Something New: Wedding Etiquette for Rule Breakers, Traditionalists, and Everyone in Between [Paperback]

Elise Mac Adam (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 19, 2008

WEDDING MANNERS FOR MODERN TIMES FROM THE ETIQUETTE EXPERT FOR THE POPULAR WEDDING WEBSITE INDIEBRIDE

In Something New, etiquette columnist Elise Mac Adam tackles every wedding question, from the frivolous to the frightful, demonstrating how etiquette is designed to make people feel comfortable and offering a road map for how to behave in any sticky situation...even how to deal with people who, themselves, could use a little remedial etiquette assistance. Mac Adam offers easy cheat sheets for the rules of traditional comportment, elaborates on ways to manipulate or jettison traditions to suit your modern life, and -- using real-life case studies -- shows etiquette at work in practically every nuptial-related circumstance, including:

• What do you do if your best man is dog phobic and the ring bearer is your bride's Alaskan malamute?

• HOW MANY BRIDAL SHOWERS IS TOO MANY?

• HOW DO YOU COMPOSE AN INVITATION THAT MENTIONS ALL OF YOUR PARENTS AND STEPPARENTS?

• CAN YOU DECLINE THE HONOR OF BEING A BRIDESMAID AND PRESERVE YOUR FRIENDSHIP?

• CAN YOU REGISTER FOR PRESENTS IF YOU ELOPE?

• WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE REHEARSAL DINNER GUEST LIST?

• WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL WHEN ONE FAMILY DRINKS (A LOT) AND THE OTHER DOESN'T (AT ALL)?

• CAN YOU HAVE A CHILD-FREE WEDDING?

• WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOUR HOSTS FORGET TO INVITE YOUR WIFE?

• DO YOU HAVE TO INVITE YOUR BOSS?

Exploring the nuptial maze from every angle, Something New demonstrates how everyone involved with a wedding (and even people who are left out) can use etiquette to suit his or her needs -- for better, never for worse.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Not only does Elise Mac Adam know (and tell you) all about weddings, engagement parties, registries, invitations, showers, dinner menus, gowns, best men, and much more, she also illustrates every subject with a fascinatingly strange or sticky etiquette problem which she often resolves with entertaining unpredictability."

-- Cheryl Mendelson, author of Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House

"The perfect companion for the contemporary couple! Something New is lively with indispensable advice, innovative solutions, and real-life stories that will ease any wedding journey, from an elopement to a black-tie affair."

-- Kamy Wicoff, author of I Do but I Don't: Why the Way We Marry Matters

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (February 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416949100
• ISBN-13: 978-1416949107
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #711,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Weddings > Etiquette

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect antidote for wedding insanity, February 26, 2008

By 

Dale Hrabi (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Something New: Wedding Etiquette for Rule Breakers, Traditionalists, and Everyone in Between (Paperback)

I loved this book because it is exactly the voice of wisdom you need when you're planning a wedding: smart, down-to-earth, funny (but never flippant) and--while respectful of wedding traditions--by no means beholden to them. At a time when weddings have more potential than ever to become surreal, this book is a great way to keep your footing.

It's utterly modern, in that it acknowledges frankly all the weirdo issues that come up (a dog as a best man? a bridesmaid who grew too fat for her dress?), but is grounded in an understanding that the rules of etiquette still apply whether you want to go formal or free-form. And, furthermore, that etiquette is not a punishing, restricting set of conventions, but time-tested guidelines that really do make everyone's wedding experience more comfortable.

I particularly liked the "Dear Elise" questions from real people that end each chapter...they have a wonderful "oh my god, what are they going to ask her next?!" quality that is quite suspenseful. And the advice is terrific.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Modern Advice for Modern Brides (and Grooms), February 17, 2008

By 

Pamela Skillings "Escape from Corporate America" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Something New: Wedding Etiquette for Rule Breakers, Traditionalists, and Everyone in Between (Paperback)

I wish I had this book when I planned my wedding. Elise MacAdam's advice will help brides cut through all of the conflicting and outmoded advice about wedding rules and etiquette so they can focus on planning the wedding that's right for them, not the one that would make Emily Post happy. Elise tells you all about the rules so you can decide which ones you want to ignore or break. I think this will be my go-to engagement present for friends from now on.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Justified my feelings that my wedding day is supposed to make my fiance and I happy, April 1, 2011

By 

Elizabeth Moorhead (Fairhaven, MA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Something New: Wedding Etiquette for Rule Breakers, Traditionalists, and Everyone in Between (Paperback)

This book was very helpful in justifying my feelings that my wedding day is my day and my fiance's day and that I don't need to obsess about pleasing everyone. Ultimately, you can't make everyone happy. It's all about minimizing the future grief from family and friends by approaching things diplomatically and knowing what you absoultely are unwilling to budge on.

The book was well-written and humorous (very important when you've forgotten how to laugh due to unruly in-laws-to-be). I was hoping for more insight into some of the traditions surrounding weddings, though many traditions were included.