Subjects:  1. Christianity - Ritual & Practice    2. Funeral service    3. General    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Marriage service    6. Occasional services    7. Preaching    8. Religion    9. Religion - Worship - Preaching    10. Religion / Preaching   

Subjects:  1. Marriage    2. Personal Guidance    3. Reference    4. Weddings    5. Reference / Weddings   

Reviews (8)

Great For Ideas
I think if you are trying to figure out what kind of a cake you want for your wedding this is a very helpful book. The cakes are beautiful and varied. As a pastry student I found it very helpful as far as getting ideas for my wedding cake project.I like the fact that there are formal and informal wedding cakes. Someone reviewing commented that some cakes were "sloppy" but many people prefer less formal cakes and this gives you plenty of both for ideas.

Beautiful cakes
This is a great book, if your looking for ideas. The pictures are beautiful and inspiring. It does not have any instruction on how to make these cakes, therefor, it seems best suited for someone looking for an idea to present to their local baker, or someone that has intermediate to advanced cake decorating skills.

Just okay...
I have to be honest, I wish that I would not have bought this book.I bought it because I was under the impression that I was going to see classy cakes like the cake on the cover.When I opened the book I was confused.Page after page were pictures of sloppy cakes.There are only a few pictures out of the entire book that are worth seeing, for example Margaret Braun's cakes at the tail end of the book.Get her book before you buy this one! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cake decorating    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Courses & Dishes - Cakes    4. Reference    5. Wedding cakes    6. Weddings    7. Cooking / Cakes    8. REFERENCE - WEDDING/ETIQ TRD HC   

Reviews (2)

Wedding Ministry
This book has a good look at the contemporary wedding services for the new Pastor.
Helpful material!
Jim Henry's "Wedding Manual" was most helpful to me personally. I recently officiated over my first wedding and needed ideas of how to do what "those preachers" did for weddings. Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Church Administration - General    2. Christianity - General    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Marriage service    5. Religion - Ministry & Pastoral Resources    6. Weddings   

Reviews (45)

I'm a minister, and I think it's a great resource for couples or pros.
This is a great book for both couples and wedding ceremony officiants. This book, The Wedding Ceremony Planner by Rev. Judith Johnson, and Diane Warner's Complete Book of Wedding Vows, comprise a nice starter bookshelf for a wedding officiant.
Best Buy Ever!
My fiance and I had a friend marry us, so we had to come up with our own ceremony.We didn't want to write it ourselves, but we didn't want a cookie-cutter religious ceremony either.This book was the answer we were looking for.I bought many books, but ended up only using this one.It's extremely well organized, and even comes with worksheets!
GREAT BOOK!!!
I am in the process of planning my wedding and Marty's book is wonderful!!! It helped my fiance and I to create a ceremony that is unique to us-from beginning to end.It is a great book for all religous and non-religous faiths. If you want to be invloved in planning your ceremony but dont know where to start-this book is for you... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Reference    2. Weddings   

Reviews (6)

Really cool book
Out of all the books I read on weddings in Vegas, this one was the best!It had everything I wanted to know about the locations and accomodations.Well worth the money if you plan on getting married there, but don't know what chapel to choose.

THE Dream Guide to Vegas Weddings!
My fiance and I are going to Las Vegas in May to tie the knot. I was so excited to find this book! It gives totally complete reveiws of each and every chapel and rates them in a fun and informative way using grades such as "Kitch Factor" and "Romance Quotient" along with hours and costs etc. Every chapel is listed....there are separate sections for stand alone chapels and those in the casinos. It gives history of the chapels and little quirks, if Elvis is in the building, or the more traditional.There are all kinds of tips along the way, and at the end is some info on great restaurants and entertainment. I have read it cover to cover and am so glad it came into my life at the right time. It has made my planning MUCH easier! If you are getting married Vegas Style you NEED this book!

Wedding guide, vegas style
I was really impressed by the information contained in this book, you definitely feel confident about planning a wedding from a far. i enjoyed the little snippets of historical significance and i truely believe this book will make our journey to the states and the alter one to remember! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Travel - United States    3. United States - Pacific - Las Vegas    4. United States - West - Pacific (General)    5. Weddings   

Reviews (5)

Poor ideas and highly condescending to 2nd time brides
To be fair there are a few good ideas but by and large - this is not a good book. In addition - this book's attitude that 2nd time brides really should focus on tiny small weddings that no one will notice.Bridal Bargains is much better and gives practical information.

