Wedding Planning For Dummies^®, 2nd Edition

by Marcy Blum; Laura F. Kaiser

• ISBN13: 9780764556852
• ISBN10: 0764556851
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-10-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Congratulations, you're planning a wedding! Besides obtaining a fancy tuxedo and a stunning gown, organizing a wedding ceremony takes creativity, planning, diplomacy, and nerve. The whole ordeal can seem overwhelming at first, but with a little guidance, you'll pull off a wedding people will remember for ages.Wedding Planning For Dummies, 2 nd Edition demystifies and simplifies all the details that go into the Big Day, providing inspiration and innovative ideas to personalize your wedding celebration and, of course, make it fun for everyoneespecially you! This one-stop guide is all you need to: Design a comprehensive schedule for a snag-free wedding day Keep track of expenses with a wedding budget Negotiate contracts and surf online for deals Get those pesky financial technicalities out of the way Plan a weekend wedding, a themed wedding, and other celebrations Select a suitable wedding party Plan for various customs and rites Get the decorative effect you want Throw a great reception with music, food, drink, and cake! Handle gifts, registries, rings, photos, and the honeymoon Packed with tips for saving money and common kitsch you should avoid, this is the ultimate guide to satisfying everyone on the Big Day. You'll discover the confidence you need to make the wedding of your dreams come true with Wedding Planning For Dummies, 2 nd Edition!

Author Biography

Marcy Blum is a well-known expert on weddings and entertaining. She has appeared on numerous TV shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Today Show.

Laura Fisher Kaiser writes about consumer culture for Interior Design, This Old House Magazine, and The Washington Post.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(1)
About This Book	1	(1)
Conventions Used in This Book	2	(1)
Foolish Assumptions	2	(1)
How This Book Is Organized	3	(2)
Part I: The Glass Slipper Fits --- Now What?	3	(1)
Part II: Be Our Guest	4	(1)
Part III: Ceremony Survival Guide	4	(1)
Part IV: A Rousing Reception	4	(1)
Part V: Gifts, Garb, Pics, and Trips	5	(1)
Part VI: The Part of Tens	5	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	5	(1)
Where to Go from Here	6	(1)
Part I: The Glass Slipper Fits --- Now What?	7	(38)
First Things First	9	(12)
The ``Ize'' Have It	9	(9)
Familiarize: Spreading the news	9	(1)
Fantasize: Envisioning your dream wedding	10	(1)
Prioritize: Deciding what's really important	11	(1)
Visualize: Making a reality checklist	12	(1)
Organize: Breaking down the details without breaking down	13	(2)
Synchronize: Dispelling the timetable myth	15	(2)
Deputize: Choosing your team	17	(1)
Working with a Wedding Planner	18	(3)
Considering how much help you need	19	(1)
Interviewing prospective planners	20	(1)
Avoiding Those Wedding-Bill Blues	21	(14)
Love Is a Money-Spender Thing	22	(1)
Start Spreadsheeting the News	22	(4)
Controlling Costs	26	(1)
Comprehending Contracts	27	(3)
Forking over a little at a time	29	(1)
Covering your bash	29	(1)
Take a Tip: Calculating Gratuities	30	(3)
Catering staff	30	(1)
Other vendors	31	(1)
Officiants	31	(1)
Other people you may want to tip	32	(1)
Bargain Hunting Online	33	(2)
Making It All Legal	35	(10)
