Reviews (21)

A wonderful guide to interfaith unions
Since we are based in the UK, I wasn't at first sure how useful this book would be to the European context but it has been a truly uplifting and empowering book, offering guidance on how to turn an interfaith wedding into what it is: a celebration of love that knows no religious or cultural boundaries. Susannah Macomb shows a good understanding of the sensitive nature of interfaith relationships, such as difficulties in articulating and managing our own and our families' expectations. The book deals with the often difficult realities of interfaith relationship while being optimistic and encouraging. By giving specific examples of how to integrate different cultural aspects into a wedding ceremony it is both a practical guide as well as spiritually nurturing.

great book from a great person
Rev. Macomb's book is a must not only for those who are planning interfaith or intercutltural weddings. I'd say it's a must for ANYONE who is planning a wedding b/c it is laden with wisdom, knowledge, and real compassion and emotion. There is a multitude of beautiful readings that are pertinent to various parts of a ceremony, as well as a treasure-trove of tid-bits and historical facts about so many cultures. Most importantly, the book keeps things in perspective: why you are getting married, why it is important, and what it means. The book is well organized and well written, and has an honest and spiritual voice that is both calm and soothing.
Praise for Joining Hands and Hearts
This book truly shaped my special day.The author is tremendously knowledgeable about a wide array of cultures and rituals.I am a Black American woman married to an Indian American man.I knew that I wanted to infuse both of our backgrounds in our wedding ceremony.Her book provided all I needed to do that. We answered the questionnaire featured in her book where we were able to illustrate our feelings toward our upbringing, families, and each other.These words were then interlaced throughout our ceremony.We incorporated our families into the ceremony as well - having them take part in certain rituals and reading our words of love to them.From her book I was able to pick out the rituals that I liked the most and that I felt tied in both of our cultures the best.We poured libation, tied the knot, exchanged rings and garlands, took the seven steps, jumped the broom, and of course kissed.Her book even had a number of readings associated with each ritual that I was able to choose from.Everything was absolutely perfect thanks to Reverend Macomb and her book.Her kind human spirit really comes through.I could not recommend her book more passionately. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships    2. Family/Marriage    3. Interfaith marriage    4. Interracial marriage    5. Love & Romance    6. Love / Sex / Marriage    7. Marriage    8. Marriage customs and rites    9. Sociology - Marriage & Family    10. Reference / Weddings   

Reviews (9)

if u are a non pagan trying to compromise...
I am a non pagan trying to incorporate some of the traditions for the husband to be and i found this to be an excellent source. it has several different interfaith ideas that appeal to me. from bits and pieces to full rites, i have found TONS of ideas i love. it includes wording for the officiant to describe the meanings of certain traditions to the family and friends, poems, vows, prayers and more! excellent resource.

Great Resource for Earth-Based Religions
This book is wonderful resource for those practicing earth-based religion, or simply non-traditionalists.(I try not to use "pagan.")The book details each part of the of the handfasting ritual.It is divided into sections andincludes several options of verbage for each part of the ceremony.You can use exactly what is written or take pieces of ritual and create your own.I really enjoyed reading this book and I found numerous ideas that I will incorporate in my own handfasting.Also, the author has a rating system for each ritual.From generally spiritual to heavily "pagan."This is so useful when planning a wedding for a mixed-religious audienced.I highly recommend this book for those who want a true handfasting.

Coaching for Newbie
This book came at the right time for us.There was no information in it new to us - we had plenty of data.Still the organization of the book providing organization of a handfasting was very good.The "calm down and get through it" attitude was very good.Once again, the organizaiton and the calm approach were worth the price. ... Read more

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 / Witchcraft & Wicca    14. Paganism   

Reviews (1)

Quite insightful!
"How to Buy Your Perfect Wedding Dress" by Ronald Rothstein, et al, basically deals with the the selection of a wedding dress.The authors went into details of what dresses are suitable for what body types and they touched on factors such as the silhouettes, sleeves or no sleeves, trains, the back, necklines and bodies. They also provided information on accessories such as veils, shoes, lingerie, and gloves which are quite helpful to the bride-to-be. In addition, the authors also gave advice on where to get the wedding dresses, and how to take care and preserve the them.Read more

Subjects:  1. Beauty & Grooming - Fashion    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family/Marriage    4. Marriage    5. Reference    6. Weddings    7. Marriage, family & other relationships    8. Reference / General   

Reviews (14)

Inspiring yet practical
If you need help and inspiration in planning your wedding there's no better guide than Maria McBride Mellinger. Of all Maria's books, The Perfect Wedding is still the one to buy for everything you need to know to plan and bring off a wonderful day.Don't bother with anything else. The Perfect Wedding Reception (also by Maria) is good but too much of it is already covered better and in more depth in The Perfect Wedding. I used several books to plan my own wedding (and my sister's) and kept coming back to this one for Maria's inspiring yet practical ideas.I especially love her bouquet ideas.