Not bad ideas
The previous review is a bit harsh.To be fair, the book has a number of different price catagories with suggestions on how to achieve them.You can go for the full boat and they give great high end suggestions.You can also cut corners in places and they have those suggestions as well.I didn't go for a foam cake, but if you don't care about the cake why the heck not?If it saves you money and you have a great wedding, who care?And as for using amatures: florists, photographers, DJ's, etc., they are very clear about getting recommendations and checking out their work BEFORE hand.Saving money means putting in extra work, that is the deal.

Really how to have a cheap and tacky wedding....
For starters, if you want to start saving money then don't buy this book or waste the gas to get you to the library!By far the WORST wedding book I have ever read (and I've read lots of them).This book has hideous reception suggestions such as using your parish CAFETERIA to host your event.Using olives as an "appetizer", having a fake foam cake, having an amatuer dj who plays "for free to get experience" and many other bad ideas. Words cannot express how bad I thought this book was.I actually called another woman and read her a few quotes to get her opinion and she laughed so hard she actually cried.The fact that the author kept plugging her other stupid wedding planning books was almost as tacky as some of her suggestions. Right up there with the tackiness of a cash bar. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer education    2. Planning    3. Reference    4. Shopping    5. United States    6. Weddings   

Reviews (2)

Nice overview
The book offers a nice overview of various topics, enough to get you thinking and help shape your idea of a perfect ceremony.

Good planner with lots of basics
The idea of this book is to offer a planning guide for anyone looking at having a pagan handfasting ritual.The author has laid out the basic components of putting together a modern handfasting with all the romantic trimmings.
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Subjects:  1. Alternate Spirituality    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. Goddess religion    4. Magick Studies    5. Marriage    6. Marriage customs and rites    7. Neopaganism    8. New Age    9. Religious aspects    10. Spirituality - Paganism    11. Weddings    12. Witchcraft & Wicca    13. Body, Mind & Spirit / Spirituality / Paganism    14. Occultism & quasi-religious beliefs   

Reviews (1)

PLEASE DON'T PASS UP
I am on a very tight budget for my own wedding but this book gives FANTASTIC step by step crafts that are not only BEAUTIFUL but cost effective as well. Every bride (and wedding corrdinator) should own this book. The crafts are great fun for you and your fiance to do together. It offers ideas on centerpieces, decorations, scrapbooks and best of all you can personlize everything you make. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Decorating    4. General    5. Handicraft    6. Hobbies/Crafts    7. Wedding decorations    8. Weddings    9. Crafts & Hobbies / General    10. LITERATURE - LIT CLASSICS TRD PB   

Reviews (9)

Perfect handy guide and personal story
I certainly wish I had this book when I got hitched.The layout is ideal for most guys like me to read, with plenty of quick checklists and feature boxes, but also has a compelling story line told very well in humorous first person.Very good to know many of my headaches and funny tales were shared by Craig and other grooms...
THIS IS A "MUST" FOR ALL GROOMS-TO-BE!
Here's a surprisingly humorous, yet helpful book that's not just another "to-do" book.
Grooms wedding survival guide
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (8/06)
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Subjects:  1. Bridegrooms    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family/Marriage    4. Interpersonal Relations    5. Love / Sex / Marriage    6. Marriage    7. Planning    8. Weddings    9. Family & Relationships / Marriage   

Reviews (4)

Easy to read! Practical advice.
This book was great for giving practical advice on how to manage your finances while you are also in the process of combining (or notcombining) finances with your future spouse.

Great lists
Although my husband and I are both well versed in basic finances and have been married more than a year and a half, we still found valuable information in this book.In particular, the second half includes many lists, such as
The Only Financial Guide New Couples Will Ever Need
This book covers all the important money issues that couples have to resolve, whether they like it or not, if they want to build a sound and trusting financial future together-and it does so in the most down to earth, non-threatening and engaging way. The author's humor, generosity and honesty in sharing some of the ways she and her husband have managed and mismanaged their own finances over the course of their marriage really sets this book apart from other dry and mechanical books on finance.Many of the issues the author guides readers through are not easy ones to confront, but again, her humor, honesty and sweet humanity are the teaspoon of sugar that helps the medicine go down in the most delightful way. I can't recommend this book highly enough! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Finance    2. Finance, Personal    3. Married people    4. Personal Finance - General    5. Reference    6. Weddings    7. Business & Economics / Personal Finance / General   

Reviews (1)

