How to Have the Wedding You Want (Not the One Everybody Else Wants You to Have) [Paperback]

Danielle Claro (Author)

Book Description

Series: Not the One Everybody Else Wants You to Have | Publication Date: February 1, 1995

Enabling prospective brides to plan and enjoy creative weddings within the constraints of a tight budget, a guide tailored for today's needs offers help with family expectations and disputes, clergy conflicts, and overall stress.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA?Whether looking over a big sister's shoulder, wondering about being a member of a bridal party, or looking forward to their own celebration, teens curious about weddings will get an inside look at some of the dilemmas involved and decisions made by people planning the big event.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

What's the beleaguered bride to do when everyone from Aunt Betsy to an obnoxious caterer tries to commandeer her wedding plans? She appoints her groom and herself the absolute authorities, and Claro shows how. Her book answers the questions she posed to hundreds of newlyweds: What do you wish you had done differently? The replies offer a potpourri of savvy advice, including who pays for what, who sits with whom, and who writes the vows. Claro covers everything the traditional to the offbeat bride needs to custom-design her wedding. Want to learn how to register for camping gear, hold the reception in a firehouse, buy a wedding dress off the rack, get unique deals on flowers, food, and photos? It's here. There are even pointed questions to ask each expert before signing any contracts. When all the planning is done, they can find hints on how to relax and deputize an assertive friend to make sure all runs smoothly on "the" day while they're busy enjoying themselves. Patricia Hassler

Product Details

• Paperback: 261 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade; First Edition edition (February 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425145786
• ISBN-13: 978-0425145784
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,123,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Way better than expected., February 8, 2000

By 

"sarah_elizabeth" - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Have the Wedding You Want (Not the One Everybody Else Wants You to Have) (Paperback)

I was surprised at how helpful this book was. After reading half a million books provided by loving friends and family, I expected the usual: how to arrange a guest list, tell people kids aren't invited, yadda yadda yadda.

However, like a breath of fresh air, this book was a pragmatic look at the emotional dilemmas of being a bride. It discusses the way to compromise and the way to assert yourself with regard to specific aspects of wedding planning, as well as giving tips for combatting tactless but well-meaning family members.

I think that many wedding books have more than covered how to outline the duties of attendants, but this book spends time on the *feelings*, which can start to get steamrolled when you are going through the drama of planning a party for 200 of your nearest & dearest. However, I credit the book with being pragmatic and rational, because it makes for a soothing read, like bridal meditation.

Definitely worth perusing for stressed out brides with wacky families -- like myself.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't get married without reading this one!, November 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Have the Wedding You Want (Not the One Everybody Else Wants You to Have) (Paperback)

When I was married, my mother was on chemotherapy and I had a hostile mother-in-law-to-be; hence, I had little support and a great deal of stress. By following Ms. Claro's advise, I had a beautiful wedding and enjoyed every moment!

Ms. Claro not only advises to get word-of-mouth referrals, she reminds us that those with our taste in other areas are most likely to recommend the most compatible vendors. More importantly, Ms. Claro's discussion of the mother-in-law problem was the sole voice assuring me that it was not in my head.

The best feature of the book is that Ms. Claro does not feel that her's is the only way. She discusses her inexpensive reception but proceeds to advise those with a larger budget to maximize their spending power. There are also handy suggestions on dealing with apathetic bridesmaids(dump them), rude vendors (walk away) and wedding cakes (if it's tasty, it works!). If I had Ms. Claro's address, I'd send her flowers, but I'll have to settle for recommending this book to everyone I know.

Skip the "Save Money on Your Wedding" books. This is all you need.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars *THE* most useful, realistic wedding book I've read, December 11, 1999

By 

Caroline Seydel (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Have the Wedding You Want (Not the One Everybody Else Wants You to Have) (Paperback)

Want a tiny, intimate gathering of friends and family in the county park? Prefer an all-night-long extravaganza with everyone you know? Whatever you want (or think you want), Danielle Claro has interviewed someone who did it that way. Learn from other brides - and grooms - and avoid their wedding nightmares, or duplicate their wedding successes.

Claro shuns the formula of most "bridal guides" by giving brides AND grooms a voice in this book. The strength of the book is the anecdotes, and they are plentiful. I was rolling with laughter, both before and after the wedding. Whatever your style, it's ok with Claro. If you want to avoid all the wedding cliches, she's got you covered. But what if you really do want to be Cinderella for a day? That's ok too. She's on your side, because it's *your* wedding. (No, really - she means it.)

Beyond entertaining, this book actually has useful guidelines (not just cliches) for dealing with rude vendors, overbearing parents or parents-in-law-to-be, and spineless boyfriends. Her second-person voice makes the book feel like a chat with a good friend, rather than a session with a wedding coordinator (especially when she starts telling you about her own wedding). Practical and down-to-earth, this book is indispensible.