Truly Enjoyable Book
A good "getting started" book for those who just got engaged.Creative ideas for modern weddings - table settings, room decorations, floral arrangements, wedding favors, and more.Exquisite still photography helps to inspire --- And, if you liked any of the ideas in the book, she has a good-sized Resources section at the back of the book. There, you can find the necessary contacts in order to replicate some of the ideas for your own wedding.

Classy
Very classy & sophisticated decoration ideas for those who have money to spend; however, ideas can be adapted to your style and budget; sharp still photography; useful book that walks you through the finer points of planning a wedding - from theengagement all the way to the wedding favors. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Planning    4. Reference    5. United States    6. Weddings    7. Reference / General   

Subjects:  1. Celebrities    2. Customs & Traditions    3. General    4. Gifts    5. History    6. Photography    7. United States    8. Weddings   

Reviews (5)

Complete Book of Wedding Flowers:Stunning Flower Arranging..
I found that this book was not detailed enough for beginners in terms of creating the arrangements.It focused more on the wedding day rather than the actual flower arrangements.I was looking for more of a step-by-step guide for arranging wedding flowers.

Great book with lots of ideas
This is a cute book with lots of ideas.Doesn't have a lot of "how-to's", but does have some. Great pictures.I use this as a book for "brides-to-be".Someone always chooses something from this book.

It's the little details
I enjoyed this book because of the ideas it presented for the little details ... suggestions for floral arrangements that were dramatic, beautiful, and unique. It gave examples of floral arrangements for everything from baptismal fonts to tents. I was inspired to think beyond the standard altar pieces and table decorations.Read more

Subjects:  1. Bridal bouquets    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Flower Arranging    4. Flower arrangement    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Love / Sex / Marriage    7. Seasonal    8. Wedding decorations    9. Weddings    10. Crafts & Hobbies / Flower Arranging    11. STUDY AIDS - SAT/PSAT   

Editorial Review

Bridal Counselor Sheryl Paul offers a thoughtful alternative to "bridezilla," the perfectionist bride who acts as if a flawless pricey wedding will ensure a lasting marriage.Instead, Paul uses a workbook format to invite each woman to become "a conscious bride"--one whose pre-nuptial preparations include both emotional and practical to-do lists. The key is working through the ambivalent feelings that surround each tangible task.And here's the payoff: "Working through uncomfortable feelings while planning a wedding is an opening to joy—-an opportunity to be fully present." Each chapter pairs a practical task, such as choosing a location, creating a budget or writing wedding vows, with an emotional one.For example, in one brilliant section, the practicality of making a guest list is paired with the emotional homework of grieving for lost loves and tackling the need to please. Paul's approach creates a fascinating hybrid of anthropology (using a theory of rites of passage) and depth psychology (acknowledging the shadow side of every wedding.) She then packages these insights with a kicking set of charts and checklists. Though targeted for brides, it is not for women only. Powerful exercises urge couples to align every decision to reflect their identity as a couple. Some brides may object to a walk on the dark side of their wedding plans. But in Paul's capable hands, counsel about fear and loss, florists and white satin dresses co-exist without sounding like Dr. Phil meets the former Martha Stewart. Her advice is fresh, highly practical and optimistic. Read more

Reviews (5)

What a great resource
The Conscious Bride wedding planner is an insightful, organized and invaluable resource for any bride.It covers the deeper areas of preparation for your wedding day with just the right touch.It helped me clarify my intention for marriage and create just the right feeling and look for my wedding that was uniquely my own. I would have never been so prepared or calm or joyful without having worked through this planner.

Great for information, but not organization
If you already have Sheryl Paul's The Conscious Bride (a must-have, really), this planner may be a bit redundant.While the information is very helpful, it's basically the same information as The Conscious Bride, and it doesn't provide as many of the organizing resources as other planners.Most brides would do well with either the original book or this planner, but both may be emotional overkill.

