Wedding Planning For Dummies Book

	Introduction	1
	About This Book	1
	Conventions Used in This Book	2
	Foolish Assumptions	2
	How This Book Is Organized	3
	Icons Used in This Book	5
	Where to Go from Here	6
Part I	The Glass Slipper Fits - Now What?	7
Chapter 1	First Things First	9
	The "Ize" Have It	9
	Working with a Wedding Planner	18
Chapter 2	Avoiding Those Wedding-Bill Blues	21
	Love Is a Money-Spender Thing	22
	Start Spreadsheeting the News	22
	Controlling Costs	26
	Comprehending Contracts	27
	Take a Tip: Calculating Gratuities	30
	Bargain Hunting Online	33
Chapter 3	Making It All Legal	35
	License to Thrive	35
	Drawing Up a Pre-nup	37
	Playing the Name Game	38
	Alerting the Media	40
	Unplanning a Wedding	43
Part II	Be Our Guest	45
Chapter 4	Space: The First Frontier	47
	Looking for Love in All the Right Places	47
	Do You Need More Than One Space?	51
	Taking a Space Walk	52
	When There's No Place Like Home	55
	Planning a Destination Wedding	59
Chapter 5	By Invitation Only	63
	Preliminary Planning	63
	Formalities First	65
	How Else Can We Put This?	75
	Rehearsal Dinner Invitations	80
	Extracurricular Events	81
	Typefaces and Other Technicalities	82
	Addressing Traditions	86
	Creating Your Own Invitations	90
	It's a Mail Thing	92
Chapter 6	The Weekend Wedding	95
	A Typical Timeline	95
	Asking Guests to Save the Weekend	97
	Telling Guests What They Need to Know	99
	Winning Welcomes	103
Chapter 7	Creating a Foolproof Wedding-Day Schedule	105
	Putting Everyone on the Same Page	105
	Creating the Master Schedule	108
	Receiving-Line Logistics	112
Chapter 8	Other Creative Celebrations	115
	To Leap, Perchance to Theme	115
	Happy and Gay and Getting Married	118
	Strategizing a Military Wedding	121
	Surprising Your Spouse-to-Be	122
	Private Ceremony, Public Party	123
	Giving Marriage Another Try	123
	Say It Again: Renewing Your Vows	124
	Partying Before and After the Wedding	125
Part III	Ceremony Survival Guide	133
Chapter 9	Attending to Your Attendants	135
	Choosing Your Entourage	135
	Next Stop: Wardrobe	138
	Showing Your Appreciation	149
Chapter 10	Sensational Ceremonies	151
	Evaluating Prospective Officiants	151
	Getting Married in a House of Worship	153
	Deciding the Order of Events	153
	Religious Rites and Rules	155
	All Together, Vow!	172
	Places, Everyone - Time to Rehearse	175
	Getting with the Program	178
Chapter 11	Flower Power	187
	Finding a Fab Florist	187
	Scent-sational Ceremonies	188
	Redolent Receptions	196
	Making Alternative Arrangements	199
	Keeping the Bloom On	200
Chapter 12	Music to Get Married By	201
	They're Playing Our Song	201
	Choosing Ceremony Musicians	208
Part IV	A Rousing Reception	209
Chapter 13	Get Up and Dance	211
	Setting the Tone	211
	Booking the Band	216
	Spinning with a DJ	222
Chapter 14	What's on the Menu?	225
	Finding and Working with the Perfect Caterer	225
	The Beauty of the Feast	229
	Making Menus Memorable	234
	When Dinner Is Not Served	237
Chapter 15	Let's Drink to That	243
	Tending Bar	243
	Avoiding Traffic Jams	252
	Bar Aesthetics: Set Up and Take Notice	253
	Specialty Bars: Blithe Spirits	254
	Selecting Wine, Beer, and Champagne	256
	A Few Words about Toasts	259
Chapter 16	A Piece of Cake	261
	Baking Away	261
	Two Hearts, Two Cakes	266
	Cake on Display: No Drolling, Please	267
	Cutting the Cake	268
Chapter 17	Setting the Stage	271
	What to Contemplate Before You Decorate	271
	Choosing a Wedding Designer	274
	What's in a Room?	275
	An In-Tents Experience	292
	Doing Your Guests a Favor	293
Part V	Gifts, Garb, Pics, and Trips	295
Chapter 18	Greed Expectations and Registry Realities	297
	Retail Details	298
	Beyond Department Stores	299
	Surfing for Gifts	301
	Hinting and Hoping	301
	What We Really Want? Well, It Rhymes with Honey	302
	Keeping Track	303
	Giving Thanks	304
	Problem Presents	307
Chapter 19	And the Bride Wore	309
	Sizing Up Your Style	309
	Getting the Goods	319
	Underneath It All	324
	No Mean Feet	325
	Heads Up	327
	From Hair to Eternity	330
	Making Your Face Wedding-Proof	331
	Finishing Touches	333
	Getting into the Gown	335
	Caring for Your Gown after the Party	336
Chapter 20	Rings That Rock	339
	Evaluating a Diamond	339
	If Diamonds Aren't Your Best Friend	343
	Setting Pretty	345
	Metal Matters	346
	Don't Leave Out the Groom	347
	Finding the Right Ring	347
Chapter 21	For Posterity: Photos and Videos	351
	Getting Focused	351
	Take Your Pic	352
	Videotaping Your Day	365
	Safekeeping the Past for the Future	368
Chapter 22	Handling the Honeymoon	369
	Determining Your Honeymoon Style	369
	Researching Destinations Online	372
	Working with a Travel Agent	373
	Making Your Money Travel Farther	374
	Hitting the Road (Or Sky): Tips Before You Travel	376
	Going Abroad	377
Part VI	The Part of Tens	379
Chapter 23	Ten Tacky Temptations We Beg You to Resist	381
	Indulging in Prewedding Debauchery	381
	Broadcasting Your Registry	382
	Banking the Booty	382
	Playing Musical Chairs	382
	Bad-Mouthing In-Laws-to-Be	382
	Turning Guests into Photographers	383
	Making Yours the Longest Day	383
	Knocking Others' Weddings	383
	Having an "Adult" Garter Grab	383
	Forgetting that Those You've Invited Are Guests	384
Chapter 24	Ten Tricks for Saving Money	385
	Cut the Guest List	385
	Remember the Old Wedding Adage: To Save a Cent, Rent, Rent, Rent!	385
	Let's Not Do Lunch (Or Dinner)	386
	Avoid Overtime	386
	Limit the Liquor	386
	Dress for Less	387
	Skip the Fancy Details	387
	Orchestra in a Box	387
	Do Easy Things Yourself	388
	Get Married Off-Peak	388
	Index	389