Customer Reviews

The Bride Did What?!: Etiquette for the Wedding Impaired

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The purpose of this book doesn't seem to be to give helpful hints to make guests feel more at ease, which I thought was the whole point of etiquette, it seems to be to ridicule and belittle anyone whos taste isn 't the same as the author. Apparently it's OK to have your mother as your maid of honor, but heaven forbid anyone wear a tuxedo to a 4 PM wedding.
And apparently "The Way you look tonight" (my wedding song) is so bad that it made the list of tacky songs "actually played at real weddings".
Obviously the author is from the south and traditions are a bit differnt down there, but that doesn't mean her opinions are the be all end all of weddings.
Some of the things she calls tacky (like the tuxedo thing, the songs, a cash bar, asking your guests whether they want roast beef or chicken ahead of time, having a wedding later after eloping for monetary reasons earlier [I'm sorry, but not everyone can afford a nice wedding at first, and a woman needn't be denied this once she can afford it, even if it's five years later, thanks to books like this and other media we women dream of our weddings our entire lives], or specifying adults for the recpetion (who can pay an extra $50 for unexpected kids?]), are sometimes necissary depending on individual family situations.
Etiquette is supposed to be about making people feel comfortable, and all the author does throughout the book is ridicule brides in tough situations, giving them little advice besides "tough luck". Etiquette be damned then I say. The feelings of your family and enjoying your own wedding without fussing over every little detail is far more important than fitting into some rich Southern Belle's idea of what a wedding should be. This book is good for nothing more than to see how ridicous these "etiquette books really are. If you want a good wedding book, try "How to have the wedding you want (not the one everyone else wants you to have". Contrary ro Ms. Woodham's advice it IS "your day" and that doens't mean it has to be perfect or that you can't make acceptions to accomodate others, but you shouldn't add anymore stress to your day trying to please everyone, because we all know what happens when we try to do that.

Am planning my own wedding, and was relieved to know that 98 percent of my wedding will not be "tacky" (or tasteless). Some of these stories are an absolute hoot, others are a little disturbing (mother of the bride hounding groomsmen for presents), but it was a fun read, for the most part. Wasn't it Dorothy Parker who said, "If you can't say something nice, sit next to me"? Still, I think the author sometimes comes down a little too heavily on some of the "etiquette impaired". I think they are to be pitied more than chastised. And frankly, the practicality of response cards is too good to pass up, so etiquette be darned on this refrain in the book, in my gauche opinion. But she does say a lot of things others at weddings wish would be said. And I really appreciate her pointing out how tasteless it is for guests to make snide comments about the wedding and reception while the ceremony is taking place or they're stuffing their mouths with food paid for by the happy couple and/or their parents. Come to think of it, maybe I'll elope.

Ms. Woodham has taken the stuffiness out of what's "proper" to explain *why* something is proper - or tacky. With an economy of words and a marvelous wit, Ms. Woodham's do's and don'ts are beautifully laid out in this slim volume. With expert advice for the completely-in-the-dark bride to the multi-married bride, ANY bride is sure to avoid embarrassing gaffes if they will read this little gem.

So when your friend says "Guess what... I'm getting married!", order this book. Not only will it relieve some pre-wedding stress, but it will be an absolute godsend for which she will owe you eternal thanks (on proper stationery, please).

I was given this book as a gift and read it in two sittings (its a quick read). While I like the "snippet" style of writing, I found the book annoying. Many of the etiquette topics were repeated not once, but two or three times (i.e. how to approach the "no kids" policy and gift registry manners) which left me wishing for a wider breadth of issues to review and/or wacky wedding stories to read.

As a graphic designer I pay attention to the layout and typesetting more than others, but I found the many different type treatments of the blurbs confusing. I also felt the design was a bit dated.

I do give the author E for effort, though.

This was a well thought out approach with excellent advice. Weddings have gotten absolutely too tacky (a good Southern term) for words. Follow the advice given in this book, and you will end up with a truly great wedding and wedding experience - full of wonderful memories of things WELL DONE!!!

Martha Woodham's The Bride Did What! :Etiquette for the Wedding Impaired dispenses vital advice for brides to be in a charming, funny way. The book was written in a breezy style that complimented Ms. Woodham's wise and helpful words for brides. I laughed out loud as I read this book and was reminded of comments my grandmother and aunts always made about the outrageous brides whose antics so amused them. This book would make a great gift for all those brides to be out there.

This book was a sheer delight! I enjoyed reading every line. I laughed until I cried at the words and pictures.... Any young woman who is planning a wedding should read this book! Ms. Woodham is an accomplished writer and I wait with excitement for her next release!

Believe it or not, this was the most valuable guide I had when planning my wedding 3 years ago. Through the use of hysterical anecdotes, this book doesn't tell you what to do, but more what NOT to do. Ever. If you're looking for some comic relief from pre-wedding stress and weren't sure if it's appropriate to charge admission to your reception, this is the book for you. I guarantee that "Bridezilla" will become part of your permanent wedding vocabulary.

This book has very inappropriate suggestions. It is very judgemental. For instance it lists things that are common at weddings like Cakes that have fountains in them as "Tacky". There are many things in this book I didn't agree with and many things this book suggested should never be in a weding, I have often seen at wonderful weddings. I took this book right back to the store I bought it from.

A fantastic book of wedding etiquette for Yankees and people in general above the Mason Dixon Line. The greatest capsulation of Southern-style and etiquette has found form in Ms. Woodham's prose. Bravo! I highly recommend this charming, delightful book to Yankees around the world and Southerner's who grew up with Yankees for Parents.