The title of this book is somewhat misleading. While there is an extravagant wedding showcased at Disney World in the first chapter (the first ever held there), most of the other nine weddings held around the country had different themes and only the slightest cursory reference to Disney characters ("we thought, `she's a modern-day Pocahontas who has met her John Smith!'"). Make no mistake, this book is all-out David Tutera, named "best celebrity wedding planner," not Disney.
Fans of Tutera's TV show "My Fair Wedding" will have a fairly good idea of what the book is about. Ten weddings are highlighted, from how the bride and groom met to how everything came together. Music selections, invitations, color schemes and menu selections are included, as well as details on what the bride and bridesmaids wore and the unique flower bouquets for each one. Especially surprising, Kirstie Kelly's gorgeous gowns, based on Disney princess characters, which far from looking cartoonish are elegant with old-world details and materials unlike those normally sold at retail. Kudos as well for the beautiful candlelit photography and the countless ideas inside, including how to pick a theme, party favors, recipes for specialty drinks, and even seemingly mundane but necessary information on things such as permits and logistics if you're renting a tent.
The only downside of the book (and thus the four-star rating) is that most of the weddings are so extravagant, their budget is likely in the six-figure range. Nonetheless, it's worth a look if only to get up-to-the minute ideas:
*A dream wedding at Disney with the royal treatment, including a horse-drawn carriage, gold, flowers and crystal galore, all under a clear tent with the backdrop of Cinderella's castle. Unique touches like fireworks, parchment invites, rich orange and gold hues, even a majordomo in a tri-cornered hat reading off the names of each guest as they entered. Venue selection is the main topic in this chapter.
* An Asian inspired wedding - an ornate mix of western and oriental traditions create a setting fit for an Emperor at NYC's hip Buddakan restaurant. Black, deep reds and purples, gold touches, bamboo and lots of candlelight set the stage, while the stunning red bridesmaid's mermaid dresses from the Kirstie Kelly Snow White collection (almost) outshine the bride's simple A-line duchess gown. A four-tiered cake shaped like a Chinese pagoda tops off a fabulous Asian-inspired menu. Especially interesting, this chapter's tips on printed materials, including invitations, menu cards, and programs.
* An Indian dream wedding - an elaborate wedding for six hundred guests held over two days, first at the family home in an elaborate tent and then in the National Building Museum in Washington DC. Highlights include unique invitations sent in velvet envelopes, exotic foods served in a market-like setting, astounding use of brilliant colors with orange, peach, violet, pale yellow and green, abundant use of lanterns, and Indian elements throughout. More down-to-earth advice includes tips on selecting disc jockeys and live music. Missing, pictures of the beautiful bride (we only get a glimpse), who must not have given permission to be photographed.
* A country dream wedding - probably one of the simplest but most intimate of weddings in this book, it is set in a barn in rural Pennsylvania. Old-world richness is captured with lace, heirlooms, and eclectic touches such as vintage upholstered chairs, mixed glassware and antique silver. The bride's lace dress and her bridemaids' stunning tea-colored lace dresses are from the Kirstie Kelly Bridal Belle collection. Highlighted in this chapter: wedding favors, receiving line etiquette and wedding bouquets.
* A traditional themed wedding - held at mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach Florida. The renaissance inspired ballroom with crystal chandeliers is tastefully decorated with flowers, candle votives, champagne linens, sheer overlays and silver. It's simple yet elegant affair. Topics in this chapter: the cocktail hour and choosing a dinner menu.
* A garden dream wedding - held at a Connecticut estate. A beautiful lake and simple tent with arched windows is the backdrop for an Italian celebration that focuses on food, wine and plenty of "dolce vida." Wedding timelines are explained in this chapter (for traditional, cocktail party and dinner party style) as well as six types of food-service styles (buffet, family style, plated meals, etc).
* A Vintage Hollywood Dream Wedding - held at Disneyland's Rose Garden. The black and pink color scheme, black bridesmaid's dresses, dramatic makeup, big band and swing music, somehow all worked to give a 1940's feel to the wedding. Photography is highlighted in this chapter.
Regretfully, several of the weddings in the book include white tented, multi-colored venues which hide large tents and hotel ballrooms. Innovative at first, these now seem so commonplace they're hardly the stuff dreams are made of, even if they can be one of the most expensive choices. These include:
* a sparkle dream wedding - an overly pink-themed wedding with an abundance of fake diamonds and white and pink flowers (poor groom), held at the historic Philadelphia Park Hyatt, any trace of which is eliminated. Topics covered: table décor, lighting and wedding cakes.
* A beach dream wedding - a sunset beach ceremony where the turquoise ocean is un-explicably covered by a backdrop of sheer white flags; the ceremony is followed by an hour-long ride on shuttles back to Disney's Gran Floridian Resort to a sadly generic, white-tented, blue themed wedding. Topics include: tips on destination weddings and beach celebrations. Not exactly what I expected but a heads up to anyone picking this option for a Disney wedding.
* A modern wedding - more sheer white fabric and special lighting, with a sunken dance floor and two-tiered stage for the band. Building this huge structure at the bride's family home probably cost a fortune but the overall effect was very ho-hum - it could have been anywhere. The menu, however, was inspired - including a selection of miniature desserts - as well as great advice on transportation (they used trolley cars) and on rental companies.
In all, the book is a great resource for brides looking for great ideas on planning their wedding, even if not all weddings were the stuff Disney dreams are made of.
