bound by the
store or company policy and don't have the
authority to stretch the rules or offer you the
best deal.

You heard me right! I'm suggesting you walk into
every business and immediately ask to speak with
a manager (skip right over the clerks, as nice and
helpful as they are).

This seems like common sense to me, but one
enthusiastic bride wrote me to let me know she
saved a few hundred dollars off their wedding
rings doing this the first day after reading my
book!

So I guess it would be more accurate if I titled
my book "Hire Yourself and Save", but I don't
think that's as catchy as "Fire Your Wedding
Planner! - Money Saving Secrets Every Bride
Should Know"...

There you have it...

So what's going on with you?

Are you struggling with your wedding planning?
Feeling overwhelmed? Not sure where to start or
what questions to ask vendors? Not sure how to
avoid wedding industry scams and pitfalls?

Do you have a system to create and manage your
budget, as well as your guest lists?

Would you like to learn how to negotiate like
a total goddess so you never get taken advantage
of financially?

Would it be valuable to you to learn how to
communicate with vendors so they know at an
unconscious level that you're in charge?

Would you like an easy step by step guide on how
to change your name after you get married?

If you answered yes to any of these questions,
would you be interested in a solution?

My eBook kit offers solutions to all the above
and includes everything you need to create your
dream wedding on a budget.

In fact, I guarantee that if you download my kit,
read it cover to cover, and try out all the ideas,
tools and techniques, you're going to save a minimum
of 10 times the $29.95 price of the kit off your
wedding expenses (That's a $300 savings guar-an-teed!).

And if for any reason you feel it's not for you,
simply email me at stephi@fireyourweddingplanner.com
and I'll immediately (and cheerfully!) refund 100% of
your money.

Wondering how I can offer such an amazing guarantee
that no book store anywhere will match?

Because not only did I personally save 3,300% more
than the $300 I'm guaranteeing you'll save, but in
the past two years, I've helped thousands of brides
save a combined total of more than a million dollars
off their wedding expenses... so I'm POSITIVE YOU
CAN SAVE HUGE MONEY TOO!

That said, my book isn't magic! You do have to
actually read it and personally put in the effort to
"make it happen".

The reason I mention this is because there are always
some brides who buy my kit who are just "browsers"
(and want to be) and will never use or even try the
ideas no matter how valid they are (If that's you,
no need to check out my book).

The majority of the brides, however, who read my book,
are ambitious, creative, and intelligent "go getters"
who value good information and immediately put it to
good use.

If you fall into the second category, then you're
going to find the contents of my book extremely
valuable.

Okay, gotta run... I'm off to Yoga.

I'll write you again soon!

Your friend,



Stephi Stewart Weddings, Inc.
311 N. Robertson Drive #114
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Yuppers, IT'S TRUE...

I found a beautiful $2,000 dress for ONLY
$107 at a designer sample sale!

Wanna learn how you too can FIND YOUR
DREAM DRESS FOR LESS at a sample sale?

Get ready to take notes because I'm about
to give away all my secrets! (well, most
of them, anyway)...

But first, I want to share a FUN STORY
from a faithful reader...

...It involves a photographer, two complete
strangers and secretly slipping something
to a bride-to-be in a Starbucks bathroom...

And away we go...

Enjoy!



----------------------------------------------
*** He Used Every Guilt Line You Can Think Of ***


"Stephi-

Last night I was sitting at Starbucks minding
my own business when a wedding photographer and
his potential customers sat down to discuss his
services.

I heard him give them all the lines about
quality, the hours and hours of work he
puts into the job before and after to prepare
their book. And the longer I listened to him
the angrier I got because he was screwing them
over big time and they did not even know it.

He told them they needed to decide how many
proofs they wanted to see up front and that
they should choose more rather than less
because he wouldn't want to charge them twice
to set up their proof books.

He told them he kept rights to everything and
reprints had to go through him (because it
was only fair to him, you know!)

And he laid on them an enormous price tag of
several thousand dollars! This was a punk kid
with a sample book, a laptop and some price
sheets!!

He used every guilt line you can think of.

