Wedding Books

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.

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.

THE BRIDE'S YEAR AHEAD: THE ULTIMATE MONTH-BY-MONTH WEDDING PLANNER offers all the inspiration and organization needed to pull off any kind of wedding; whether it be small or huge. Tabbed fill-in diary pages begin with '20 months before' and count down to the event with boxed 'to do' lists, etiquette insights, sample invitations - everything you need to pull of a flawless production is here, under one cover. If you're giving a gift to a couple, this might be on the top of the pre-wedding gift list!

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This is the planner I use the most often. In fact, my fiance and I sat in a resturant for 3 hours going over wedding details, and this is the book we used. The other one wasn't even brought out. It has wonderful lists of what needs to be done on a monthly basis. It really keeps us on track. It has a plastic zip baggie that you can keep all the loose things in you gather as you're looking around. It also has pockets in the dividers of the sections so you can stick misc. papers in them for future reference.

One thing I wish it had were a business card holder. That would, in my opinion, make this a five star item and a must have for brides!

... or if you're only buying one book for yourself and, let's face it, how many more wedding books can you actually READ, buy this one! I had the opportunity to read this as a review copy and have since purchased it for several of my friends. With humor and grace, Craig Michaels strikes just the right tone of comedy and compassion when facing one of life's biggest decisions. Honest, friendly and funny, it's the literary equivalent of having a once-in-a-lifetime heart-to-heart with your favorite uncle, old college roomate or dear old dad before the big day.

This is what it boils down to; I'm getting married. My sister sends me this book as a present; you know something fun to read to keep me breathing during these final five months of bachelorhood. Turns out this book is like having all the answers to a test before you go and take it! How awesome is that! Craig brings all his emotions, truths and mistakes into two hundred and sixty three pages of brilliant advice! Take it from me. I've already scored major points by helping with save the date cards and getting our rings (another for her and mine). "Thirty To Wife" is a book that all men can relate to and is funny, smart and charismatic. Thank you Craig for finding a way to put down into words!

This is more a blog put into paperback form than a book. Still, it's not bad and worth reading, but there's better books out there. It's a fast read and there's a decent amount of humor, but the meat of the book, what you need to know and think about in order to get through the time before the wedding, is pretty standard.

Instead, check out The Engaged Groom by Doug Gordon and Emotionally engaged, by Allison Moir-Smith (technically a book for soon to be brides, but which works well for the groom as well).

Yes, that is probably what is going through your head right now. You proposed and she said "Yes", but now you have to go through laborious process of marriage planning. Stressed? Confused? Bored? This book not only entertains but informs. Craig opens up and tells his story in painful depth and detail like few guys can - his sacrifice is our gain. As a guy who is currently engaged, the book has served not only as therapy but as a guide. While being humorous, "Thirty to Wife" also informs by adding interesting and relevant statistics, provides useful registry ideas and websites, and includes a schedule of tasks for the months leading up to the wedding. It is not only easy and fun to read, but a great reference. It has come in handy more than a few times during wedding discussions. Not only have my fiancé and I avoided arguments by using this book, I have ended up looking like a champ.
Read and enjoy!

...like all books of its kind, most of the benefits it may bring you could be had with a little common sense and good communication ahead of each decision deadline.

My wife-to-be and I are almost finished with our wedding planning, and while we did have some rough moments (even though our wedding will be very small and simple compared to 90% of the people out there - less than 80 people, no country clubs or hotels to deal with, no ridiculous $25,000+ tab (save the money for your children's education folks!)), I came to realize that almost every bad day was a result of bad communication.

It boils down to this: men and women express themselves (even the same idea sometimes) in very different ways. Not to mention a bride's motivations during planning are often different than the groom's motivations. If you're just starting out, you could get this book and a dozen others, and get some truly good advice. Or you could save the money and do this:

Sit down with each other, alone, in a non-distracting place and find out what is most important to each of you about this wedding and the days leading up to it. If you are honest, you will learn something about yourself, and not just your spouse. If you say what you think the other person wants to hear or what's diplomatic, you're in for some unpleasant days as the planning gets under way.

