Wedding Books

I first checked this book out at my Library, but I got tired out the overdue fees and finally purchased it. I used a couple of the designs in the book as the basis for my invitations. The instructions are great and there are a variety of designs and ideas. People still tell me that we had the most beautiful invitations!

This book has easy to follow directions in back on how to do everything and has many cute ideas.
They mainly have the how-to of wedding invitations so if you are looking for a variety of ideas this isn't the book for you.

This is a so-so book, at best. It doesn't show that many ideas, and they are largely focused towards invitations. If you're not making your invitations, this book probably isn't worth looking at. There are a few things to glance at, but all in all, this book shows nothing new and isn't really worth buying. I was disappointed by what was in the book---with a very few exceptions, it's all about using different papers to make invitations.

I have been a KGS fan for a long, long time. She wrote great, insightful, character driven romance novels. I own her entire romance back list and they have a permanent place on my keeper shelves.

However, she has moved on from the romance genre and started writing more main stream novels. Her first one, An Uncommon Degree of Popularity was not much to get excited over. Readable, but only just. This one is a little better. Maybe by the next one she will have a handle on this new direction she wants to go in. Me, I just wish she would go back to romance where she really stood out.

Like another reviewer, I have always enjoyed Kathleen Gilles Seidel's books. Unlike that reviewer, I don't miss the romance. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good romance, but when KGS writes a story, it is complete and stands on its own merits with or without romance.
Such is the case with this book. The characters are real, some endearing, some not so much. Like real life, even the villain isn't totally a villain, just too self-involved to think of anyone else, and too focused on the ultimate goal to let anything get in her way.
But, I digress. If you want a book about people who are interesting, whose lives you become involved with, a book that makes you want to see the best things happen for most of the characters, where the situations are totally engrossing without involving murder or mayhem, then read this book. It is great to know that good stories are still being written.

The story builds gradually, with lots of intricate layers. Just when you think you've got a character figured out, there's a small (or large) surprise. Some things you see coming, but others... well, it took a great deal of effort to put the book down sometimes. I just HAD to know what was coming!
The author nails her characters and is scrupulous in the details, making them very believable. Can't wait for her next one!

I've loved KGS for a long time and have read every book she's written. She used to write category romances, moved on to longer more complex romances and her past 2 books haven't had any romance per se in them at all. I miss the romance. I love the characters she creates, who feel so real, like friends next door. I like her dramas and dilemmas are all real world and pertinent. But I miss the romance.
So I bought this hard cover and it has a few shining moments, but I would have liked a bit more passion in it.

Although this book started off slowly, and seemed to sit on my nightstand forever before I picked it up, once I did, I couldn't put it down. The characters are vivid and real, and the modern-day dilemmas and situtations are astonishingly real.
Betsey Shpiro, Author "Queen's Hostess"

This small book offers some good samples and adjective suggestions. Some of the advice is a bit dated, the whole thing could use an updated edition to deal with changing norms and new situations. I was just looking for something easy to slip into a tote to help me work on thank you's while traveling when a computer wasn't handy, this book fit the bill.

I bought this book because I was dreading writing the same thing over and over again for thank yous. This book has been very helpful. It addresses tricky situations (e.g., something arrives broken, two guests give the same thing, you don't know what something is!!), which is very useful. There are also some good examples of thank yous that you can use as a foundation. The introduction also explains why they are so important. I am planning on hanging onto this book and when our children are old enough to write their own thank you notes (Christmas, birthdays, etc) to show it to them and teach them how to write a very nice message.

The task of writing 50-100 thank you notes for wedding gifts can be a little daunting, and this book was very helpful. They outline the anatomy of a thank you note and offer suggested wording, which I found more useful than the actual sample thank you notes. The language in them seems a bit dated.

This book was very helpful to get us through our huge stack of thank you notes!!!

I was really excited about this book but it was a huge disappointment. It really needs to be updated.

I really got a huge kick out of this book. It has some really useful information. It's funny. But it's also real good spririted. A definite must read for any engaged guy.