He was the clichéd used car salesman of
photographers.

I was disgusted. So I grabbed a business card,
wrote down your URL and slid it to the woman in
the ladies room. I just couldn't stand by and
watch them get screwed over by such an obnoxious
crook.

Keep doing what you do Stephi.

As you say to your readers - you go girl!"

- Kimberly Carroll



>>> MY COMMENTS


Wow!

The scene you described would make for a great
TV commercial about my book!

Thanks for spreading the good word :-)

I believe EVERY BRIDE IS ENTITLED to learn
exactly how to "small the rats" and negotiate
fabulous deals...

...and that you truly DO NOT HAVE TO GO
INTO DEBT to have a dream wedding.

Unfortunately, many brides will continue to
get "taken" because they just don't know where
to find the information they need (or are just
too lazy to "do a little homework")...

Lucky for that bride in the coffee shop, you
pointed her right direction :-)



*** Can I Buy At A Sample Sale? ***


"Stephi,

I have a question about finding dresses at
discount...

I've read that most sample sales only offer
mid-range sizes, like 6-10...I happen to be
much smaller then that, so does this mean
I'm stuck with retail only?

Borrowing a dress or renting one is not
an option."

- Sue Natko



>>> MY COMMENTS


The good news is that there are a bevy of ways
to buy your designer dress for less (no matter
what size you are).

In fact, in my book "Fire Your Wedding Planner",
I list in detail "11 Ways To Save Up to 96% Off
Your Dress".

One of my favorites on that list is how I saved
96% off the cost of my dress. That's right, I
paid only $107 for a $2,000 dress...that's a
savings of $1,893 dollars!

I achieved this by buying at a "Retail Sample
Sale" (Michelle Roth in New York City), which
is number 2 on my list of 11 Ways To Save.

Here's how sample sales work. Most bridal
stores periodically have sample sales where you
can buy their sample dresses for 25% - 95% off.

As you've read, sample dresses usually come in
size 6, 8, or 10, but the good news is that
they can be altered to your size even if you're
a petite size "0" or "2" like me (I found
a very reasonable seamstress studying at the
fashion institute to do this for me and saved
a bundle).

The reason why the shops sell these sample
dresses so cheap is that:

1) They're making room for new styles coming in.

2) The samples have been tried on many times so
they're "like new" (e.g. they might need some
minor cleaning).

If you're lucky, you can score big at these
sales like I did.

So how do you find out about sample sales?

Simply call up the bridal shops in your area and
find out when and if they're having their next
sample sale and then get ready!

Here are a few tips on shopping sample sales...

First of all, sample sales are an experience
you'll never forget! From the minute you find
out when they're going to happen, start telling
yourself, I'm going to find my dream dress at
a sample sale." Never question it. BELIEVE!

Next, find out what time the sale starts (they
often open an hour or two earlier than normal)
and be sure to ask what time the shoppers
normally arrive.

Don't be surprised if they tell you that you
women start lining up hours before! Make sure
you get there as early as possible so you're
number one in line and get the "first look"
opportunity.

You should already have an idea of the type of
dress you're looking for ahead of time.

Also, make sure to wear clothing that's easy to
slip in and out of and remember, you might be
stripping down in front of a lot of people so
this is not for the faint of heart!

Once inside, start on one end of the store and
pull out anything that you think you might like.
This is not a time for agonizing over every
dress you see. You want to get through the store
as quickly as you can, gathering every dress that
you like to make sure that no one else gets it
before you. Your wedding shopping partner comes
in handy here! In fact, you might have them start
on the other end so you're both pulling dresses.

Once you've done a run through of the store,
start trying on as quickly as you can. If you
don't like it, take it off immediately and move
to the next one.

Remember, keep your eyes open at all times in
the dressing room because someone else might be
trying on a dress that you love and as soon as
they disregard it, you've got to pounce! So keep
your Antennae up!

Once you've found one or two dresses that you
love, grab a shop assistant and question them
intensely on what it will take to alter the gown.