Take all day if you need to. Turn your phones off, get away from your computer, and really think it through. What is important to you? What is not? What is valuable in a wedding, what is filler and eye candy? Who are your real friends, who are people that really don't belong at your wedding? All of these are important questions and just the tip of the iceberg. Make no mistake: if you're honest with each other, there may even be some tears or raised voices before your discussion is over, but it will be worth it.

Until you each know what is really important to your future spouse and why, your wedding planning will be a giant headache and will stress you out right up until the wedding bells ring. Think it through, talk it through, THEN plan, based on the compromises you made during your discussion. And if you don't think you should have to compromise, you shouldn't be getting married. ;-)

The Wedding is a recommended and cheery picturebook by Eve Bunting about a country wedding featuring an anthropomorphic animals including the bride, the groom, and all of the guests. But it seems that one problem after another besets the organist, the chef, and the florist -- all of whom are struggling to get to the church on time. And where is the bride? The Wedding is recommended as being a humorous, gentle tale which very nicely enhanced for young readers with the fanciful color illustrations of Iza Trapani.

Few occasions are as exciting or as nerve wracking as a wedding. Further, that's one occasion when everyone wants each detail to be perfect. In lilting rhyme Eve Bunting relates the story of a wedding that almost wasn't.

As Miss Brindle Cow strolls along the path to town she listens to the wedding bells of Saint Michelle. She's surprised to find Pig sitting beneath a tree woefully examining a bandaged knee. Pig's the church organist, you see, and now can't get to the wedding.

Fortunately Brindle Cow is very kind hearted. She invites Pig to ride to the church on her back. It's not too long before they spy Pomeroy the turtle. He's the florist. Unfortunately a very slow florist who fears there'll be no flowers for the wedding at the rate he's going.

You guessed it - Brindle Cow invites Pomeroy to join Pig on her back. Before long a stranded duck, rabbit, and chipmunk join the pair riding to the church.

Thanks to the goodness of the Brindle Cow all arrived in plenty of time for the nuptials. You're going to have to guess who the bride might be.

"The Wedding" is a light hearted and loving look at a very special day.

- Gail Cooke

Ribbon Rescue is a very good book because it was funny and exiting. It had details and other things. when she got dirty. It was cool as Robert munch was reading the story on his webpage. The story was nice and cool.

What I like about this story is that the sweet girl is cute, dirty and little and the people are funny. and a lot of people come many times they say `'I am late. I am lost.'' And her is Jillian it is a good story beuseause I read all of the stories of Robert Munsch A read all the book Robert I like the book beuase it cool to me or to anthers people it just very cool, good but they is a lot of store about robertMusch like boo arons hair David father Get out of bed that's is the end of the story.

I think 4 year olds thru 10 year olds should read Ribbon Rescue because it is funny, silly and a very good book to read. I also think when you read this book you are going to tell all your friends about the book. I would like to say that all of you girls who love dresses should buy this book and thank you Robert Munsch and Jillian.

I would recommend Ribbon Rescue to boys & girls all around the world. Ribbon Rescue is the best book I've read in years. When I read this book, I thought of my sister because she always lends a helping hand. Like how Jillian helped tie the groom's shoes and other things. The illustrations of the book were a job well done and I think that even adults would love this classic book. This book is designed for children but even adults like this book so I think it's a masterpiece. That's what I think of the book.

My favorite part of the story is when Jillian helped people get to a wedding. First, she helped the bride cut out her ribbons from her hair. Then, she helped a family get to the wedding faster. Then, she helped guy find his ring. Next, her mom came and she was all dirty. She couldn't go inside because she was dirty. They needed a flower girl and she went in all dirty. This book was funny because more people kept coming and needed help.

Klondike Wedding
Kate Bridges
Harlequin Historical
September 2007

Fresh starts. Would you be willing to risk everything and begin a new life even if you weren't truly in love with the man you planned to marry? I believe it would take an incredibly strong woman to believe she could make a happy life in such a situation. Kate Bridges has such a woman with Genevieve Summerville.