My mother-in-law gave me this book as a gift shortly after I popped the question. It was full of really great stuff, and it was fun to read. I would wholeheartedly recommend it. "Mom" was also super-cool enough to give me a couple of other excellent gifts -- believe it or not -- that I would also VERY STRONGLY recommend: the book "Men Are From Mars, Women are from Venus" , the DVD "New Sex Now", and "Goddess Worship" on video. All in all these four little gifts made a HUGE impact on some very amazing weeks of my life.

Why isn't there a "zero stars" option?

I'm sorry, but this book contains some of the most gawd awful advice I have ever seen dispensed to anyone planning a wedding.

Is it supposed to be a joke? If it is, Peter van Dijk missed the mark. Don't even file under Humor - file in the trash.

If the rest of this book is anything like the section on wedding videography, the author does his readers a great disservice. Evidently, Mr. van Dijk felt he needed a comic-villain to ridicule.

His stereotyping of professional videographers and what we do (yes, I'm one of them) is insulting, based on ignorance, and many years out of date ("ugly Klieg light"? Excuse me? They're almost 100 years old!). Extremely light-sensitive cameras have been around for several years. We don't blind you any more.

Apparently, the author wasn't happy with the person who recorded his wedding. Therefore, he has made it his mission to convince others that they too will be unhappy. Never mind that your children and grandchildren (not to mention even YOU) might cherish your video 25 or 50 years from now, the great van Dijk has spoken!

Are some videographers "miserable little cretins"? I suppose so - just like some photographers, bakers, and authors. But the vast majority of us perform a valuable and creative service for our clients, and take pride in preserving the most important day in a young couple's life.

One star for at least trying to be funny. So you're going to buy this book anyway? "Fine, be that way. But don't come crying to me, Wedding Boy. I told you so. I told you so. I told you so. I told you so."

This has to be the most archaic writing I have ever seen. I am not sure if Mr. van Dijk has ever spoken to or participated in vendor selection. His stereotyping of vendors is offensive and unacceptable!

The sad part is that a groom will pick this book up and think how miserable planning a wedding is and how to skimp on things that he should not.

Peter van Dijk has done more harm to the wedding industry than "The Electric Slide"!

Forbidden Temptation is the 4th and final book about the Lockhart's sisters - Ruby, Opal, Pearl, and Amber. This time, it is Ruby's story. Ruby is the oldest of the Lockharts and has literally put her life "on hold" to care for her sisters after the death of their parents.

Ironically, now Opal, Pearl and even Amber, the youngest have all married and moved on with their lives, as well as their cousin, Paige. Now, just what is poor Ruby to do. She is all alone in the family home -- a big, lonely house with no one to share it with. Well, this is not quite true. There has always been Luther Biggens -- the family friend, who has been like a brother to them. Well, at Opal's wedding reception, things changed drastically between Luther and Ruby. They both have had feelings for each other for as long as they can remember. The problem is, they never actually came out and told one another just how they feel. Now, that they have connected, they have misconceptions about it. Ruby thinks Luther is basically angry with her for having come on to him and Luther, who was disabled in the service (lost his foot and leg and now wears a prosthesis) feels Ruby cannot accept him because of his disability. Little do they both know -- what's left unsaid means a lot. They have made themselves and almost the others around them miserable, because Ruby and Luther feel they have stepped into a "forbidden temptation."

I loved this story. Wonderful story that keeps you turning the pages hoping that Ruby or Luther will finally fess us and admit their love. Truthfully, I was telling one of my reading partners, that of the four stories about the Lockhart sisters, I actually enjoyed this book the most. It took me about a day to finish it -- something unusual for me at this time in my life when I am very busy doing other things first. Also, I enjoyed the other three, especially the first book, "In Bed With Her Boss" and most definitely Amber's story, "His Holiday Bride."

Forbidden Temptation is a great read and a quick page turner. You will not want to put it down until you find out what happens next and next.