License to Thrive	35	(2)
Drawing Up a Pre-nup	37	(1)
Playing the Name Game	38	(2)
Deciding whether to change your name	38	(1)
Updating your records	39	(1)
Alerting the Media	40	(3)
Announcing the engagement	41	(1)
News of the wed	41	(2)
Unplanning a Wedding	43	(2)
Settling up	43	(1)
Who keeps the ring?	44	(1)
Part II: Be Our Guest	45	(88)
Space: The First Frontier	47	(16)
Looking for Love in All the Right Places	47	(4)
Where to find great spaces	48	(1)
First impressions by phone	49	(1)
Following your nose	50	(1)
``On-premise'' versus ``off-premise''	50	(1)
Do You Need More Than One Space?	51	(1)
The turning of the room	51	(1)
Ceremony here, reception there	51	(1)
Taking a Space Walk	52	(3)
Asking the right questions	53	(1)
Understanding square footage without spacing out	53	(2)
When There's No Place Like Home	55	(4)
Tents and pretense	56	(2)
The flushing bride	58	(1)
Planning a Destination Wedding	59	(4)
Finding a faraway venue	60	(2)
Foreign affairs and red tape	62	(1)
By Invitation Only	63	(32)
Preliminary Planning	63	(2)
Formalities First	65	(10)
Getting the wording just right	65	(2)
Who's throwing this shindig?	67	(5)
Sending announcements	72	(2)
When things don't go as planned	74	(1)
How Else Can We Put This?	75	(5)
Striking a less-formal tone	76	(3)
RSVP remedies	79	(1)
The nonprinted invitation	80	(1)
Rehearsal Dinner Invitations	80	(1)
Extracurricular Events	81	(1)
Typefaces and Other Technicalities	82	(4)
Printing methods	82	(1)
Paper	83	(1)
Fonts	83	(1)
Ink color	84	(1)
Envelopes	85	(1)
Proof it all night	85	(1)
Addressing Traditions	86	(4)
Outies	86	(1)
Innies	87	(1)
Fit to be titled	87	(3)
Creating Your Own Invitations	90	(2)
It's a Mail Thing	92	(3)
The Weekend Wedding	95	(10)
A Typical Timeline	95	(2)
Asking Guests to Save the Weekend	97	(2)
Telling Guests What They Need to Know	99	(4)
Winning Welcomes	103	(2)
Creating a Foolproof Wedding-Day Schedule	105	(10)
Putting Everyone on the Same Page	105	(3)
Transporting the wedding party	106	(1)
Arranging transportation for guests	107	(1)
Directing traffic	107	(1)
Creating the Master Schedule	108	(4)
Receiving-Line Logistics	112	(3)
Other Creative Celebrations	115	(18)
To Leap, Perchance to Theme	115	(3)
Happy and Gay and Getting Married	118	(3)
Choosing a state for the union	118	(1)
Finding a celebrant	119	(1)
Planning a commitment ceremony	120	(1)
Dressing for the occasion	120	(1)
Strategizing a Military Wedding	121	(1)
Dressing to code	121	(1)
Passing under the arch of sabers	122	(1)
Surprising Your Spouse-to-Be	122	(1)
Private Ceremony, Public Party	123	(1)
Giving Marriage Another Try	123	(1)
Say It Again: Renewing Your Vows	124	(1)
Partying Before and After the Wedding	125	(8)
Opening rounds: Engagement parties	125	(1)
Getting showered	126	(1)
Reinventing the bachelor party	127	(1)
Planning the bachelorette bash	128	(1)
Doing lunch with the girls	129	(1)
Revving up: The rehearsal dinner	129	(2)
Wrapping up the day after	131	(2)
Part III: Ceremony Survival Guide	133	(76)
Attending to Your Attendants	135	(16)
Choosing Your Entourage	135	(3)
Understanding the job requirements	136	(2)
What your friends expect of you	138	(1)
Next Stop: Wardrobe	138	(11)
Yes, bridesmaid's dresses can look hot	138	(3)
Outfitting the guys	141	(7)
Making Mom look good	148	(1)
Dapper dads	148	(1)
Showing Your Appreciation	149	(2)
Sensational Ceremonies	151	(36)
Evaluating Prospective Officiants	151	(2)