Genevieve needed a fresh start. She was practically broke, but she had faith she could build a successful business if given half a chance. To begin this new life, she promises herself to Joshua McFadden, a gold miner. She remembered him vaguely from childhood. He wrote letters to her aunt and uncle. In one of them, he formally asked for her hand in marriage. Genevieve accepted happily. She needed him and her aunt and uncle would be close by to make the new life feel safe. After making the arduous journey to rugged Dawson City, Yukon on her own, she discovers her husband-to-be is out searching for gold but a proxy wedding has been arranged.

" `I now pronounce you man and wife.' The old judge coughed. `Sort of." "

Mountie Inspector Luke Buxton Hunter couldn't help but think Joshua was a lucky man and a fool. Why would a man want to miss his own wedding, especially when his bride was beautiful? While waiting for the judge to finish the paperwork, Luke noticed the judge was in some distress. He did not look well at all. Luke ordered some water for the old man and tried to help him. Only it was too late. The judge was past any care and died. After a quick evaluation, Luke believes the judge had measles and with dread informs the entire wedding party they were all quarantined for the next 14 days. To make matters worse, the sick judge filled the papers out incorrectly. Luke and Genevieve were legally married to each other. It would take another judge to straighten this mess out and who knows how long that would take.

Surrounded by an angry group of strangers, all friends of her aunt and uncle, Genevieve was in shock. Quarantined with a real fear from a frightful disease and married to the wrong man was almost too much to deal with. This is not what she dreamed of, but she would have to make the best of a bad situation. Genevieve hoped Joshua would understand when he returned to town. This was no way to begin her fresh start.

I was amused and hooked from the very first line of Klondike Wedding. Ms. Bridges does not stop with her twist of a proxy wedding gone wrong. She has more surprises in store for her readers, not all amusing. All I'll say is that it is a good thing Luke is a Mountie Inspector because all is not as it seems and there is a mystery to be solved. It is amazing that love has a chance to develop with all that happens within the well written pages but, Ms. Bridges creates the passion of love with her extraordinary gift for Genevieve and the unsuspecting Mountie..

Kim Swiderski
Writers Unlimited

In 1898, Genevieve Summerville arrives from Montana in Dawson City, Yukon to get married. However, since her fiancé Joshua McFadden is in the goldfields, Mountie Inspector Luke Hunter agrees to be the groom's proxy. Judge Donahue presides over the ceremony and after pronouncing them as man and wife, he drops dead. On the marriage certificate, Donahue wrote Genevieve Summerville and Luke Hunter.

The entire wedding party who came into contact with Donahue is quarantined until authorities can determine what or who killed the judge. As the Mountie and the Big Sky expatriate fall in love with a zillion chaperones, Joshua returns to town to see his woman.

With a touch of a medical mystery (what killed the judge?) to enhance a delightful late nineteenth century Canadian romance, Kate Bridges refreshes her wonderful Mountie tales. Luke is a gentle person except when it comes to criminals but though he desires his wife he feels guilty re his friend; while Genevieve is a confused soul as she desires her spouse but also wonders what to do about her fiancé; Joshua rounds out the confused triangle nicely as he thinks American woman come away with me (The Guess Who will get over it as we American Women know our worth is beyond war machines). KLONDIKE WEDDING is another vivid northern neighborly historical winner.

Harriet Klausner

Farideh Goldin's book is a compelling memoir about growing up in a Jewish family in Iran prior to the Islamic revolution. She reveals the inside of a culture that is hard to believe existed in the mid-twentieth century. It should be read in conjunction with Dalia Sofer's novel, The Septembers of Shiraz, which deals with a Jewish family's ordeal in the aftermath of the Iranian revolution.

Wedding Song is the story of a Jewish girl growing up in Iran. It is well written and a interesting account of her life. Easy to read and definately recommended.

this is an excellent novel, well written and not only a good story but a fascinating glimpse into a world that no longer exists. Interspersed with wonderful insights into the systematic and awful oppression of young girls are glimpses into the everyday life of a culture within a culture, food, customs, clothes, songs and so on but within a world vulnerable to the surrounding and increasingly hostile, racist, ignorant anti semitism of the Iranian islamic community.
i will read it agin soon

While this may not match others' memories of Iran during Ms. Goldein's period, this is a very honest *memoir* of growing up female, jewish, and dhimmi in Iran. We glimpse a country that has remained relatively the same for centuries-- for good and for bad. We see that islamic countries ghettoize their non-muslim minorities, just as in the West. We see a more deeply entrenched patriarchal society that does not see the individual-- of either sex, as important as the community.