Before You Sew Your Wedding Dress
This is a nice reference book if you are trying to decide whether to purchase a ready-made wedding dress, whether you have the sewing skills to do so, or if it will be economical.The book provides a lot of informationin assisting you in designing or choosing your wedding dress design.It isa book you would want to take to a discussion with a professionalseamstress to aid in designing your dress.Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Dressmaking    3. General    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Sewing    6. Wedding costume    7. Handicrafts    8. Weddings   

Reviews (7)

Not for Catholics
This book attempts to make itself out to be an impartial non-biased reference tool. I found it to be heavily biased towards the Jewish faith. If you are looking for a book to help answer your questions regarding interfaith marriage this is probably not the book for you.

candid advice from both sides
this is the only book of the 5 that i have read which provided candid advice about the possible ups and downs of creating an interfaith family.admirably, it goes to decent length explaining the psychological development of children and the role religion and G-d plays in that development.then the book explains inter- and mono-faith family options through the lens of child development.thus, i gained a perspective on the pros & cons of interfaith issues from a tangible perspective which only this book has provided.this is not to say the authors have written a formal paper on early childhood development.rather, they have applied a useful and practical lens to issues which are broadly addressed from moral or anecdote-based perspectives.

Good book, but with some serious weak spots.
On my engagement to a Jewish man, I found myself plowing through one badly written, biased book on intermarriage after another.This book was one ofthe only ones so far that was even worth checking out from the library!Itis comprehensive- it doesn't dwell on the "December Dilemma" orin-laws to the exclusion of all else like so many others do, for instance. I appreciated the way the authors presented several possible solutions toeach dilemma rather than just one or two- this was *very* helpful and oftenthought-provoking.My SO and I had some good discussions based on thisbook.Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christianity - Christian Life - Marriage    3. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    4. Family Relationships    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Interfaith marriage    7. Judaism    8. Marriage    9. Religion    10. Religious aspects    11. United States    12. Family & Relationships / General    13. Interfaith relations    14. Weddings   

Reviews (7)

Fabulous
This book is nothing but AWESOME starting with the detailed cover flowing through the most vibrant pages one could ever image in a book. As a up and coming Professional Wedding Planner this book was helpful mentally and spiritually. It's not just pretty pages, and flawless creativity but D. Valentine also tells her story of how she came up in the industry starting out with nothing but accomplished a lot. This is a must add to your collection if you are getting married or interested in pursuingevent planning.

Elegant and Glamorous
I am an Event Decorator located in Los Angeles; I must tell you that I was excited when I heard that Diann was coming out with a book on weddings. I purchased my book right away, I didn't care how much it cost, but to my surprise! The book was very affordable.The photographs are absolutely amazing and I loved the articles in the book. Diann style seems to be some what simple but yet edgy.
Simply Fabulous!!!!
Ms Valentine I am reading your book and I am enthralled, I am a registered nurse. I have helped friends plan there wedding. I always receive abundant complements about my work from banquet managers and wedding guest. Finally I decided to make weddings and events my business, so I set out to read everything that I could find on weddings and the business end of wedding and party planning. So I got on amazon.com and ordered over twenty books, Preston Bailey, Colin Cowie, David Tutera, Maria McBride Harriet Cole and some I wont mention because they were to put it diplomatically disappointing in their lack of useful content...Ms Valentine you struck a chord I read your book and I was listening to me... a more advanced me. A friend of mine teasingly refers to me as a gay man in a woman's body because she says I am fabulous (by the way she did not say this in any way to be offensive to gay men). Ms Valentine, you are fabulous. Thank You for being dedicated to excellence it is apparent in your work and your enthusiasm. I have learned a lot from your book.Harriet Cole did a great start in Jumping the Broom. Preston Bailey is wonderful but unrealistic to the common budget. However you Ms Valentine brings glamour to the African American urban young professional you "BRING IT". Thank you for laying down the gauntlet. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Creativity    2. Marriage    3. Planning    4. Reference    5. Wedding etiquette    6. Weddings    7. Reference / Weddings   

Reviews (2)

This one is classic for brainstorming ideas.
If you are at all crafty, you'll get tons of inspiration from these ideas.While you may not do these projects exactly, they are sure to spark more ideas.Definately a great resource for the do it yourselfer.