I haven't even finished this book yet, and I am totally and utterly frustrated. I have not read the thrid book in the series, but I have been such a fan of Ms. Forster in the past that I rushed to read this one first. UGH!!! Why!!! The first night I opened the book I stayed up until 3 in the morning waiting to get to the good part...never happened. And since then I haven't been able to bring myself to finish reading.
The characters seem completely different from the way they are portrayed in the earlier novels. They are frustrating and indecisive.
Girl friend, you are gonna hafta do better next time!!

Do not buy this book.Borrow from a friend or the library only if you want to complete the series. I did not expect this book to be as irritating as others suggested. However they are all right, the series ends poorly with this story. Tw adults who have know each other since childhood, 29 and 35 years old have lost the abilty to open thier mouths and communicate properly. The story needs to delete chapters 2 to 11, cos that is the most annoying and repetive parts of the book. There are so many excellent AA romance writers who would have made this story real hot Nobia Bryant, Adrianne Byrd comes to mind but no they got safe writer and sorry it shows. As for the love scene.... well what love scenes?

First off I am a big fan of Mrs. Forster. I was looking forward to her closing the Lockhart's saga with a big bang, however it was a total let down. I felt as if her book lack the most continuance . The tone of the sisters relationships change so much leaving me to wonder why did the Kimani Romance press let four different authors with difference of opinions and age write about the same four characters. I felt as Mrs. Brenda Jackson did a wonderful job setting the tone of the sisters and friends relationships, but Mrs. Forster could not capture the magic the other authors created. I would recommend that you form your own happily ever after instead of reading this book. Don't get me wrong Mrs. Forster is a wonderful author, but this one is a let down.

I rated this book "3 stars" because Amazon's rating system doesn't have the "1/2" star thing. I would've given this novel "2 1/2" stars. Anyway the first three novels of this series were good but unfortunately this book was a disappointment. Luther and Ruby, what's up with y'all?

I love the way Tracy Anne Warren writes her books. The Wedding Trap is no exception. Her characters are colorful and innovative. The stories are not boring English tales as many historical romances can become and they are not unbelievable adventures either. The Wedding Trap is the last of the Trap Trilogy and lives up to it's predecessors. If you like the writing of Lisa Kleypas then you'll love Tracy Anne Warren

I read The Wedding Trap after The Husband trap and I was not disappointed. Eliza Hammond is Violet's (from the Husband Trap) best friend. She's always loved Kit, Andrian's younger brother, but since she was mainly an unattractive wallflower he hasn't payed her any notice. Eliza though suddenly becomes a wealthy heiress and her friend Violet enlists the help of her brother in law to help Eliza attract worthy suitors. But as Eliza's charm grows day by day with Kit's help, Kit starts to notice her at last but refuses to see it as anything else but lust. Will Kit realize his error before it's too late?

I really enjoyed this book and am glad I read it, though the husband trap is still my favorite. Not the most original of stories, but highly entertaining anyway.

The Wedding Trap is the third and final novel in Tracy Anne Warren's charming romantic historical "trap" trilogy that also includes The Husband Trap and The Wife Trap. With this final tale, Ms. Warren lets two characters, who appeared in the first and second books, find their own special love with the same wit and charm seen in those earlier stories. She is able to bring a humorous, touching and highly romantic turn to the classic ugly-duckling plot, as the all too shy Eliza Hammond finally blossoms into an enchantress, who captures the heart of the endearing, devil-may-care Kit Winter.

With this latest tale, Ms. Warren once again effortlessly weaves an intimate tale of courtship and romantic love. She introduces the reader to more of the colorful and memorable people who inhabit her Regency England world. And she doesn't fail to delight the reader with old friends

This is the first Tracy Anne Warren book I've read and I bought it based on a recommendation. I was sorely disappointed. The story was beyond boring and I simply couldn't get through it which rarely happens with romance novels. I ended up returning it to the store. Her characters seemed well-drawn enough, but the dialogue was really stilted (yes, I know it's a regency, but that doesn't mean that standards for witty, interesting dialogue should be dropped enitrely. Many other authors manage to pull it off).

I didn't read the other two books, but I could still understand what was happening which was nice. I just didn't care. I can accept formulaic (hey! It's a romance novel, we all know what will happen in the end!)but the story never picked up momentum.