If the dress is too big or too small for you,
UNLESS the dress is very inexpensive (e.g. $107),
you may not want to take a chance of "messing"
with it because you can end up paying more in
alterations than you would just buying a new
dress.

Okay, those are the basics for shopping sample
sales...

To read the other 10 remaining ways to save huge
on your dress (as well as a list of all the 13
"Must Ask" questions for bridal shops before you
buy), I invite you to download my "Fire Your
Wedding Planner" eBook kit.

It includes everything you need to plan your
dream wedding on a budget (including how to
overcome overwhelm, the 11 biggest mistakes
brides make and how to avoid them, plus all the
money saving techniques I personally used to
save over $10,000 off my own wedding expenses).

Inside, I explain the most important beliefs
and techniques you need to embrace, and exactly
how to use them so the vendors you're meeting
with INSTANTLY sense at an UNCONSCIOUS level
that you're in charge.

Plus I include all the TOOLS you'll need (budget
estimator, guest list manager, to-do lists etc.),
as well as my "No Hassle Name Change Kit"
absolutely free with your order.

Be sure to pay special attention to Part 3 of
the book, titled: "Never Get Taken - Essential
New Rules For The Modern Bride."

If there's anything else I can do to help make
your "dream wedding on a budget" come true,
please let me know!

I'll write you again soon.


Your friend,



Stephi Stewart Weddings, Inc.
311 N. Robertson Drive #114
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

I don't mean to upset you...

But someone needs to tell you THE TRUTH.

Here it is...

If you're like many brides who write me, you're
probably THROWING AWAY THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS on your wedding right now that you
could have easily saved!

Money I bet you can't afford to waste...

Money that could really help you get a
head start in life...

So why would anyone in their right mind
throw away hard earned money?

The reason has to do with an affliction
many brides suffer from...

It's the cause of PARALYZING BELIEFS like:

"There's no way I can afford what I really want"

and...

"I'd rather pay a little more than "cause a
conflict" trying to negotiate the price"

and...

"I don't mind settling for less than my dreams"

Sound vaguely familiar?

If you haven't already figured it out, the
common affliction and reason why so many brides
literally throw away hard earned money is...

LOW SELF ESTEEM :-(

The GOOD NEWS is that I'm here to help you
OVERCOME this challenge, TAKE CONTROL of
your mind, and EMPOWER YOU with the knowledge
you need to immediately STOP throwing away
valuable wedding dollars!

In just a sec, I'm going to remind you of three
magic words you already know, which have the
power to INSTANTLY change your wedding destiny
IF you choose to embrace them...

But first, an example of the "Low Self Esteem"
I'm talking about (and it's devastating effects
it can have on your life, your wedding and your
bank account)...

Enjoy!



----------------------------------------------
*** Please Walk All Over Me! ***


"Dear Ms. Stewart,

Thank you for the "nice" and assertive girl
story. I am one of those who dread negotiations
and conflicts, because I usually end up losing
(so I say, why bother?) or don't want to sound
too demanding (again, people would assume that
I am this glass princess, with lofty demands).

The problem is, if you aren't pushy enough,
you're seen as a "walk all over" type and if
you are, then you're labeled as a psycho with
no tact or decorum, who is just greedy.

It's a no-win situation trying to please everyone
or passing their scrutiny/judgments. Everything
you do is "wrong". Everyone's a critic.

I'm a bit apprehensive about planning a nice
wedding. I'm honestly however, sadly willing
to shatter my expectations and accept "okay"
because I've not got much to offer on my end,
and my current situation is such, and I shouldn't
be too arrogant (I am too shy sometimes for my
own good).

Please help! I sincerely appreciate your concern
and help regarding this matter.

I honor your judgment, advice and expertise (I'm
not just writing this to flatter you).

Please do email me at your convenience, as I hope
I'm not harboring on your time.

Thanks again,

- Elizabeth Kim"



>>>> MY COMMENTS


Oh my gawd!

I don't mean to pick on Elizabeth, but I wish I
could just call her up and yell these three magic
words in her ear...

"STOP DOUBTING YOURSELF!"

I mean, if YOU'RE as worried about what other
people think as Elizabeth is, you'll NEVER
be able to stand up for what you want, let alone
get it!