Perfect Planner
This planner is perfect!It helps you to stay focused on what your wedding is really about by discussing not just the practical but also the emotional aspects of wedding planning.It acknowledges that a wedding is a rite of passage and just the beginning.This book will help you arrive at your wedding day feeling calm and ready with simple reminders like, "It's not about the dress!" This is a great book for every bride who wants a marriage and not just a wedding. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Brides    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family/Marriage    4. General    5. Marriage    6. Planning    7. Psychological aspects    8. Psychology    9. Reference    10. Weddings    11. Marriage, family & other relationships   

Reviews (8)

Take it for what it is
First of all, this is not a book for those of you who want to learn how to decorate cakes.This is a book for the bride who wants to learn about the right cake to ORDER.My cover matched the one shown so, maybe the book has a couple different covers, not a big deal.Anyway, I enjoyed the book but, if you are looking for a how-to on how to bake and decorate your own cake, this is not for you.
Not very good at all
I liked the cake on the cover (which happens to be the same cover listed on amazon.com) but the photos inside were horrible.They were very fuzzy and you couldn't see the detail of the cakes that well.The cakes were just okay, nothing fabulous to look at.

Worst book on cake decorating I've ever seen
The pictures are sloppy and amateurish.The editorial is very inaccurate.The author/editor appears to have done little or no research and clearly does not know the first thing about cake decorating.There are so many great cake decorating books out there.Don't waste your money on this one.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cake decorating    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Courses & Dishes - Cakes    5. Reference    6. Reference And Information Services    7. Wedding cakes    8. Weddings    9. Cakes, baking, icing & sugarcraft    10. GAMES (bks) - CASINO GAMBLING TRDP    11. Reference / Weddings    12. Sale Books   

Reviews (26)

Helpful but feeds the beasts
The bridesmaid's only real duty is to stand up for her friend who is getting married. NO ONE is "obligated" to hold a shower, since these are a gift to a bride, not something she is entitled to have and absolutely must get.
first time bridesmaid = needs this book
I have never been a bridesmaid before so this book was perfect for me!It was very helpful with timelines, budgetting, and what to expect.Not to mention, it was a great easy read. I sat down and read it all in one go. It gave me more confidence in what I am supposed to do to get ready for my best friends wedding.It was definitely worth it.

The Perfect Wedding Gift
My wife gave this book to each of her bridesmaids prior to the wedding (the best day of my life), and they all had a blast utilizing the excellent tips and cute facts.Its a fun, informative well designed book. My wife said it was great for bonding between her bridesmaids, made the whole wedding a lot more enjoyable. I say buy it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Love / Sex / Marriage    2. Bridemaids    3. Reference / Weddings    4. Reference    5. Wedding etiquette    6. Weddings   

Reviews (3)

Everything I wanted and more
This book is comprehensive and easy to use.I had no idea how many options there could be for a ceremony or how to put one together.Metrick, has provided a step by step guide with wonderful examples.I've seen reviews of her work as an officiant on the Knot, and apparently she's draws from many traditions with ease and is great to work with.I loved the excerpts of ceremonies that she includes in the book.What a good way to see possibilities.

An excellent guide to creating an original ceremony.
I loved this book.My partner and I come from totally different backgrounds and were not comfortable going with either of our traditions.Metrick helped us draw the best from our histories and blend it with our values and desires for an original ceremony. The book is comprehensive andeasy to use, offering lots of great examples.There are wonderful quotes, great humor, practical advice, and answers to many questions.

Want a non-standard wedding ceremony?
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Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships    2. Family/Marriage    3. Marriage    4. Reference    5. Weddings    6. Etiquette & entertaining    7. Marriage, family & other relationships   

Reviews (3)

The Scottish Wedding Book
This is a very helpful book for planning a Scottish wedding.It has lots of information on all the Scottish details.

A treasury of information
I continue to find this book a fascinating wealth of information which will, hopefully, eventually be put to good use.

Useless
This book is a waste of paper.Little to no useful information or insight into wedding traditions in Scotland.Dull. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships    2. Family/Marriage    3. Love / Sex / Marriage    4. Marriage    5. Weddings    6. Family & Relationships / Marriage    7. Marriage customs and rites    8. Planning    9. Reference/Weddings    10. Scotland    11. Social life and customs    12. Reference   

Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships    2. Family/Marriage    3. Marriage    4. Quotations    5. Reference    6. Collections & anthologies of various literary forms    7. Stationery items    8. Weddings   

Reviews (11)

A Proper and Well-Planned Wedding
This planner guide is beautiful. I love the binding since it is easy to browse topics without the book flipping closed. It covers various information and check lists that are useful to first-time brides (or mothers of the bride). I appreciate the simplicity and the inclusion of Post's infamous manners to help me plan a proper wedding. The big drawback is that the book is so crisp and worth saving as a memoir of the planning process and 'big day' that I am timid to write in it and make full use of its pages for fear I'll mess it up. Otherwise, it is a classic and simple gift for a newly engaged couple.