Getting Married in a House of Worship	153	(1)
Deciding the Order of Events	153	(2)
Religious Rites and Rules	155	(17)
Buddhist	155	(1)
Eastern Orthodox	156	(1)
Hindu	157	(1)
Jewish	158	(5)
Mormon	163	(1)
Muslim	163	(1)
Protestant	164	(4)
Quaker	168	(1)
Roman Catholic	168	(2)
Shinto	170	(1)
Sikhism	171	(1)
Unitarian-Universalist Society	171	(1)
All Together, Vow!	172	(3)
Creating the script	172	(2)
Ideas for readings	174	(1)
Places, Everyone --- Time to Rehearse	175	(3)
A quick run-through	175	(2)
Going over the rules and expectations	177	(1)
Getting with the Program	178	(9)
Flower Power	187	(14)
Finding a Fab Florist	187	(1)
Scent-sational Ceremonies	188	(8)
Decorating the ceremony site	189	(3)
Putting the bloom on you	192	(4)
Redolent Receptions	196	(3)
Making floral arrangements measure up	197	(1)
Styling your centerpieces	197	(2)
Making Alternative Arrangements	199	(1)
Keeping the Bloom On	200	(1)
Music to Get Married By	201	(8)
They're Playing Our Song	201	(7)
Music in five parts	202	(1)
A soloist, a choir, or something in between	203	(1)
Composing musical menus a la carte	204	(4)
Choosing Ceremony Musicians	208	(1)
Part IV: A Rousing Reception	209	(86)
Get Up and Dance	211	(14)
Setting the Tone	211	(5)
Cocktail reception	212	(1)
As guests enter the main reception space	213	(1)
First dance	213	(1)
Second tune	214	(1)
Dances with parents	214	(1)
Special requests	215	(1)
Background music	215	(1)
Cake cutting	215	(1)
Dancing till dawn	216	(1)
Booking the Band	216	(6)
Where the bands are	217	(1)
Auditioning the band	218	(2)
Getting in tune	220	(2)
Spinning with a DJ	222	(3)
What's on the Menu?	225	(18)
Finding and Working with the Perfect Caterer	225	(4)
Building rapport with the chef	228	(1)
A matter of tasting	228	(1)
The Beauty of the Feast	229	(5)
Postnuptial nibbles	230	(1)
Variety shows: Buffet stations	231	(1)
Playing with your food	232	(1)
Serving with style	233	(1)
Making Menus Memorable	234	(3)
A seated wedding dinner	234	(1)
A family-style wedding supper	234	(3)
When Dinner Is Not Served	237	(6)
The cocktail reception	238	(2)
Tea for two (hundred)	240	(1)
Other ways to munch: Breakfast, brunch, or lunch	240	(3)
Let's Drink to That	243	(18)
Tending Bar	243	(9)
Speaking in bar code	244	(1)
On-premise pricing	244	(2)
Off-premise options	246	(2)
Chilling out	248	(1)
Liquid logistics	249	(3)
Avoiding Traffic Jams	252	(1)
Bar Aesthetics: Set Up and Take Notice	253	(1)
Specialty Bars: Blithe Spirits	254	(2)
Selecting Wine, Beer, and Champagne	256	(3)
Wining when dining	256	(1)
Don't worry, beer hoppy	257	(1)
Bring on the bubbly	257	(2)
A Few Words about Toasts	259	(2)
A Piece of Cake	261	(10)
Baking Away	261	(5)
Finding a baker	262	(1)
Tiers of joy	263	(2)
Confection selection	265	(1)
Size matters	265	(1)
Slicing and pricing	266	(1)
Two Hearts, Two Cakes	266	(1)
Cake on Display: No Drooling, Please	267	(1)
Cutting the Cake	268	(3)
Setting the Stage	271	(24)
What to Contemplate Before You Decorate	271	(3)
Choosing a Wedding Designer	274	(1)
What's in a Room?	275	(17)
When you enter	275	(1)
Up, down, and all around: Ceilings, floors, and walls	276	(2)
The cocktail area	278	(2)
Dining areas	280	(4)
Chairs	284	(1)
Tabletops	284	(7)
Restrooms	291	(1)
Transitional spaces	291	(1)
An In-Tents Experience	292	(1)
Doing Your Guests a Favor	293	(2)
Part V: Gifts, Garb, Pics, and Trips	295	(84)
Greed Expectations and Registry Realities	297	(12)
