Wedding Books

I was excited about the topic of this book, because I am a graphic designer and I am called upon to design invitations from time to time. However, I was a little disappointed with the content of this book. It did give a thorough background of the printed wedding invitation, written information about each possible invitation component, and some helpful pointers for a bride. However, there were very few photos and the images provided were fairly basic invitations - not very imaginative. If I had flipped through this book in the bookstore, I doubt I would have spent the money.

The book is pretty and has a bit of useful information, but definitely not what I was looking for. You can get most of the information on the internet anyway. Save your money.

It looks cute (like Martha Stewart's magazines) but did not contain one usefull piece of advice. Since most of us only do this once, there is not too much personal experience to draw from. Therefore we look to the professionals for ideas, sample wording and help.

This was total waste of time unless I was going to have each invitation hand written or tied with a rhinestone buckle.

I'm not sure what the reviewer below was reading because this book contains everything you could ever hope to know about wedding invitations. It's definitely visually attractive, but it's the useful information (even gives you a timeline for you invites to make sure you're on track which I am often not!) that make this a must-have item for anyone about to get married.

I have to admit, while planning my wedding I was hesitant at first to purchase a book that seemed to be on only one wedding topic. But being into stationery and typography, I'm glad I took a chance on this one. I wanted our wedding invitation to be really special (we have been together a long time and already have a child), and this book helped us achieve that goal. All the bases are covered, so you really understand what all your options are in a simple, non-overload way. This book is like a "master class", and is great for anybody who is interested in printing, stationery or invitations in general.

In West Hope, Massachusetts, Jo, Lily, Sarah, and Elaine formed Second Chances, which successfully hosted a wedding for Jo's mom. The group caters to people marrying for the second time. Single father Andrew Kennedy has joined the team, but hides his day job as a columnist for Buzz magazine from the females especially fearing Jo's reaction as he has fallen in love with her.

Feeling a bit guilty about duping the women and knowing he needs to confess to Jo, Andrew tests the water by informing Elaine. However, before he admits his secret to his beloved, Jo reads Buzz and recognizes that the man who has given her a second chance at believing has lied by omission. Will a distraught Andrew persuade a devastated Jo that she can trust him if she gives him a second chance?

The concurrently published sequel to the delightful middle age women's fiction ONCE UPON A BRIDE, TWICE UPON A WEDDING, will provide the audience with double the fun. The story line concentrates on Elaine's efforts to redo herself into something better and on Andrew's attempts to tell the truth and make it with Jo. Though reading the first book helps as it provides much of the baseline for this tale, contemporary women's fiction readers can enjoy this tale as a fine modern day relationship drama.

Harriet Klausner

If I could use decimals, I would have given this a 3.5.

This is a great book for a bride who has never given a moment's thought to planning a wedding. This book covers the super-duper basics of venue selection, clothing, invitations, pre-wedding parties, etc. If you fall into this category, this book will be very useful starting point and, as such, a good investment.

If, however, you are a bride who has already purchased a few wedding books or are a regular on wedding Web sites, this book will likely repeat a lot of information you have already read, without adding any new insights.

Here are a few notes:

- The section on gown selection is quite good. It has easy-to-understand descriptions and line drawings. (If you ever wondered what the heck a "basque waist" is, you'll find it here.)

- Many of the vendors listed in this book are located in California. This can be helpful to California brides.

- The book is very aesthetically pleasing. (The translucent book jacket is an elegant touch.)

- The information on pre-wedding parties (e.g. showers, engagement parties) is pretty simplistic. If you are planning a pre-wedding event, I would suggest looking elsewhere for information.

- This is geared to a bride who would like to have a *very traditional* wedding. If this is not your style, this book will likely not be helpful to you.

Accessorizing the Bride is one of the most detailed and comprehensive coffee-table books I have ever seen. The author is meticulous in her description of each garment and article. The top-notch photography brings detail to life. This book is a must read for collectors, historians, or anyone interested in the evolution of wedding apparel.

Sentimental,enlightening and gorgeous. I especially liked the non-traditional wedding gowns and bridal stories.

Norma Shephard's book is a beautifully nostalgic tribute to the wedding fashions and trends of generations past and present. It is as delightful as it is informative.

Readers may find it difficult to believe that author Norma Shephard has such a magnificent collection of wedding accessories. And then to see them photographed so beautifully is almost beyond the realm of imagination. But it is true. Most artifacts exhibited in Accessorizing the Bride, Vintage Wedding Finery Through the Decades are part of the Mobile Millinery Museum's Wedding Collection and yes, she did all the photography in her tiny Burlington, Ontario studio.
What makes this coffee table book so fascinating? It may be the detailed pictures of fabrics, styles, hues, beads, sequins and lace. Or it may be the memories and dreams that it ignites as we flip from era to era and maybe for the first time experience what grandmother or greatgran or even her mother may have worn on her wedding day.
If a bride-to-be is lucky enough to view this book before she's selected her gown and accessories, it may help her decide about a veil, train, headpiece, waistline or hemline.
And for the many ladies who donated or loaned gowns to the Mobile Millinery Museum's Wedding Collection, the book takes on a magical quality of pride and appreciation to know that their wedding finery is being admired all around the world.
What Shephard shows she also tells and her apparent wealth of knowledge goes beyond fashion. Between the lines of real-life stories, anecdotes and progression of style, she subtly integrates the social history of women's movements, traditions, issues and advancements.
Collectors, historians, curators and fashion aficionados will devour this tome of information and illustration, but Accessorizing the Bride, Vintage Wedding Finery Through the Decades offers more than that. While many wedding books feature gowns of celebrities, this issue credits everyday women like you and me with the ability to select, design or create that special gown for that very special day.
Whether chosen as a reference or as a keepsake, this is one high quality coffee table book that will be opened over and over for second, third, fourth and more perusals.