Planner Does Not Meet Expectations
I am a huge fan of Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette book and it has helped me be a better bride, bridesmaid, and wedding guest. It is well organized and lays the proper etiquette for every possible scenario. It's wonderful.
Great Planner
I was delighted with my planner when I received it. It's very well made, and it covers EVERYTHING. The great thing about this planner is if you are having a smaller, less formal wedding and reception (like my fiance and I) you can just skim past the info you don't need, and get straight to what you are looking for. This planner is ideal for any type of wedding, it even has alot of information about destination weddings and how to cut costs. I was unsure about the whole marriage liscense/changing my name thing, and Emily Post's Wedding Planner lays everything out for you. For the clueless bride to be, she covers everything from dresses to veils to flowers, and tells you about the different types and kinds. Overall it's a very handy tool, with charts and checklists and a nice pocket to hold papers. I found myself jotting things down as I went through it the very first time. I only have one complaint about the planner: it is not a standard paper sized book, therefore regular sized sheets of paper do not fit in the pocket. I found myself using a manila folder along with it to hold printouts of pictures I didn't want to fold. The pocket is ideal for invitation samples, swatches, and business cards though. Even with this drawback, the planner itself is worth the pocket sacrifice. If you want to do a wedding right, then this is the planner for you. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Etiquette    2. Love / Sex / Marriage    3. Reference    4. Wedding etiquette    5. Weddings    6. Etiquette & entertaining    7. Reference / Weddings    8. Journals    9. Wedding   

Reviews (2)

Haven't Read this Book, but a Warning to Brides
I find that a the selling point of "detachable to-do lists" for the wedding party is appalling!Warning to you would-be brides out there:you may be insulting your wedding party by giving them a pre-printed "detachable to-do list."I know I would throw it in the garbage and immediately quit the wedding.How insulting that a book would not only perpetuate the idea that members of the wedding party are the bride's personal assistants for the duration of the planning, but also to use this idea as a selling point!Shame on this book!Shame on the advertisers for this book!And shame on any bride who has such a warped sense of entitlement that she thinks "detachable to-do lists" for her wedding party is a good idea.You have been warned.

best pictures ever seen
It's the pictures that first got to me. They are unbelievable and so personal, so beautiful. They seem to be the best of the best. Then I read the book, it's right on target and so informative. I will use it everyday, and then pass on tips to everyone who gets married. This is the one and only book to get. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Handbooks & Manuals    2. Marriage    3. Planning    4. Reference    5. Weddings   

Reviews (25)

Very Helpful!
This book was a lifesaver!I called a friend who was an amateur photographer.I had her take some photos of us and also reviewed her portfolio.We discussed the photos she took of us and what we liked and didn't like.We made a list of must have shots and ideas we had in mind.They came out beautiful!
Be known for the cheapest wedding ever
Unless you want all your friends to say, "That was the cheapest wedding ever!", this isn't the right book for you. The tips were unhelpful and unrealistic for anyone who wants to have an elegant wedding on a budget. Examples:
A good book for some good ideas
Although this is not the best bridal budget book, its still, all in all, a good book with some good ideas. It does stress getting everyone involved, which for some, is welcoming. If you're a bride who has a family who's always giving you their 2 cents worth, this may be the budget planning book for you. It will get everyone involved in planning, helping and setting up for your wedding. If not, there are a few tips you can still use. Diane Warner has many books worth reading and I think she's knowledgeable in her ideas. This book is much better than Denise and Alan Fields' "Bridal Bargains". The book itself is more comfortable to read and hold (it's a standard size book with dark, large print, which "Bridal Bargains" is definetly not!) Besides, Diane Warner has some very original ideas which are legal and "Bridal Bargains" tells you some not so "authorized by law" ideas. Compare the two and I'm sure you'll agree, Diane Warner's "Big Wedding on a Small Budget" is much better! Just glimpse through and you'll see what I'm talking about. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer education    2. Family/Marriage    3. Love / Sex / Marriage    4. Planning    5. Reference    6. Shopping    7. United States    8. Weddings    9. Antiques & Collectables   

Features

• Bargain Price

Reviews (2)

Help for the unique bride with manners
The problem with Wedding Etiquette is that it's requirements just don't work for everyone. So how do you get around those that don't suit your needs, but still keep your manners? This book is the answer. It tells you which etiquette rules you can break without offending or appearing ill-mannered, and how you can bend others so they work for you, the unique couple. It's also a fun read.

