The Big White Book of Weddings: A How-to Guide for the Savvy, Stylish Bride Book

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction: The "Other" Man in Your Life 1

1 Getting Started 101: The Planning Process: Think, Organize, Do (And Don't!) 7

Think About It: Brainstorming

Get Your Priorities Straight: ABCs of Organizing

Do Your Homework: Researching Before Acting

2 That Costs How Much?, or My Dad so won't Pay That: The Bride's Guide to Savvy Spending and Budgeting 15

Create Your Budget Before You Spend a Dime

What to Expect (and Questions to Ask When Researching Costs)

Budgeting with Vendors

The Stress-free Bride-to-Be

3 Scene-Setting for Your Wedding 41

The Perfect Date: Choosing When Your Wedding Will Take Place

That Special Time of Year: Holiday Weddings

In a Faraway Land: Destination Weddings

Location, Location, Location: Selecting a Ceremony and Reception Venue

4 Perfectly Polished: Etiquette for the Elegant 67

I'm Smiling Because I Have to Right Now: Being a Bride Who Is Nice and Considerate to All

Your A-List: Creating Your Guest List

Get the Party Started!: Choosing Your Bridal Party

Playing the Part: The Role of the Bride and Groom

Being well Received at Your Reception

Oh, You Shouldn't Have!: Registry and Gifts

From me to You: When to Gift Guests

Your Supporting Cast: Attendant Gifts

5 You're Invited!: Invites And Printed Materials 85

Creating a Buzz: Save the Dates

You are Cordially Invited: Invitations

What Do We Do Now?: Itineraries

The Run of Show: Programs

Places, Everyone!: Escort Cards and Place Cards

What's Cooking?: Menu Cards

The Paper Trail: Accents and More

Much Obliged: Thank-YouNotes

6 Fashion Forward 113

The Aisle Is Your Runway

Making Your Debut: Your Bridal Gown!

Amorous Additions: Accessories

Fashion for Your Bridal Party

Ready for My Close-up: Hair and Makeup

Men of the Hour: Groom and Groomsmen

"Everlasting" Love: Wedding Gown Preservation

7 Strike Up the Band: Entertainment! 139

Ceremony Serenades

Cocktail and Reception Music

And the Band Played On!: Hiring a Band

Spin My Song: Hiring a DJ

A Sweet Duet: DJs with Accompaniment

Showstoppers: Hiring Performers

Going Out with a Bang: Wedding Fireworks

8 Lights, Camera, Action!: Photography And Videography 159

Your Personal Paparazzi: Hiring a Photographer

Roll the Cameras!: Hiring a Videographer

9 Ordinary to Extraordinary: Your Wedding Decor 171

Designing Your Dream: Contracting a Design Vendor

What's Your Bridal Style?

Stop and Smell the Roses: Floral Decor

Decor the Halls

My People Will Call Your People: Contacting Rental Vendors

Let There Be Lighting!

10 Eat, Drink, and Be Married!: Food And Beverage 206

Creatively Incorporating Food and Festivity

Bottoms Up!: Cocktail Hour

Dinner Is Served: Dinner Receptions

A Taste of Things to Come: Menu Planning and Tastings

Playing with Your Food: Food as Entertainment

Let Them Eat Cake!: Faultlessly Finding Your Future ConFection

11 Get Me to the Church on Time!: Timelines and Logistics 226

In Due Time

Down to the Minute!: Three Schedule Scenarios

When Time Is on Your Side: Lapses Between Ceremony and Reception

Point A to Point B: Transportation

Don't Do the Pink Stretch Lima: Transporting Yourself to Your Wedding

Which Way Do We Go?: Directions for Guests

There and Back: Transporting Your Bridal Party and/or Guests

The Driving Force: Valet

Checking It Twice

12 The Main Event: Ceremony and Reception 246

Places, Everyone!

Greeting and Seating

Here Comes the Bride: Processional

Mastering Ceremony

Do You Take This Man?: Vows

Make It Official: Hiring an Officiant

There Goes the Bride: Recessional

To Give Is to Receive: Receiving Lines

Celebrate Good Times: Your Cocktails and Reception

And Now . . . the Announcement of the Bridal Party

May I Have This Dance?: Special Dances

Cheers!: Toasts Given on Your Special Day

Let the Games Begin!: Cake, Garter, Bouquet

Favorite Favors

Closing: Happily-Ever-After-The-Wedding's-Over 274

Index 277