9780764528729

A wedding, whether it's a quiet civil ceremony in a judge's chamber or a pull-out-the-stops spectacle, requires equal parts planning, diplomacy, and nerve. After all, of the three most profound rites of passage being born, getting married, and dying getting married is the only one a person might have any say in or be able to remember once it's over. The whole thing can seem overwhelming at times, but "do not freak out. This is not another book filled with strict rules of "weddiquette" or ways of having the perfect wedding. Its mission is to demystify the scary stuff and provide an antidote for befuddled brides, anxious grooms, and frenzied parents and family. "Weddings For Dummies is also for those who are planning: Engagement parties Bridal showers A wedding involving children An interfaith ceremony Renewing your vows This book can be picked up at any stage of your wedding plans. Rather than laying out a strict chronology, the authors have organized this book according to what makes sense. A wedding can be two years or two months in the making. Either way, success depends on thinking through every

Marcy Blum, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, has been planning weddings and special events for over 18 years. Marcy Blum Associates, Inc., specializes in the coordination, planning, and production of corporate and social events -- with an expertise in weddings. In 1997, Marcy Blum was chosen as the "Best Wedding Planner in New York" by New York Magazine, won the "Silver Spoon Award" for professional excellence from Food Arts Magazine, and was featured in the first Town and Country Weddings issue. Laura Fisher Kaiser is a senior editor at This Old House Magazine. She is the former editor in chief of Avenue magazine and has written about lifestyle trends for Town and Country, Harper's Bazaar, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and many other publications. She planned her own wedding to Michael Kaiser during the writing of Weddings For Dummies.

