Chicken Soup for the Bride's Soul: Stories of Love, Laughter and Commitment to Last a Lifetime Book

Foreword Beverly Clark xv

Introduction xvii

1 The Meaning of Marriage

Twenty-Six Years-An Unfolding Romance Kris Hamm Ross 2

My Love Is Like a Red, Red Marker Carrie St. Michel 6

A Second Chance Ariana Adams 8

Roses Not Required Rachel Wallace-Oberle 11

A Change of Heart Denise Jacoby 13

Dancing in the Aisles Amanda Krug 16

The Porsche Factor Mitali Perkins 19

2 Proposals

Treasure Hunt Steve Manchester 25

The Last Quarter Ward Nickless 31

The Changing Tide Michelle Marullo 35

Until Death… Barbara Loftus Boswell 37

Storybook Proposal Matthew Cummings 40

Love Is in the Air Lynette Baker Helms 44

Hidden Treasures Michelle Isenhour 46

A Trail of Love Shad Purcell 48

Taking Care of Business Leigh P. Rogers 50

Popping the Question Elizabeth L Blair 53

A Friend, Indeed! Sylvia Suriano 56

Never Say Never Sally Kelly-Engeman 60

3 The Perfect Dress

She Did It Her Way Julie Firman 67

Priceless Nora E. Kessel 70

Given the Green Light Jeanne Hill 73

Holding It All Together Adele Noetzelman 76

Tagged for Delivery Pat Phillips 78

The Blessed Dress Sandy Williams Driver 81

Keepin' the Faith Greta Montgomery 84

4 The Big Day

A Snow Cloud's Silver Lining Annmarie B. Tait 89

Kiss and Tell Theresa Chan 93

A Bouquet to Remember Cindy L. Lassalle 96

Flower Princess Nicole Owens 99

What Could My Country Do for Me? Carlienne A Frisch 103

Dismally Late Jeanne Hill 106

My Love Is Like a Mountain Eileen Chase 108

At Ease Carol McAdoo Rehme 112

Should We or Shouldn't We? Raegan Holloway 113

He Completed Us Michelle Lawson 116

Coming Full Circle Denise N. Wheatley 119

Built on Love Miriam Hill 122

Raining Love Kelly Stevens-Hartley 127

5 Who Giveth?

A Tale of Two Fathers Kimberly Ripley 130

The Best One Michelle Marullo 133

The Unconditional Step Donald R Novakovich 136

Bedtime Fears Charlotte Lanham 139

Going Home Liza G. Maakestad 141

Angie's Wedding Day Judith Givens 144

The Music Played On Nancy B. Gibbs 149

This Is Our Dance Amanda Parise-Peterson 152

The Unlikely Best Man Jenn Dlugos 156

Given Away Renata Waldrop 159

6 For Better or for Worse

That's Entertainment! Maryellen Heller 165

Of Blue Jeans and Buttons Maria Nickless 169

House to Home Mike Zeballos 173

Princess Bride Veneta Leonard 177

Te Amo, Te Quiero, Carina Patrick Mendoza 181

In the End Barbara M. Johnson 183

A Second Chance at Remembering Becky Knutson Jeannie Kim 186

What Matters Most Shonna Milliken Humphrey 191

Old Love Turned Brand-New Vicki Frizzell Janet Matthews 194

Got Match? C. Capiz Greene 198

7 Treasured Moments

A Bridesmaid's View from the Altar Kathy Passero 202

At the Ritz Cathy L. Novakovich 206

Chain of Love Kathleen Happ 210

Through the Beholder's Eyes Keith A Wooden 214

Arm-in-Arm Michele Wallace Campanelli 218

Sisterly Love Ann Cooke 221

Heart of Friendship Michele Wallace Campanelli 223

Guest of Honor Cindy L. Lassalle 227

The Look Patty Swyden Sullivan 229

Stepping In Penny Perrone 232

Joan's Bouquet Julie Messbarger Charlotte Adelsperger 235

Pennies from Heaven Holly Jensen Hughes 238

Silverware and Sauces Carol Mell 241

Budding Hope Elaine G. Dumler 244

Grandpa's Gift Nicolle Woodward 248

Oh, What a Catch! Kaylen Pierce 252

8 Keepsakes

The Ring of Love Ginger Boda 257

Kitchen Cache Lucy Akard Seay 261

A Tradition in the Waiting Lorraine Cheeka 263

Golden Slippers Charlotte Lanham 266

The Wedding Gift Carol Sturgulewski 269

Keeping the Tradition Dr. Denise Enete 271

Showered with Love Lisa Solomon 273

9 Welcome to the Family

Our First Meeting David R Wilkins 278

Ode to My Mother-in-Law V. J. Coulman 281

Final Approval Lad Moore 284

Just Like Hazel T. Suzanne Eller 288

All in the Family Marie S. Lyle 290

My Big, Fat Pig Wedding Debra Purdy Kong 294

What's So Funny? Peggy Purser Freeman 298

10 Timeless Wisdom

His 'n' Hers Gwen Rockwood 302

The First Freeze Paige M. Kolb 306

Dot-to-Dot Pamela Doerksen 309

Advice from the Groom's Dad Gary Lautens 311

Time for a Tune-Up Caroline Pignat 314

Someday My Prince Will-Bring Coffee Deborah Thomas 318

A Husband for June Cleaver Carla Riehl 320

Small Beds, Soft Hearts Norris Burkes 325

Until Death Do Us Part Kelly Gamble 327

The Trophy Daphne Dykeman 329

Love Everlasting Annette Paxman Bowen 331

Who Is Jack Canfield? 335

Who Is Mark Victor Hansen? 336

Who Is Maria Nickless? 337

Who Is Gina Romanello? 338

Contributors 339

Permissions 351