But also a book of families that endure, despite outside and internal pressures. We see also that the strength of an individual can overcome these old pressures and gain a measure of acceptance in the process.

Wonderful book on so many levels!

Of all things, how would you like to be a Jew in Iran? The young girl was an outcast in her own family, as the only daughter with her brothers being the favorites. She cherished her friendships, which she enjoyed until she realized she was "different." Gradually, as things worsened in Iran, the Jews were being victimized in the schools and in the communities. Most Jews didn't consider going to Israel as an option because Iran was their home, the language, the Iranian customs, etc., were what they had grown up with. This is a very different look at the situation. I've read many Iranian books and enjoyed the different twist.

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ON HOW TO GET REALLY GOOD PICTURES, WITH EVERYTHING FROM DIGITAL BASICS TO PRINTING YOUR PICTURES. I ALSO RECIEVED POINTERS ON HOW NOT TO MAKE THE PRO PHOTOGRAPHER MISS IMPORTANT SHOOTS,BUT TO HAVE MY OWN UNIQUE SET OF PICTURES THAT THE COUPLE WILL APPRECIATE AS WELL.

Most brides and grooms hire pros to shoot wedding pictures, but those taken from amateurs are even more treasured at times, and How to Take Great Digital Photos of Your Friend's Wedding will thus appeal to the novice who wants to use a home digital camera to maximum benefit. Here are tips ranging from initial hardware to shooting modes, understanding lighting and contrast, and recognizing what elevates a mundane picture to a superior shot. These are all the basics pros use - at the fingertips of the relative amateur here, and enhanced by numerous color examples throughout - perfect for novice photographers and public lending libraries alike.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I discovered the Annabelle Archer series through Amazon's suggestions and thoroughly enjoyed both For Better or Hearse and its predecessor, Better Off Wed. Durham's created an appealing cast of characters and her experience as a wedding planner in DC adds a richness of detail to her series.

I loved Ms. Durham's 1st book. I didn't expect it to be good....Washington, D.C. background, high society, dirty politics... and all that,but it was great and so it followed that I'd pick up a copy of "For Better or Hearse." My favorite character in the whole book is Richard....hands down. He makes the book! I have friends who work in the food industry and agree that there are more chef's out there like Chef Henri than Emeril....but we don't know what he is like behind the scenes so......The book was not as good as her 1st, but enjoyable due to the cast of characters who are her side-kicks, except Leatrice, who does have to go.....annoying, annoying! I also have to wonder if all her brides are the upper crust of society? It would be nice to see a middle class wedding planned by Annabelle. Surely....some not so wealthy people do live in and about Washington? Just a thought. This book is an easy, fun read, but you'll probably guess the "murderer" before the middle of the book.

I really liked the first installment of this series. I started out loving this one too, but found myself somewhat disappointed by the time I reached the end.

I though the murderer's identity was obvious from the very beginning. I also thought it was out of character for Annabelle to run out on a wedding, and then prolong her absence in order to go say hi to a friend. I also thought it was a bit too convenient how she suddenly figured everything out.

The character of Leatrice must go. She adds nothing to the story except to be an annoying buttinsky, and since it's apparent that even Annabelle doesn't care for her, her continued presence in the middle of everything is just flat-out ridiculous.

This was entertaining and fun to read. I enjoyed reading this series.

Annabelle Archer is a wedding planner. Her assistant is Kate. This book had all the essential people involved in weddings - chefs, florists, videographer, hair designer, brides, mother of the brides, etc.

Murder(s) take place. Annabelle and her friends are determined to figure it all out. Characterization is vivid, so you feel you know these people. I love Annabelle. Her nutty neighbor Leatrice is interesting.

At the end of the book, Annabelle pieced it all together. She was clever to figure it out. She figured out some interesting facts, and it all pieced together interestingly. The ending was very interesting and clever. I was satisfied.

This book kept reminding me of a cozy wedding I attended several years ago. So those memories enhanced the atmosphere of the book for me, even though it would have been cozy and fun anyway.