I also disliked the basic premise of the story-- that Kit never recognized her until she cut her hair and got some pretty gowns. The premise could have been salvaged, but in the end, it simply wasn't romantic. Talk about true love.
This may have been my first book by this author, but it's almost certainly going to be my last.

Hated it! I tried to like it. Really, I did! I was on vacation in the Poconos and wanted a light fun read to keep me engaged while the kids were in the pool.

Worst. Choice. Ever.

I can see how the author tried to make things brisk and charming, but the story dragged like it was weighed down with an anvil. From the first sentence of the book you can tell exactly how it's going to end, so you'd think the journey itself would be interesting. Or that there would be an engaging and exciting sub-plot. Or, perhaps, witty dialogue. But unfortunately, there wasn't anything more intersting than the patently obvious, no plot other than the blandly predictable and a heroine too shy to speak in anything but monosyllables. When the author wanted to show how charming a conversationalist the heroine had become she simply had other characters in the book say, "Oh, she told me the funniest story and I laughed and laughed".

Witty? No. Sadly, nobody else in the book has anything interesting to say either.

I made sure I finished the book, but throughout the final chapters I kept thinking, "For goodness' sake! Get on with it already and put me out of my misery".

I am not sure what I expected from this book. Maybe I have a bias since I am a professional event planner who also happens to be a lesbian. First off I must say the book does offer practical, easy to understand advice for any couple planning a wedding. The chapters are well laid out and packed with practical ideas. On the other hand the book does have a more gay male friendliness than lesbian friendliness. The book is authored by a gay male and straight female. So, the true lesbian point of view is kind of lost in the shuffle. Silly issues arise for the lesbian side of things assuming that all lesbian relationships are made up of two masculine females or two effeminate females. The vast assumption is made that all the members of a lesbian wedding party will wear dresses. The silly question also arises as to which woman will toss the bouquet or if two should be tossed. My partner would not be caught dead in a dress and do not even try to push a bouquet into her hands. I do commend Mr. Toussaint on his ability to make a well rounded wedding guide for the "rainbow" family, but his research (if he did any) should have include vast types of lesbians the same as it included vast types of gay male relationships. For this reason I can not give the book a full five stars because it simply does not address the issues of lesbian couples.

What's up with all these "reviews" that are just quotes from others? And all glowing, and all from reviewers in New York?

The book had a lot of good points, but it's certainly not a thorough handbook for wedding planning. I think I was giving the book the benefit of the doubt until the section on ethnic weddings. What a joke. If you're Mexican, how about a mariachi band and a pinata! Yeah! If you're "ethnic" enough to represent it in your wedding, you'll probably be able to do a better job than to follow these ridiculously simpleton and stereotypical suggestions.

This book is very practical and incuded more than expected. Legal issues, adopting, all good information to keep in mind. And the real-life stories are used well. Great book!

I heard about this book after a friend of mine in L.A. went to a signing. Thanks, Amazon, for carrying it. Toussaint and Leo did a great job telling us how to plan the wedding, and I'd recommend this book to anyone. But what I liked best, and didn't expect, was that the book told us all about the legal stuff; we might want to adopt someday, and there is a whole section about the different laws from each state. There was also a part on how to find an officiant, which helped a great deal. I thought I was going to have to spend days on the Internet searching for places to get help in that area, but it's all spelled out in the book. They give a whole list of sites to go to. We hope to someday make it to Massachusetts to make the whole thing legal, but until then, and after reading this book, we feel our "marriage" is as real as the best of them.

I'm deep in the midst of planning a wedding. Early on, I checked out this book and two others (The Complete Guide to Gay and Lesbian Weddings and the Essential Guide to Lesbian and Gay Weddings) from the library to see which ones I might want to buy. I expected this book to be my favorite, but found it next to useless.

This book was cute and sometimes funny but lacked substance. All of the advice was based on a very traditional wedding and assumed a level of parental involvement (and their $$) I found pretty unlikely for many couples. My main concerns: chapters full of fluffy fillers, inaccurate information and missing key pieces.