Introduction	p. 1
How to Use This Book	p. 1
How This Book Is Organized	p. 1
The Glass Slipper Fits -- Now What?	p. 2
"I Now Pronounce You ..."	p. 2
Eat, Drink, and Be Very Merry	p. 2
Marital Minutiae	p. 2
3-2-1, Blast Off!	p. 3
The Part of Tens	p. 3
Icons Used in This Book	p. 3
All This for One Day?	p. 4
The Glass Slipper Fits -- Now What?	p. 5
The IZE Have It	p. 7
Familiarize: Start Spreading the News	p. 7
Fantasize: Dream On (This May Be Your Only Chance)	p. 8
Prioritize: What's Important Here?	p. 9
Visualize: Reality Checklist	p. 9
Organize: Breaking Down the Details without Breaking Down	p. 10
Synchronize: The Timetable Myth	p. 14
Deputize: Who You Gonna Call?	p. 18
Space: The First Frontier	p. 21
A World of Possibilities	p. 21
Setting Your Sites	p. 24
There's No Place Like Home	p. 30
And the Bride Wore ... Whatever She Pleased	p. 35
The Long and Short of It	p. 36
Getting the Goods	p. 49
Underneath It All	p. 53
No Mean Feet	p. 54
Heads Up	p. 56
From Hair to Eternity	p. 61
Making Your Face Wedding-Proof	p. 63
Finishing Touches	p. 64
After the Party	p. 68
"I Now Pronounce You ..."	p. 69
A Circle of Friends	p. 71
Choosing Your Entourage	p. 72
Next Stop: Wardrobe	p. 74
Giving Back	p. 83
The Main Event: The Ceremony	p. 85
What to Ask a Prospective Officiant	p. 86
Religious Rites and Rules	p. 87
Express Yourself	p. 104
Music to Your Ears	p. 106
Practice Makes Perfect	p. 107
Other Aisle Styles	p. 111
Theme Me Up, Scotty	p. 111
Happy and Gay and Getting Married	p. 113
Operation: Wedding	p. 115
Surprise!	p. 115
Private Ceremony, Public Party	p. 116
One More Time	p. 116
Say It Again: Renewing Your Vows	p. 117
Eat, Drink, and Be Very Merry	p. 119
Music, Sweet Music	p. 121
Taking a Band Stand	p. 121
Where the Bands Are	p. 123
Auditioning the Band	p. 124
Picking Up the Beat	p. 126
Spin Doctors	p. 128
Starting the Reception on the Right Note	p. 130
Booking the Cooking	p. 131
Producing Meals that Rise to the Occasion	p. 131
The Beauty of the Feast	p. 135
Making Menus Memorable	p. 140
When Dinner Is Not Served	p. 145
A Piece of Cake	p. 149
Baking Away	p. 149
Two Hearts, Two Cakes	p. 155
Cake on Display: No Drooling, Please	p. 155
The First Cut Is the Sweetest	p. 157
Cheers!	p. 159
Bar for the Course	p. 159
Making Things Flow	p. 165
Bar Aesthetics: Set Up and Take Notice	p. 166
Specialty Bars: Blithe Spirits	p. 167
Wine, Men, Women, and Song	p. 169
Don't Worry, Be Hoppy	p. 170
Bubble-Headed Nonsense	p. 171
A Few Words about Toasts	p. 172
Setting the Stage	p. 175
What You Should Contemplate Before You Decorate	p. 175
What's in a Room?	p. 179
Flower Power	p. 199
An In-Tents Experience	p. 208
To Love, Honor, and Embellish	p. 209
For Posterity: Photos and Videos	p. 215
Shoot to Thrill	p. 216
Lights, Camera, Tape!	p. 227
Marital Minutiae	p. 231
Getting the Word Out	p. 233
Opening Volleys	p. 233
The Write Way (But Not the Only Way)	p. 235
How Else Shall We Put This?	p. 245
Rehearsal Dinner Invitations	p. 250
Extracurricular Events	p. 251
Alerting the Media	p. 252
Perfecting the Presentation	p. 252
Addressing Tradition	p. 257
Fit to Be Titled	p. 259
It's in the Mail	p. 259
Gimme, Gimme	p. 261
Registering As a Preventative Measure	p. 261
What We Really Want? Well, It Rhymes with Honey	p. 266
Problem Presents	p. 267
Keeping Track of the Loot	p. 268
Giving Thanks	p. 269
Left Hand, Fourth Finger	p. 271
The Diamond C-saw	p. 271
Setting Pretty	p. 277
Metal Matters	p. 278
One Ringy Dingy, Two Ringy Dingies	p. 279
Finding the Right Ring	p. 279
Making Your Ring Last	p. 282
Nuts and Bolts and Loose Screws	p. 283
License to Thrive	p. 283
Solving Your Identity Crisis	p. 284
Handling Those Wedding-Bell Bills	p. 286
Kiddie Komplications	p. 292
Just in Case the "For Worse" Part Kicks In	p. 293
3-2-1, Blast Off!	p. 295
Warming Up, Cooling Down, and Looking Back	p. 297
Opening Rounds: Engagement Parties	p. 297
Shower Power	p. 298
Letting Down Your Hair	p. 300
Attending to Your Attendants	p. 301
Rehearsal Dinners: Roasts, Toasts, Ghosts, and Boasts	p. 302
Wrapping Up	p. 303
Do Your Guests a Favor	p. 304
The Wedding Day: Spontaneity on Schedule	p. 307
Schedule Basics	p. 307
Planning a Wedding, Minute by Minute	p. 308
Let's Get Out of Here	p. 323
Paradise or Bust	p. 324
And Away We Go	p. 332
The Part of Tens	p. 341
Ten Tricks for Saving Money	p. 343
Cut the Guest List	p. 343
Remember the Old Wedding Adage: To Save a Cent, Rent, Rent, Rent!	p. 343
Let's Not Do Lunch (Or Dinner)	p. 344
Avoid Overtime	p. 344
Buy Your Own Liquor	p. 344
Ask Before You Pour	p. 344
Decor as High as an Elephant's Eye	p. 344
Orchestra in a Box	p. 345
Do Easy Things Yourself	p. 345
Get Married Off-Peak	p. 345
Ten Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gimmicks to Make Weddings a Whiz	p. 347
The World Wide Wed	p. 347
Revolutionary Registries	p. 349
Stationery by Design	p. 349
Stamp-Free, Toll-Free RSVPs	p. 350
Forget about Film	p. 350
Rub It In	p. 351
Guess Who's Coming to the Wedding?	p. 352
Following the Money	p. 352
But Where Do I File the Hors d'oeuvre Sample?	p. 353
"No, I'm Not Talking to Myself, I'm Talking to -- Oh, Never Mind!"	p. 353
Ten Tacky Temptations We Beg You to Resist	p. 355
Pre-Wedding Debauches	p. 355
You Are Cordially Invited to Buy Us Something	p. 355
Thanks for the A) Glasses, B) Towels, C) Other	p. 356
Turning the Aisle into a Runway	p. 356
Bad-Mouthing In-Laws-to-Be	p. 356
Turning Guests into Photographers	p. 357
The Hacking Cough Hall of Fame	p. 357
Do Unto Others	p. 357
The Great Garter Grab	p. 357
Squeeze Plays	p. 358
Ten Ideas to Make a Wedding Special	p. 359
Dynamic Dances	p. 359
Revive the Language of Flowers	p. 359
Miscellaneous Mementos	p. 360
This Is Your Life	p. 360
Psychic to 'Em	p. 360
"Our Hour"	p. 360
Winning Welcomes	p. 361
The Fall of the House of Ushers and Bridesmaids	p. 361
Gifts from the Heart	p. 361
Thanks, Folks	p. 361
Ten Secrets to a Happy Marriage from Couples Who Know	p. 363
What You Don't Know Won't Hurt You	p. 363
Unless It's "Yes, Dear"	p. 364
Two Words, One Sign	p. 364
Special Physical Attributes	p. 364
Compliments to the Chef	p. 364
Twice a Day	p. 364
I Scream, You Scream	p. 365
A Kiss Is Never Just a Kiss	p. 365
Bedside Manners	p. 365
Inertia Kicks In	p. 365
References	p. 367
Index	p. 373
Book Registration Information
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.