Much more flair and individuality than it's peers.
I found almost all projects in the book to be interesting and simple to do. The authours have complied a great range of funky unique projects, I especially like the origami invites, wind-up place cards and photo booth candle, all quick, easy & cheap to make. The best wedding book I have seen. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Decorating    3. Equipment and supplies    4. Handicraft    5. Reference    6. Seasonal    7. Wedding decorations    8. Weddings    9. Etiquette & entertaining    10. Handicrafts   

Reviews (6)

beautiful wedding decorations and gifts on a small budget
Lots of tips on everything from the engagement party thru wedding party gifts on to the getaway vehicle.There are plenty of nice line drawings which should help the do-it-yourselfer.This book was a bit to frilly(lots of ribbons and bows)for my taste, but if thats your kind of thing, it would be great.

You can do it, cheaply
After a lot of research on weddings, I bought this book about a year before my 1996 wedding, and although I never used it for that wedding I kept it because of the ideas that can be used for occasions other than weddings. Biscotti was "hot" at that time, and she has an easy recipe for it to bag and give as gifts. Gift baskets are included as well as something called a "crazy quilt," which looks easy and I hope to attempt one day (mostly to use up all my fabric scraps.) Small budget, HAH!! Maybe for Bill Gates
I don't know where the writer of this book comes from, but it must be from money.There is nothing in this book for a normal bride trying to save money.I would NOT recommend this book for anyone on a budget.It was a total waste of time and money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family/Marriage    4. Handicraft    5. Love / Sex / Marriage    6. Marriage    7. Planning    8. Reference    9. Wedding decorations    10. Weddings    11. Decorative arts & crafts    12. Handicrafts   

Reviews (2)

Just OK
It's a period piece; some relevance to contemporary weddings, but not much.Miss Manners is much better.

A good start with your wedding plans
Since most of us who'll buy wedding planning books are first time brides, this is a good one for starters.It's a FAQ collection. It covers broad areas, from what bridesmaid's responsibilites are to do-you-need-to-take-off-your-glove-for-the-ring-exchange. It's helpful, although you might get answers like that in other wedding etiquette books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Etiquette    2. Love / Sex / Marriage    3. Reference    4. Wedding etiquette    5. Weddings    6. Etiquette & entertaining    7. Reference / Weddings   

Reviews (41)

why get married?
people are very divided on this book, but i wasn't into it. i guess the author is trying to be funny but she is so shallow, petty, and self centered, it seems to me that she wanted a wedding and not a marriage.last time i checked i enjoy hanging out with my husband, don't really care if he beats me at scrabble, or uses my shampoo.because those things don't matter.i guess if the book was funnier or more insightful i could have gotten beyond the whinning.but when you start the book basically complaining that you went to st. lucia, i can hardly relate.

Great for anyone who's newly married
I love this book!The first time I read it, I just could not stop laughing.And now, after a year, I am rereading it.It still cracks me up.I can relate to so many of the same experiences which Jenny Lee writes about.It is a very light fun read.Her writing is comical and very easy to read.I just bought her newest book "skinny bitching" and can't wait to start reading it.

I Do. I Did. Now What?! Life After the Wedding Dress
While it was a fun book to read, it was not at all what I thought it would be.I was looking for a book to help me with my nerves about my own wedding.The book jacket promises; how to meet other couples, cleaning compromises, and other mysteries solved.I really didn't see what mysteries it solved, nor to it answer any of the other promises.Like I said before it was fun to read, its short and quick, but does it answer any questions, I didn't think so.I also read The Conscious Bride by Sheryl Nissinen.When I looked at it the first couple of times I thought it was a book trying to talk you out of getting married, not so.It really makes you think about different aspects of your engagement and relationship, now that was a helpful book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Humor    2. Interpersonal relations    3. Love / Sex / Marriage    4. Marriage    5. Topic - Adult    6. Topic - Relationships    7. Weddings    8. Women    9. Family & Relationships / Marriage    10. HUMOR / Topic / Relationships    11. Humour   

Reviews (2)

Great Book
It's a great little book with all the info you need.I noticed the last review was in 1998 - I have the revised edition published in 2000. Informative and it fits in your pocket!
A plethora of good tips!This books offers suggestions and answers to the many nagging yet necessary questions that need to be answered before the 'Big Day'. For example, at my last marriage (my second), I ripped my wedding dress waist high and if it hadn't been for this book, my maid of honor wouldn't have saved the day with the needle and thread she so cleverly hid in her bouquet.Anyway, this book is great! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Etiquette    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family/Marriage    4. Marriage    5. Reference    6. Wedding etiquette    7. Weddings