First, there was no information about finding a reception or ceremony site, other than a cute but silly "find you style" quiz. I was hoping for concrete information on choosing a gay-friendly site, working with vendors, signing a contract and ways to hold a wedding at your home. nada.

Instead, there's a whole chapter devoted to quizzes on sex after marriage (funny but unhelpful) and another of legal issues (adoption, domestic partnerships etc). The legal chapter is already out of date and inaccurate. Please please do not rely on it. Check out Nolo's A Legal Guide for Lesbian and Gay Couples and the HRC website instead.

Also, the alternative wedding section was only a few pages long. They only included a paragraph each on destination weddings or "ethnic" weddings. I would have been happy to cut out the section on attendents and the presents you should give them in favor of more alternative wedding ideas, creative invitations or ideas on dealing with wedding stress.

I did really like the wedding stories that preceeded each chapter. Definitely the best thing about the book.

But I would still recommend either of the other two books I mentioned instead. The Essential Guide is dated, but still the best of the bunch in my opinion. The Complete Guide came out in 2004 and has a very reassuring tone.

I was very disappointed in this book. I saw the great reviews and thought it would provide insights for a first time mother of the bride. It is, sadly, a fluffy little "personal memories of my daughter's life." I did not learn anything about being the mother of the bride. I was hoping that it would help me help with planning a wedding!

I got this book for my mom. The title caught my eye because she had a horrible time finding a dress for my brother's wedding and now she has to look once again for my wedding! She loved it and found it very humorous, basically read it in one night. The only thing I wished is that it would have had a checklist or something like that for the mother of the bride. Overall, great book!

What a great book to give the 1st time mother of the bride at the bridal shower. It puts things in perspective! I recommend they read it a couple of days before the wedding.

This book was great. It is written with humor and insight, and I probably would not have appreciated it before this adventure we call "being the M.O.B". It is definately worth every penny.

This is basically an autobiographical comic short story, with wacky illustrations to add to the fun. I bought it as a Mother's Day present for my mom right after I got engaged, and we read it aloud together in our favorite spot on the front porch, passing the book when one of us was overcome with laughter -- or tears. Ilene Beckerman can really write, and she does it with devastating humor and tear-jerking poignancy as she explores -- from the front row view of the mother of the bride -- the fun, the fights, the work, the tears, the trials, and often the complete insanity that all contribute to the creation of a beautiful wedding. At the same time, she critically (and beautifully) examines the complex relationship between a mother and her daughter. This short little gem will help you remember the things you appreciate most about your mother, your daughter...or both.

I'm very disappointed I'm buying books because I like to learn,If you want a a really good book on digital photography, try Scott Kelby's Digital Photography book.

The digital age has arrived and Bill Hurter depicts why it is also the golden age of photography. Digital photography offers an unlimited ceiling of opportunity for both photographers and their clients, especially in the feild of wedding photography. In this book you will acquire the knowledge to exploit these opportunities to produce premium images. The format transitions nicely from the preparation stages to equipment, techniques, workflow, color perfection, photoshop strategies and digital albums. The words of dozens of accomplished professionals illustrate from cover to cover and their insight help exemplify the author's quest.

I didn't come away learning much about weddings; however, the images are inspiring. Maybe you should buy this book combining with Glen Johnson's who has more practical tips and suggestions.

Since I am new to wedding photography, I was looking for a how to, trick of the trades, how to enhance my shooting skill kind of book. I did not find much of info in this book that I need. There are many very nice photographs in the book but little of explanation on how the the photographs were taken, etc.

I guess I need to look for another wedding photography book.

Most of the information seems to be filler. A lot of info in this book is in your manual that came with your camera. Some very nice photographs which were taken by various photographer but not as much as I was looking for in the way of how to!! As improvement from where I am. I gave the book one star but wish I had bumped it up to 2 or 3. I can always learn something from any book. I just didn't personally gain as much as I would have liked from this one. If a person learns one two or three or more very good pointers from a book it may be worth the cost. We all work hard for what we get paid and I just like to get the most for the bucks I spend. That just didn't seem to be the case with this book.