The Perfect Wedding [Hardcover]

Maria McBride (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 20, 1996

Congratulations on your engagement. And welcome to the world of a thousand questions.

Can I wear a very formal gown at my daytime wedding?

Do the bridesmaids' dresses have to be the same?

When should I send out the wedding invitations?

What services are included in a hotel wedding?

How do I know how much Champagne to order?

The answers to all these questions, as well as to the countless choices and details ahead, are yours for the asking in The Perfect Wedding. Whatever type of celebration you're dreaming of, bridal expert Maria McBride-Mellinger can help make it a reality, tailored to your tastes, your temperament, and your budget. A comprehensive, knowledgeable text, illustrated throughout with beautiful color photographs, offers advice and creative ideas every step of the way:

Your Engagement: choosing a fine diamond with confidence; where to get customized wedding bands.

Planning: making decisions calmly, and in the right order; how and where to register for bridal gifts.

Fashion: designing your own bouquet; finding the best flowers of the season.

The Ceremony: decorating church or temple; choosing a musical program.

The Reception: planning an affordable caviar-and Champagne party; enjoying your own wedding.

In a unique feature of The Perfect Wedding, Ms. McBride-Mellinger shares her retail and service sources as well. The most extensive listings ever published of the best bridal talent in the country, both regional and national -- the author's own "insider Rolodex" -- connect you quickly and easily with exactly the right people to help you create you own Perfect Wedding. No bride-to-be could wish for a better gift.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Wedding planners are a perennial for public libraries, which should buy new ones periodically to keep up with current trends. Two of these three would be good choices if your copy of Martha Stewart's Weddings (Crown, 1987) is wearing out. Both Weddings and The Perfect Wedding present the requisite gorgeous photos, planning timetable, and suggestions for choosing and working with florists, caterers, and the rest of the myriad support services these events entail. McBride-Mellinger (The Wedding Dress, Random, 1993) takes a slightly more traditional stance, while Clark (Wedding Memories, Wilshire, 1990) shows what can be done with Western, nautical, Victorian, or Renaissance themes, in addition to the more traditional weddings. McBride-Mellinger's book is somewhat easier to use for actual planning, while Clark's is more of a wishbook for style. McBride-Mellinger's resource directory is particularly well done. Costa, who has written for Redbook and Working Woman, looks at the traditional weddings of China, Japan, and Korea and also offers suggestions for blending these customs with Occidental styles. Menus and recipes are included, along with an excellent resource list for supplies and for further information. All three titles will be useful to public libraries, and Costa's is very highly recommended for those serving Asian American populations.?Susan B. Hagloch, Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, Ohio
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Maria McBride is internationally recognized as a wedding style guru. She produces special events and her work appears in Brides magazine where she is currently the Wedding Style Director. Additionally, she has written columns for InStyle and Country Home, and her work has been featured on Brides.com, TheKnot.com, BizBash.com, WeddingChannel.com, and on her own site, MariaMcBride.com. McBride has also been a featured guest on the Today show and Movie & A Makeover. She is the author of the series of books, The Perfect Wedding, The Perfect Wedding Reception, and The Perfect Wedding Details.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harper (November 20, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062586637
• ISBN-13: 978-0062586636
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,220,343 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lovely to look at while dreaming of your wedding, but..., July 26, 2000

By 

"eguisheim" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Perfect Wedding (Hardcover)

If you recently became engaged and delicate visions of blossoms, lace and bubbling champagne are as yet unhindered by the actual planning process, then this would be a very nice idea book for you. It would be a much appreciated gift for a newly engaged friend.

I consider it a beautifully bound magazine without the annoying ads and pull-out tabs. The advice given on flowers, caterers and musicians is not much more substantial than what you'd find on the newstand, but the difference lies in the quality of the photographs.

The photographs are truly stunning - each are infused with incredible light. The most useful, I found to be those of flower arrangements. This can be used as a partial reference when going to the florist. I also enjoyed some of the decorating ideas for table settings. But remember, it's not extensive. As mentioned by another reviewer, the resource section might not list vendors in your area, and there are no website addresses.

If you want an equally, if not more eye-catching bridal volume with more detailed advice, try The Best of Martha Stewart Living : Weddings.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful But Not Very Useful, June 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Perfect Wedding (Hardcover)

Maybe I bought this book too late in the planning process, but I just didn't find it very useful. Yes, it had beautiful photos, but nothing that I could really relate to -- the weddings pictured in the book are definitely way high-end! And while the photos were very beautiful (I especially loved the foam-board chuppa that looked like a piece of scenery from an operetta!), there was precious little nitty-gritty "how to" content. Also, I felt pretty cheated that the entire second half of the book is nothing but a listing of vendors, most of whom are (a) not in my area and (b) VERY expensive. Basically, this big fat expensive wedding book is really only HALF a beautiful picture book, and half a pretty useless phone directory! So buy it for the photos if you like, but be warned it's not much of a bargain.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Lots of pictures, no how-to, July 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Perfect Wedding (Hardcover)

I was very disappointed with this book. Yes, the pictures are beautiful to look at, but the author does not show how to create the looks yourself. Instead, after every vague idea she lists, the book directs you to contact your wedding planner, florist, caterer, highly-paid local artist, etc. Personally, I prefer Martha Stewart because she gives directions and templates that allow you to create the beautiful things YOURSELF, without having to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a professional. I suggest you save your money on this book and just subscribe to Martha Stewart Weddings.