I found this book to be fairly basic, and that it really didn't give me many new insights in my life. However, it might be better for other people who are in different situations in their lives, it just wasn't good for me. There are a lot of people out there with very silly ideas about marriage, and this book would set them straight, but offers little else to those of us who already understand the basic principles of a Christian marriage. It did do a good job of establishing some of the characteristics of a good husband and wife, although at times I disagreed with the great importance that was placed on wealth in marriage. The author seems to make the case that gathering wealth is one of the primary reasons to get married, which I would say is false. An OK read, but I would not recommend it too highly.

I work on the night shift for a law firm in downtown L.A. My coworker and I often exchange books. One day "I Do" appeared on my desk. She said she didn't put it there and had found it on her desk and assumed I left it for her. Needless to say I picked up the book during some down time and started reading it. I am currently not in a relationship and it seems the "so-called" relationships I had did not last long. I am a widow and have been married twice before. Living alone and taking care of myself, i.e., very independent, it's hard to let go and let someone else do the driving. My term is "I'm waiting to exhale". Pastor Powell hit on some points when he spoke of men who are are looking for women to take care of them. Where are the men of valor? I totally enjoyed reading this book. I am referring it to my friends, the married ones. I found the help I needed in reading this book - it got me through the night. I am a believer in the Word -- the book of instructions for this life. I loved the way Pastor Powell made living proof of God's words by his illustrations and examples. Believe it or not, some people know very little about how to love. What greater example is there than God's love. Thank you for a job well done. And if I can add one more thing...the reason I am on this website is because I wanted to get a picture of the author, Pastor Stenneth Powell. How about a photo?

I read this book gained a lot regarding relationships and marriage. It's good to read a practicable book coupled with proper exegisis of the Scripture. There is no bias toward male, female, rich, poor, church, nor unchurched. I read the other review and wanted to add how I read the suthor's p.o.v. concerning wealth and marriage. I read that men and women should make it a priority to get their priorities straight both naturally and spiritually - this includes finances. Many people like James Dobson, Jimmy Evans, Joyce Meyer, speak about the things that bring strife in a marriage - lack of money being one of them. I see this author, S.E. Powell as saying to the reader to get yourself together, spiritually, financially, naturally, etc. as much as possible. This will help one experience less trials in a marriage relationship. Well there is so much more in this book than what I've already mentioned. I view the book as a call for people not to live beneath their privelage. It gives knowledge that you will need to review throughout your relationship - and knowledge brings responsibility. So, in a nutshell....I recommend this book to all.

Reviewed by Lori Plach for Reader Views (5/08)

With the soaring gas prices of 2008, perhaps you need another option for a vacation this year. Through the pages of "Mississippi Weddings" you can travel to Magnolia Bay, Mississippi. You will soon fall in love with the small town, its residents, hospitality and charm.

You can meet one of the newest business owners who returned to her hometown to open up a second Color store. She started the business in Dallas but has returned to Magnolia Bay to help the city's failing economy and bring new life to it. She has a man in Dallas who wants to marry her but she isn't sure about marrying him because he was not her first love. When returning to Magnolia Bay, she reunites with Nick Chambers. Will her coming back home be a chance for the two of them to get back together and realize that they are meant to be together?

Ronni Melrose is brokenhearted. Her husband has died but his memory lives on. She remembers the good times she had with him but he has left a mess of finances. Ronni moves into Melrose Manor with her mother-in-law Claudia. Cole Barton is a nephew to Claudia but is more like a son to him. He wants to straighten out the financial mess that Claudia is found in. Would opening up a business in Magnolia Bay help the city's economy as well as be an answer to Claudia's problems?

While visiting Magnolia Bay through the pages of "Mississippi Weddings," you don't have to worry about the weather but the weather forecast is first and foremost in Dani's life. She is now the woman in charge of the city. There is a hurricane brewing in the ocean and it looks certain that Magnolia Bay is in for a direct hit. Thad was rejected by Meagan Chambers but he now has his sights set on Dani. She is afraid of getting into any relationship. Can Thad break down her resistance to him and make her see that they should be more than friends? Perhaps that hurricane is just what will sweep these two people into a relationship with lasting effects.

You don't have to rely on sunny weather and buy any new clothes to go on vacation; in "Mississippi Weddings," you can visit Magnolia Bay today!