Great tips, concise, but maybe a bit too concise
I have recently become engaged, and I'm dreading planning a wedding.I picked up this book because the questions are already beginning, and I was hoping to find some polite ways to tell people to back off.This book does offer some suggestions there, and overall, it helped me become a bit more excited about the process without drowning me in details.I do wish that they had included more than they did in this book.For example, they give some suggested text for invitations.They tell you that "request the honour of your presence" is only to be used for ceremonies held at a place of worship.However, "request the honour of your presence" is used in *all* of their suggested formal wordings.They didn't provide a single example of the etiquette for a formal wording for a wedding held outdoors or in a banquet hall or other non-religious location.Considering that they suggest alternate locations in several places (and even recommend destination weddings as an option, which I found refreshing as I'm figuring on having one), this omission was glaring.There's several other little things like that where I feel a few more pages would have made this book perfect.
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Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Etiquette    3. Planning    4. Reference    5. Wedding etiquette    6. Weddings    7. Bargain   

Reviews (9)

"A Reader" = Author
This book is way short on substance (based on what it's supposed to help you with) and way long on anonymous hype. Don't buy it.

Detail-less
I was hoping the focus would be on planning an outdoor wedding. I am a very detail oriented person and thought this would give me all the details I've established and then the ones I wouldn't even think of, being I've not planned an elegant outdoor event. Unfortunately my own details far surpassed what is written in this book. Most of the advice mentioned in this book is common sense. I would have appreciated a bit more info on seating, on sand, deck, grass, a mountaintop...decor, and what will work where, and what to use in place of candles (being outside can be windy), Outdoor foods, maybe some budget ideas thrown in...a disappointment, sorry

Beautiful Pictures and Tons of ideas
Whether you are contemplating a big bash of a celebration, an intimate dinner, or an elegant afternoon party, this book has plenty of inspiration and ideas.I bought it in anticipation of a wedding potentially planned for a barn.We moved the venue, but still borrowed many ideas from the book for refreshments, flowers, lighting and other party particulars. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family/Marriage    2. Planning    3. Reference    4. Weddings    5. Reference / Weddings   

Reviews (2)

Excellent Book
This book was a wonderful tool I used when writing thank you notes after my wedding.I got many compliments on how well written they were from many of our guests. It has helped me write thank you notes since my wedding for many other occasions. I think it is important to write a "heartfelt" thank you note to someone who took the time to purchase a gift or give you their time. In fact, now I get irritated when I get a thank you note with 2 sentences!

I couldn't have written them all without this book!!
This book is fantastic!It helped me slog through the 179 thank you notes I had to write after my wedding.There were lots of great ideas of what to say and how to say it, and beleive me, after about the 25th thank you note, I needed all the help I could get.There is good solid, practical advice as to how to manage the thank you note writing task as well as inspirational advice to help you stay properly focused and, well, thankful.All in all, it was indespensable! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Letter writing    2. Reference    3. Thank-you notes    4. Wedding etiquette    5. Weddings   

Reviews (1)

In a nutshell....
This cd was very easy to navigate.It required no lengthy installation onto my computer.JUST READ THE DESCRIPTION AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR COMPUTER IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE CD!!!!! I checked out this sellers negative feedback before I purchased and all of it was because the customer was too ignorant to simply read the description and make sure that their computer was compatible before buying the CD.
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Reviews (7)

Another Five Stars For a Truly Great Wedding Book
This is a masterpiece on how to really save money on your wedding. This book is packed full of solid advice on how to make up an 80% discount on normal retail prices. Sarah and Dan have written a wedding book that you would expect to pay two, three, even four times the amount - you should have no hesitation in purchasing "How to Buy Everything for Your Wedding on eBay and Save a Fortune" today.
Must have!
If you are on a strict budget for a wedding, yet still want an elegant fairy tale one, this book is a must for you.It is wonderfully written in an easy to read, easy to understand format. Even if you have never used Ebay, this book will tell you how. There are even lists of ebay sellers that the authors have used, so you already know they are trust worthy.
Incredible savings ideas on eBay & elsewhere
I checked this out from my local library to see if I could find ideas for helping my daughter with her wedding.I had NO IDEA you could get so many bridal bargains on eBay.For example, we were going to make her veil, to save the $150 a veil usually costs.On eBay, we can get the same veil for about $25.There are also great ideas for saving money in other ways -- inexpensive ways to decorate your reception, ideas for bridal party gifts, and more.This is the best wedding planning book I have read.Well worth the price of the book.In fact, my daughter just ordered one off Amazon for herself. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. E-Commerce - Internet Marketing    2. Electronic Commerce    3. Internet auctions    4. Marriage    5. Planning    6. Reference    7. Weddings    8. eBay (Firm)    9. Business & Management    10. Internet    11. Reference / Weddings