Plan an Elegant Wedding On a Small Budget

Bridal consultant Pamela Sakow runs a bride-to-be and her mom through a gauntlet of merchants and advisors as the trio plan an elegant wedding on a small budget. The video is divided into several segments: getting started, rentals, reception decorations, catering, music, flowers, gowns, invitations, and photography, which are covered in a very basic approach. Ms. Sakow sits with mother and daughter and discusses--in real time--options and strategies, or mother and daughter visit a florist (etc.) and listen to the pitch. Since the segments are mostly real unscripted talking heads there's a lot of superfluous material and a fair amount of simple boredom. On the other hand, the natural approach touches on some extra concerns which might not have shown up in a tightly scripted video. Two factors tip my assessment towards a negative, however; the incessant classical soundtrack with trilling flutes and madly sawing violins will be enough to drive some people up the proverbial wallpaper, and secondly, there are already several other excellent videos available in this area. Better choices are, in order of quality, How to Survive Your Wedding (reviewed in our October 1992 issue), Do Your Own Wedding (reviewed in our December 1991 issue) and Weddings--Warm & Wonderful (reviewed in our February 1993 issue). Not a necessary purchase. (R. Pitman)