Retail Details	298	(1)
Beyond Department Stores	299	(2)
Surfing for Gifts	301	(1)
Hinting and Hoping	301	(1)
What We Really Want? Well, It Rhymes with Honey	302	(1)
Keeping Track	303	(1)
Giving Thanks	304	(3)
Problem Presents	307	(2)
Unhappy returns: The wedding is canceled	307	(1)
``Gift banking'' debunked	307	(1)
Trading in versus pawning off	308	(1)
And the Bride Wore	309	(30)
Sizing Up Your Style	309	(10)
Selecting the right silhouette	310	(2)
Figuring out the neckline	312	(1)
Arm negotiations	313	(1)
Looking behind you	314	(1)
To what lengths will you go?	315	(1)
Happy trains to you	315	(2)
Choosing the right white	317	(1)
Fabrics for fantasy	318	(1)
The icing on the dress	319	(1)
Getting the Goods	319	(5)
Quality control	322	(1)
Getting the right fit	322	(2)
Underneath It All	324	(1)
A little bra-vado	324	(1)
Perfecting your proportions	325	(1)
No Mean Feet	325	(2)
Heads Up	327	(3)
Veiled intentions	327	(2)
Hats, headpieces, crowns, and doodads	329	(1)
From Hair to Eternity	330	(1)
Hair today . . .	331	(1)
. . . Gone tomorrow	331	(1)
Making Your Face Wedding-Proof	331	(2)
Finishing Touches	333	(2)
Covering up	333	(1)
Hand-some gloves	334	(1)
Selecting your jewelry	334	(1)
Bagging it	335	(1)
Getting into the Gown	335	(1)
Caring for Your Gown after the Party	336	(3)
Preserving for posterity	336	(1)
Recouping your investment	337	(2)
Rings That Rock	339	(12)
Evaluating a Diamond	339	(4)
Cut	340	(1)
Color	341	(1)
Clarity	341	(1)
Carat weight	342	(1)
The fifth ``C'' --- Cost	343	(1)
If Diamonds Aren't Your Best Friend	343	(2)
Judging gemstones	344	(1)
Scintillating synthetics	344	(1)
Setting Pretty	345	(1)
Metal Matters	346	(1)
Don't Leave Out the Groom	347	(1)
Finding the Right Ring	347	(4)
Buying new	347	(2)
Analyzing antique pieces	349	(2)
For Posterity: Photos and Videos	351	(18)
Getting Focused	351	(1)
Take Your Pic	352	(13)
Finding a photographer you click with	353	(2)
Choosing a photography style	355	(4)
Calling the shots	359	(1)
Figuring out fees and packages	360	(1)
Choosing which shots to enlarge	361	(1)
Compiling the wedding album	362	(1)
Scheduling picture time	363	(2)
Videotaping Your Day	365	(3)
Casting for a filmmaker	366	(1)
Thinking like a movie director	366	(1)
Getting miked	367	(1)
Safekeeping the Past for the Future	368	(1)
Handling the Honeymoon	369	(10)
Determining Your Honeymoon Style	369	(3)
Researching Destinations Online	372	(1)
Working with a Travel Agent	373	(1)
Making Your Money Travel Farther	374	(2)
Hitting the Road (Or Sky): Tips Before You Travel	376	(1)
Going Abroad	377	(2)
Part VI: The Part of Tens	379	(10)
Ten Tacky Temptations We Beg You to Resist	381	(4)
Indulging in Prewedding Debauchery	381	(1)
Broadcasting Your Registry	382	(1)
Banking the Booty	382	(1)
Playing Musical Chairs	382	(1)
Bad-Mouthing In-Laws-to-Be	382	(1)
Turning Guests into Photographers	383	(1)
Making Yours the Longest Day	383	(1)
Knocking Others' Weddings	383	(1)
Having an ``Adult'' Garter Grab	383	(1)
Forgetting that Those You've Invited Are Guests	384	(1)
Ten Tricks for Saving Money	385	(4)
Cut the Guest List	385	(1)
Remember the Old Wedding Adage: To Save a Cent, Rent, Rent, Rent!	385	(1)
Let's Not Do Lunch (Or Dinner)	386	(1)
Avoid Overtime	386	(1)
Limit the Liquor	386	(1)
Dress for Less	387	(1)
Skip the Fancy Details	387	(1)
Orchestra in a Box	387	(1)
Do Easy Things Yourself	388	(1)
Get Married Off-Peak	388	(1)
Index	389