And what's with this "not having much to offer"
and "willing to settle for okay" baloney?

Phooey!

If you have a fiancé that wants to marry you,
you obviously have something to offer someone!

So don't give up BEFORE you even start!

Seriously, the ONLY time you should ever
"settle" for slightly less than your dreams is
AFTER you've exhausted all other options...

You only live once and YOU DESERVE the best
you can get!

Here's a quick lesson on TAKING CONTROL...

NEVER GIVE AWAY YOUR POWER like Elizabeth
so easily did in her letter (e.g. By flattering
me and then mentioning she hopes she's not
"harboring my time").

This instantly communicates her belief that
her time is less valuable than mine....

...which is equivalent to saying "Hi! My needs
are NOT very important, so feel free to walk
all over me"!!!

And if you communicate this way with most
wedding vendors (e.g. that your needs are
less important than theirs), you're instantly
ENABLING them to TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF YOU!

So you need to STOP THAT right now!

But how?

There are TWO CRITICAL THINGS that will ultimately
determine your wedding destiny:

1) Your BELIEFS and EXPECTATIONS about what
you want and whether you think you deserve to get
them

2) Your UNDERSTANDING of who has the most
POWER or "STATUS" in any negotiating situation
(you or them) and your ability to ACT ON IT!

The GOOD NEWS is, with just a few small shifts
in your thinking and communication style, you
can instantly start saving yourself a fortune!

Let me explain...

Check out the difference between these two
approaches to negotiating with a photographer:


Approach A:

"I love your work, but I simply won't hire a
photographer unless I get to keep my negatives.
A number of other photographers are willing to
do this for me at X price, but if you'll match
their price and terms, I'll award you my business
on the spot. Are you willing to be competitive?


Approach B:

"Your portfolio is to die for! I gotta use you!
Oh, I was wondering, is there any chance I can
keep my negatives? No? Okay. Well, I was
wondering if there's any way I could talk you
down on price? No as well? I understand...
it couldn't hurt for me to ask, right?


DO you see the difference?

It all really COMES DOWN TO THIS...

GETTING WHAT YOU WANT (for the price you want)
requires not only asking for what you want,
but actually EXPECTING and even DEMANDING
to get it, and NOT SETTLING for anything less!

And yes, this will require you to be a bit
SELFISH...

Ooooh! There's that terrible word you've been
taught isn't very "nice".

Well, as far as I'm concerned, if selfish means
that you decide to spend your limited funds wisely
INSTEAD of going into huge debt, then so be it!

As I always say, IT'S YOUR MONEY, SO ACT LIKE IT!

You're spending the money, so YOU'RE IN CHARGE
(not them) and what you buy should be on YOUR
TERMS (and your terms only!).

It's time to release yourself from your "nice
little girl" shackles, put your own needs first
(even if someone might not think you're "nice"
because of it), and to STOP GIVING AWAY
YOUR POWER!

You heard me...

NO MORE, "I'm sorry to bother you" or "I was
wondering if it's okay If I..." etc.

YOU MUST BELIEVE that you deserve everything
you want and are fully capable of getting it.

And if this doesn't "feel" right to you, do
yourself a favor and just go out and try this
experiment:

Try adapting my "A/B approach" examples above
to any situation where you're negotiating
something for your wedding.

In situation A, I want you to walk in to a vendor
knowing YOU'RE IN CHARGE and acting and speaking
like it.

Then, go into the next negotiation (situation B)
with a similar vendor thinking THEY'RE IN CHARGE,
that you have NO POWER and hoping they'll give
you a deal just because you're so nice.

Be sure to let me know which situation gets you
better results!

Bottom Line: YOU CAN afford your dream wedding
for far less than you ever imagined...

But only if you just STOP DOUBTING and start
believing in yourself!

I know, because I pulled off my dream wedding
and saved over $10,000 in process...and if I
can do it, so can you!

Well, there you have it...

So does any of this apply to you?

Are you feeling overwhelmed or "in control" when
it comes to negotiating with vendors?

Are